On This Day, September 4: Ezio Pinza and Fear on Four
Also featured: The Frantics.
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 Metropolitan Opera basso Ezio Pinza singing grand arias on The Bell Telephone Hour, Edward de Souza as the Man in Black introducing internet terror on Fear on Four for BBC Radio 4, Marian Seldes in a chilling tale of criminal hubris on CBS Radio Mystery Theater, Canadian satirical comedy group The Frantics on CBC Radio, Scotland Yard's Inspector West on Stand By for West, and Ethelbert Nevin's parlor classic on The Story Behind the Song, Ezio Pinza (1944), Edward de Souza (1997), Marian Seldes (1998), The Frantics (1982), and Patrick Barr (1931–1998):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Guest Basso Ezio Pinza with Donald Voorhees" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-09-04 9:00 PM EWT |
Bell Telephone System Institutional Phone Service |
Ezio Pinza (Basso) | Donald Voorhees & Orch. | ["Music", "Classical", "Bell Telephone Hour", "Ezio Pinza", "Donald Voorhees"] |
Acclaimed basso Ezio Pinza performs Italian operatic arias and traditional folk songs backed by Donald Voorhees' grand symphonic orchestra. |
| "Net Suicide with Edward de Souza" | BBC Radio 4 1997-09-04 |
Sustaining Psychological Horror |
Edward de Souza (Narrator) | Stephen Sheridan (Writer) | ["Horror", "Thriller", "Fear on Four", "Edward de Souza", "BBC Radio 4"] |
A computer programmer investigates a secretive online discussion forum whose members are being systematically manipulated into fatal accidents. |
| "Murder to Perfection with Marian Seldes" | CBS Radio / NPR 1998-09-04 |
Sustaining Mystery Drama |
Marian Seldes & Benson | Himan Brown (Prod./Dir.) | ["Mystery", "Drama", "CBSRMT", "Marian Seldes", "Himan Brown"] |
An obsessive criminal mastermind plans what he believes is the foolproof assassination of a blackmailing partner. |
| "A Message from Phil with The Frantics" | CBC Radio 1982-09-04 |
Sustaining Canadian Satire |
The Frantics (Troupe) | Rick Green & Chato | ["Comedy", "Satire", "The Frantics", "CBC", "Rick Green"] |
The Toronto comedy troupe presents fast-paced absurdist sketch comedy parodies featuring corporate video seminars and satirical commercial jingles. |
| "Murder Steps In with Patrick Barr as Inspector West" | BBC Radio 4 1971-09-04 |
Sustaining British Detective |
Patrick Barr (West) | Maurice Travers & Creasey | ["Detective", "Police", "Stand By For West", "Patrick Barr", "John Creasey"] |
Scotland Yard's Inspector West investigates an undercover blackmail network linked to a series of high-society apartment burglaries. |
| "The Rosary by Ethelbert Nevin with James Lawson" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1931-09-04 8:00 PM EDST |
Sustaining Musical Narrative |
James Lawson (Narr./Vocal) | NBC Concert Orchestra | ["Music", "History", "The Story Behind the Song", "James Lawson", "NBC"] |
A musical narrative exploring the emotional inspiration and tragic life behind American composer Ethelbert Nevin's parlor masterpiece The Rosary. |