On This Day, September 4: Backstage Wife and Mr. Malone
Also featured: Strange As It Seems.
September 4 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 4 across Frank and Anne Hummert's classic daytime theatrical soap Backstage Wife for Whitehall Pharmacal, Gene Kelly starring as Craig Rice's wisecracking Chicago attorney on The Amazing Mr. Malone, John Hix's oddities docudrama Strange As It Seems for Palmolive, Dick Powell's smooth romantic ballads on Campana Serenade, and lush string serenades on Heart Throbs, Claire Niesen (1950), Gene Kelly (1948), John Hix (1935, 1936), Dick Powell (1943), and Heart Throbs (1934–1950):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Claudia Soothes an Angry Larry Noble with Claire Niesen" | NBC (WNBC) 1950-09-04 4:00 PM EDT |
Whitehall Pharmacal Kolynos & Anacin |
Claire Niesen (Mary) | James Meighan & Hummerts | ["Soap Opera", "Drama", "Backstage Wife", "Claire Niesen", "Whitehall"] |
Mary Noble observes quietly as an alluring Broadway co-star attempts to soothe Larry Noble's backstage temper tantrums before opening night. |
| "The Crimson Clew with Gene Kelly as John J. Malone" | ABC (WJZ) 1948-09-04 9:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Legal Detective |
Gene Kelly (Malone) | Craig Rice (Creator) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "The Amazing Mr Malone", "Gene Kelly", "Craig Rice"] |
Chicago criminal defense attorney John J. Malone investigates a murdered gambler found clutching a blood-stained casino voucher. |
| "The Neck Verse with John Hix" | CBS (WABC) 1935-09-04 9:30 PM EDST |
Colgate-Palmolive Palmolive Shave Cream |
John Hix (Host) | CBS Repertory Staff | ["History", "Oddities", "Strange As It Seems", "John Hix", "Palmolive"] |
A historical dramatization detailing the ancient English legal loophole of Benefit of Clergy, where reciting a Latin psalm spared felons from the gallows. |
| "The Miser Who Became a Spendthrift with John Hix" | CBS (WABC) 1936-09-04 9:00 PM EDST |
Colgate-Palmolive Palmolive Soap |
John Hix (Host) | CBS Repertory Staff | ["History", "Oddities", "Strange As It Seems", "John Hix", "Palmolive"] |
A biographical sketch of an eccentric 18th-century French hoarder who suddenly liquidated his gold fortune to build elaborate public monuments. |
| "Romantic Melodies of Manhattan with WOR Studio Orchestra" | WOR New York 1934-09-04 |
Sustaining Chamber Ensemble |
WOR String Ensemble | WOR Music Director | ["Music", "Romantic", "Heart Throbs", "WOR", "Orchestra"] |
A studio chamber orchestra performs lush lyrical string arrangements of popular Manhattan love songs and operetta waltzes. |
| "Romantic Serenades with Dick Powell and Campana Italian Balm" | NBC (WEAF) 1943-09-04 1:00 PM EWT |
Campana Sales Co. Campana Italian Balm |
Dick Powell (Host) | Lud Gluskin & Orch. | ["Music", "Vocal", "Campana Serenade", "Dick Powell", "Campana"] |
Dick Powell croons popular romantic ballads and introduces sentimental listener dedication requests. |