On This Day, September 2: Nelson Eddy and The Northerners
Also featured: Better Half.
September 2 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 2 across classical baritone concert hours, sacred octet choral recitals, battle-of-the-sexes radio quiz shows, and wartime Merchant Marine dramas, Nelson Eddy on The Electric Hour (1942, 1945), The Northerners octet with guest soprano Edna Thompson on WGN Chicago (1935), Tiny Ruffner hosting The Better Half (1948, 1949), and Men at Sea (1935–1949):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Song of the Mounties with Nelson Eddy and Electric Hour" | CBS (KNX) 1942-09-02 10:30 PM EWT |
Electric Companies Business-Managed Power |
Nelson Eddy (Baritone) | Robert Armbruster Orch. | ["Music", "Classical", "Electric Hour", "Nelson Eddy", "CBS"] |
Baritone Nelson Eddy performs Rudolf Friml's Song of the Mounties alongside rousing operetta duets and concert standards. |
| "You're a Grand Old Flag with Nelson Eddy on V-J Day" | CBS (KNX) 1945-09-02 4:30 PM EWT |
Electric Companies Business-Managed Power |
Nelson Eddy (Baritone) | Robert Armbruster Orch. | ["Music", "Classical", "Electric Hour", "Nelson Eddy", "CBS"] |
Nelson Eddy sings George M. Cohan's patriotic anthem You're a Grand Old Flag in celebration of Allied victory and V-J Day. |
| "Blow Ye the Trumpet with Edna Thompson and The Northerners" | WGN / Mutual 1935-09-02 8:30 PM CDST |
Northern Trust Co. Banking Services |
Edna Thompson (Soprano) | The Northerners Octet | ["Music", "Choral", "Classical", "The Northerners", "WGN"] |
The male octet and guest soprano Edna Thompson perform sacred choral selections and traditional American hymns. |
| "Message Received with Dramatic Maritime Cast" | Syndication 1944-09-02 |
Maritime Commission War Shipping Admin. |
Dramatic Voice Cast | Maritime Radio Staff | ["Drama", "Maritime", "WWII", "Men At Sea", "Syndicated"] |
A Merchant Marine freighter crew decoding an urgent naval report races through U-boat infested waters to deliver vital aircraft fuel. |
| "Husband vs. Wife Quiz with Tiny Ruffner" | Mutual (WOR) 1948-09-02 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Audience Quiz |
Tiny Ruffner (Host) | Mutual Quiz Staff | ["Quiz", "Game Show", "Comedy", "Better Half", "Mutual"] |
Married couples compete in a lighthearted battle of the sexes answering trivia questions to prove which partner knows more. |
| "Battle of the Spouses with Tiny Ruffner" | Mutual (WOR) 1949-09-02 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Audience Quiz |
Tiny Ruffner (Host) | Mutual Quiz Staff | ["Quiz", "Game Show", "Comedy", "Better Half", "Mutual"] |
Husbands and wives test their domestic knowledge and quick wit in head-to-head trivia rounds to win household appliances. |