On This Day, September 3: Basil Rathbone and Michael Shayne
Also featured: Charlie McCarthy.
September 3 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 3 across exotic mystery adventures, hardboiled private eye cases in Miami, star-studded variety comedy, dramatic backstage soap operas, comedic waterfront detective tales, and South African railway police investigations, Basil Rathbone in Tales of Fatima for Fatima Cigarettes (1949), Wally Maher as Michael Shayne (1945), Wendy Barrie and Vera Vague on The Charlie McCarthy Show (1939), Claire Niesen in Backstage Wife (1947), George O'Hanlon in The Cases of Mr. Ace (1947), and Squad Cars (1939–1982):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "A Dose of Death with Basil Rathbone and Fatima Cigarettes" | CBS (WCBS) 1949-09-03 9:30 PM EDT |
Liggett & Myers Fatima Turkish Blend |
Basil Rathbone (Self) | Francis X. Bushman & Ingram | ["Mystery", "Adventure", "Tales Of Fatima", "Basil Rathbone", "Fatima"] |
Basil Rathbone follows the exotic advice of the mysterious fortune teller Fatima to catch a poisoner operating inside a health spa. |
| "The Case of the Triple Mystery with Wally Maher as Michael Shayne" | Mutual (KHJ) 1945-09-03 8:30 PM EWT |
Sustaining Hardboiled Detective |
Wally Maher (Shayne) | Cathy Lewis & Halliday | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Michael Shayne", "Wally Maher", "Mutual"] |
Miami private detective Michael Shayne investigates three seemingly unconnected homicides sharing an identical poisoned cigar clue. |
| "Guests Wendy Barrie and Vera Vague with Edgar Bergen" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1939-09-03 8:00 PM EDST |
Standard Brands Chase & Sanborn Coffee |
Edgar Bergen, McCarthy | Wendy Barrie & Allen | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Charlie McCarthy", "Wendy Barrie", "Vera Vague"] |
Charlie McCarthy flirts with British actress Wendy Barrie and endures manhunting antics from spinster Vera Vague. |
| "Larry Noble's Broadway Rehearsals with Claire Niesen" | NBC (WNBC) 1947-09-03 4:00 PM EDT |
Sterling Drug Inc. Bayer Aspirin & Tooth Powder |
Claire Niesen (Mary) | James Meighan & Hummert | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Backstage Wife", "Claire Niesen", "Bayer"] |
Mary Noble confronts an ambitious young understudy attempting to manipulate Broadway director Larry Noble during final cast rehearsals. |
| "The Errand Boy Murder with George O'Hanlon as Eddie Ace" | ABC (WJZ) 1947-09-03 9:00 PM EDT |
Milner Products Perma-Starch |
George O'Hanlon (Ace) | Marian Richman & Brady | ["Detective", "Comedy", "Mr Ace", "George OHanlon", "ABC"] |
Private investigator Eddie Ace probes the waterfront death of a messenger boy carrying hidden counterfeit currency plates. |
| "Railway Robbery with Springbok Radio" | Springbok / SABC 1982-09-03 |
Sustaining Police Procedural |
Colin Fish (Lead) | SABC Drama Staff | ["Police", "Procedural", "Squad Cars", "Springbok", "SABC"] |
Railway police detectives track a syndicate stealing valuable cargo containers off moving freight trains near Durban. |