On This Day, September 1: Nick Carter and The First Nighter Program
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…
September 1 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 September 1 across classic pulp detective mysteries and the glamorous Broadway footlights of the Little Theater off Times Square, Lon Clark in Nick Carter, Master Detective (1944, 1946), alongside a four-decade retrospective of The First Nighter Program starring Don Ameche, June Meredith, Barbara Luddy, Les Tremayne, and Olan Soule for Campana Italian Balm (1933, 1939, 1949, 1953):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Drums of Death (Part 5) with Lon Clark and Acme Paints" | Mutual (WOR) 1944-09-01 8:30 PM EWT |
Acme Quality Paints Lin-X Wax & Kem-Tone |
Lon Clark, Choate | Jock MacGregor (Director) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Nick Carter", "Lon Clark", "Acme"] |
Nick Carter confronts a Caribbean cult priestess whose hypnotic voodoo drumming drove a plantation heiress into trance-like terror. |
| "The Case of the Red Goose Murder with Lon Clark and Cudahy Packing" | Mutual (WOR) 1946-09-01 5:30 PM EDT |
Cudahy Packing Co. Old Dutch Cleanser |
Lon Clark, Manson | Jock MacGregor (Director) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Nick Carter", "Lon Clark", "Old Dutch Cleanser"] |
Nick Carter investigates the fatal poisoning of a toy manufacturer found clutching a painted porcelain red goose figurine. |
| "The Main Attraction with Don Ameche, June Meredith, and Campana Italian Balm" | NBC Red (WMAQ) 1933-09-01 10:00 PM EDST |
Campana Corporation Campana Italian Balm |
Don Ameche, Meredith | Charles Hughes (Host) | ["Drama", "Romance", "First Nighter", "Don Ameche", "Campana"] |
A carnival sideshow barker risks everything to promote his talented aerialist sweetheart to headlining status on the Broadway stage. |
| "The Star of Broadway with Barbara Luddy, Les Tremayne, and Campana Italian Balm" | CBS (WBBM) 1939-09-01 8:00 PM EDST |
Campana Corporation Italian Balm & Dreskin |
Barbara Luddy, Tremayne | Bret Morrison (Host) | ["Drama", "Romance", "First Nighter", "Barbara Luddy", "Les Tremayne"] |
An understudy steps into the lead theatrical role on opening night and must navigate jealous backstage sabotage to triumph. |
| "A Dollar a Second (Repeat) with Barbara Luddy, Olan Soule, and Campana" | CBS (WBBM) 1949-09-01 10:30 PM EDT |
Campana Sales Co. Campana Italian Balm |
Barbara Luddy, Soule | Marvin Miller (Host) | ["Drama", "Comedy", "First Nighter", "Barbara Luddy", "Olan Soule"] |
A desperate clerk agrees to endure a bizarre endurance challenge for a thousand dollars only to discover it masks a diamond heist. |
| "The Honest Dope with Barbara Luddy and Olan Soule" | CBS (WBBM) 1953-09-01 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Times Square Theater |
Barbara Luddy, Soule | Rye Billsbury (Host) | ["Comedy", "Romance", "First Nighter", "Barbara Luddy", "Olan Soule"] |
An honest racetrack bettor inadvertently intercepts a bookmaker's coded wager and tries to return the winnings. |