On This Day, August 31: Best Plays and Sexton Blake
Also featured: Bob, Ray.
August 31 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on August 31 across world-class Broadway theatrical adaptations, British private detective mysteries, zany domestic marital sitcoms, and deadpan Boston radio parodies, Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit on Best Plays starring John Lund and Mildred Natwick (1952), William Franklyn as Sexton Blake on the BBC (1967), At Home with the Kirkwoods (1945), and three classic WHDH Boston broadcasts of Bob and Ray (1945–1967):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit with John Lund and Mildred Natwick" | NBC (WNBC) 1952-08-31 6:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Theatre Guild Drama |
John Lund, Natwick | John Chapman (Host) | ["Comedy", "Drama", "Theatre", "Best Plays", "Noel Coward", "NBC"] |
A novelist's séance conjures the mischievous ghost of his deceased first wife, who schemes to sabotage his second marriage. |
| "The Sin Eaters with William Franklyn" | BBC Light Prog. 1967-08-31 7:00 PM BST |
Sustaining Detective Mystery |
William Franklyn, Gregory | Gale Pedrick (Writer) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "British", "Sexton Blake", "BBC"] |
Sexton Blake uncovers a sinister occult extortion brotherhood exploiting ancient Welsh funeral customs to blackmail wealthy landowners. |
| "We're Not Shooting Dice with Jack and Lillian Kirkwood" | CBS (WABC) 1945-08-31 7:00 PM EWT |
Sustaining Domestic Comedy |
Jack & Lillian Kirkwood | Jack Kirkwood (Writer) | ["Comedy", "Domestic", "Sitcom", "Jack Kirkwood", "CBS"] |
Jack and Lillian get entangled in absurd neighborhood gossip when a misunderstanding makes the landlord suspect high-stakes dice games. |
| "Live from the Hotel Sturdley with Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding" | WHDH Boston 1948-08-31 2:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Satirical Comedy |
Bob Elliott, Goulding | Bob & Ray (Writers) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Parody", "Bob and Ray", "WHDH"] |
Bob and Ray spoof remote ballroom broadcasts from the fictional Hotel Sturdley featuring eccentric guest bandleaders. |
| "Bob Is Ill with Ray Goulding" | WHDH Boston 1948-08-31 2:15 PM EDST |
Sustaining Satirical Comedy |
Ray Goulding (Solo) | Bob & Ray (Writers) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Parody", "Bob and Ray", "WHDH"] |
Ray attempts a solo broadcast while taking humorous telephone updates on Bob's exaggerated physical ailments. |
| "Organ and Piano Players on Vacation with Bob and Ray" | WHDH Boston 1949-08-31 2:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Satirical Comedy |
Bob Elliott, Goulding | Bob & Ray (Writers) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Parody", "Bob and Ray", "WHDH"] |
Bob and Ray attempt to provide their own chaotic musical sound effects when the studio organist and pianist take time off. |