On This Day, September 3: Orson Welles's Les Misérables and Kraft Music Hall
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serial story metadata declarations, and pure narrative synopses…
September 3 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, serial story metadata declarations, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on September 3 across Orson Welles's climactic Mercury Theatre serialization of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, star-studded Hollywood variety revues, classic juvenile aviation cliffhangers, and deadpan satire, Orson Welles in the finale of Les Misérables (1937), Olivia de Havilland, Joel McCrea, and Jose Iturbi on Kraft Music Hall (1936), John Carradine (1942), The Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen (1936), Speed Gibson (1938), and Bob and Ray (1936–1949):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Arc Metadata | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Death of Jean Valjean (Part 7: The Final Episode) with Orson Welles" | Mutual (WOR) 1937-09-03 10:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Mercury Theatre Classic |
Orson Welles (Valjean) | Martin Gabel & Collins | ["Drama", "Classics", "Les Miserables", "Orson Welles", "Mercury Theatre"] |
{"title": "Les Misérables", "part": 7, "total_parts": 7} |
Jean Valjean rescues the wounded Marius from the Paris barricades through underground sewers and imparts his final blessing to Cosette. |
| "Guests Olivia de Havilland, Joel McCrea, and Jose Iturbi with Bob Burns" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1936-09-03 10:00 PM EDST |
Kraft-Phenix Cheese Miracle Whip & Spread |
Bob Burns (Host) | Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra | ["Music", "Variety", "Kraft Music Hall", "Olivia de Havilland", "Kraft"] |
null |
Bob Burns welcomes Hollywood stars Olivia de Havilland and Joel McCrea while concert pianist Jose Iturbi performs classical virtuoso selections. |
| "Guests George Murphy and John Carradine with Bob Crosby" | NBC (KFI) 1942-09-03 9:00 PM EWT |
Kraft Cheese Co. Miracle Whip Dressing |
Bob Crosby (Host) | Victor Young Orchestra | ["Music", "Variety", "Kraft Music Hall", "Bob Crosby", "John Carradine"] |
null |
Bob Crosby trades witty backstage Hollywood banter with actor John Carradine and song-and-dance star George Murphy. |
| "The Black Thief Strikes with Murray McLean as Jimmie Allen" | Syndication 1936-09-03 |
Skelly Oil Co. Skelly Aromax Gasoline |
Murray McLean (Jimmie) | Bob Burtt & Moore | ["Aviation", "Adventure", "Jimmie Allen", "Murray McLean", "Skelly Oil"] |
null |
Jimmie Allen and Speed Robertson pilot their reconnaissance plane to intercept a masked saboteur raiding regional airport hangars. |
| "How to Impress the Waitress with Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding" | WHDH Boston 1949-09-03 |
Sustaining Deadpan Satire |
Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding | Bob Elliott & Ray Goulding | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Bob And Ray", "Bob Elliott", "WHDH"] |
null |
Bob and Ray present a deadpan etiquette guide satirizing ridiculous social pretenses when ordering meals in upscale restaurants. |
| "Splinter Is Shot with John Gibson as Speed Gibson" | Syndication 1938-09-03 |
Sustaining Aviation Serial |
John Gibson (Speed) | Elliott Lewis & Cooke | ["Adventure", "Aviation", "Speed Gibson", "John Gibson", "Syndicated"] |
{"title": "Speed Gibson and the Octopus", "part": 39, "total_parts": 65} |
Speed Gibson rushes his young companion Splinter to emergency medical care after an ambush by the Octopus international smuggling ring. |