On This Day, August 31: Walter Winchell and Boston Blackie
Also featured: Ozzie, Harriet.
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 staccato news and Broadway gossip, married-sleuth and rogue detective mysteries, beloved domestic family comedies, psychological radio noir, and Treasury war bond docudramas, Walter Winchell on The Jergens Journal (1937), Richard Kollmar as Boston Blackie (1949), Ozzie and Harriet Nelson for International Silver (1947), Dark Venture (1946), Treasury Salute (1945), and Frank Muir on BBC Radio 4 (1937–1977):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Frank Muir Goes into Money with Jim Hunter" | BBC Radio 4 1977-08-31 |
Sustaining BBC Light Comedy |
Frank Muir, Jim Hunter | BBC Radio Features | ["Comedy", "Humor", "Discussion", "Frank Muir", "BBC Radio 4"] |
Comedy writer Frank Muir explores the humorous social origins of currency, banking jargon, and monetary eccentricities. |
| "The Miracle of Ed McKenney with U.S. Treasury Department" | Treasury Syndication 1945-08-31 |
U.S. Treasury War Finance Committee |
Dramatic Voice Ensemble | Treasury Prod. Unit | ["Docudrama", "WWII", "War Bonds", "Treasury Salute", "Veterans"] |
A blinded combat veteran overcomes despair at an army rehabilitation hospital with help from physical therapists and family. |
| "The Stolen Formula with Richard Kollmar" | Ziv Syndication 1949-08-31 |
Sustaining Detective Mystery |
Richard Kollmar, Tarplin | Frederic W. Ziv (Prod.) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Boston Blackie", "Richard Kollmar", "ZIV"] |
Boston Blackie protects an elderly chemist framed for murder by counterfeiters attempting to seize his patented alloy formula. |
| "Walter Winchell Reports with Broadway News & Hollywood Flashes" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1937-08-31 9:00 PM EDST |
Andrew Jergens Co. Jergens Lotion |
Walter Winchell, Grauer | NBC News Division | ["News", "Gossip", "Commentary", "Walter Winchell", "Jergens"] |
Walter Winchell rattles through staccato reports on political corruption in Washington, Broadway theatre gossip, and European crisis bulletins. |
| "The Guilt of Arthur Murdock with John Lake" | ABC Network 1946-08-31 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Psychological Suspense |
John Lake (Narrator) | Leonard Lewis (Writer) | ["Suspense", "Psychological", "Noir", "Dark Venture", "ABC"] |
A conniving business partner orchestrates a fatal boiler explosion, only to find himself trapped in a web of psychological guilt. |
| "The Lost Fishing Tackle with Ozzie and Harriet Nelson" | CBS (WCBS) 1947-08-31 6:00 PM EDT |
Int'l Silver Co. 1847 Rogers Bros. |
Ozzie & Harriet Nelson | Billy May Orchestra | ["Comedy", "Domestic", "Family", "Ozzie and Harriet", "International Silver"] |
Ozzie spends his weekend retracing his steps across the neighborhood searching for David and Ricky's missing fishing tackle. |