On This Day, September 3: Grand Ole Opry and Jim Reeves
Also featured: Harry Nile.
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 iconic live Saturday night country music broadcasts from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville (Red Foley, Carl Smith, and Gentleman Jim Reeves), long-running daytime family serials, and hardboiled Pacific Northwest detective mysteries, Grand Ole Opry (1949, 1955, 1960), Jane Morgan in Aunt Mary for Safeway (1946, 1947), and Phil Harper as Harry Nile (1946–1995):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Easy to Please with Red Foley and Prince Albert" | NBC (WSM) 1949-09-03 10:30 PM EDT |
R.J. Reynolds Prince Albert Tobacco |
Red Foley (Host) | Minnie Pearl & Brasfield | ["Country", "Music", "Grand Ole Opry", "Red Foley", "Prince Albert"] |
Red Foley emcees live country performances from the Ryman Auditorium stage featuring Easy to Please and rural humor from Minnie Pearl. |
| "Don't Tease Me with Carl Smith and Prince Albert" | NBC (WSM) 1955-09-03 10:30 PM EDT |
R.J. Reynolds Prince Albert Tobacco |
Carl Smith (Host) | Chet Atkins & Carter | ["Country", "Music", "Grand Ole Opry", "Carl Smith", "Prince Albert"] |
Carl Smith headlines the Nashville stage with honky-tonk ballad Don't Tease Me alongside guitar virtuosity from Chet Atkins. |
| "Starring Jim Reeves Live from Ryman Auditorium" | WSM / NBC 1960-09-03 10:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Country Showcase |
Jim Reeves (Host) | The Blue Boys & Jody | ["Country", "Music", "Grand Ole Opry", "Jim Reeves", "WSM"] |
Gentleman Jim Reeves croons velvety country-pop ballads live before an enthusiastic Saturday night crowd at the Ryman. |
| "Gives Mario a Ride with Jane Morgan as Aunt Mary" | NBC West Coast 1946-09-03 3:45 PM EDT |
Safeway Stores Kitchen Craft Flour |
Jane Morgan (Mary) | Dramatic Radio Cast | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Aunt Mary", "Jane Morgan", "Safeway"] |
Aunt Mary offers transportation to a troubled neighborhood youth named Mario and learns about his family's financial distress. |
| "Lefty's Estate Settlement with Jane Morgan" | NBC West Coast 1947-09-03 3:45 PM EDT |
Safeway Stores Kitchen Craft Flour |
Jane Morgan (Mary) | Dramatic Radio Cast | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Aunt Mary", "Jane Morgan", "Safeway"] |
Mary mediates family friction when Lefty's property shares pass to Peggy while Ben bristles seeing Brett accompany Jessie. |
| "The Dollar Value of Death with Phil Harper as Harry Nile" | KING / Synd. 1995-09-03 |
Sustaining Modern Mystery |
Phil Harper (Nile) | Jim French (Author) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Harry Nile", "Phil Harper", "Jim French"] |
Seattle private detective Harry Nile is hired by an insurance adjustor to investigate a suspicious term-life payout tied to an apparent drowning. |