On This Day, September 4: The Goldbergs and Grandma Moses
Also featured: Charlie Ruggles.
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 Gertrude Berg's warm comedic dialogue as Molly Goldberg on The Goldbergs for Procter & Gamble (1941, 1942), NBC's documentary tribute to primitive American artist Grandma Moses on Biography in Sound, Charlie Ruggles leading slapstick carnival stunts on A Barrel of Fun for Bromo-Seltzer, soldier morale composers on Proudly We Hail, and BBC literary profiles on Author's Studio, Gertrude Berg (1941, 1942), Grandma Moses (1956), Charlie Ruggles (1941), and The Goldbergs (1941–1975):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Molly Talks to Jake with Gertrude Berg" | CBS (WABC) 1941-09-04 5:00 PM EDST |
Procter & Gamble Oxydol Granulated Soap |
Gertrude Berg & Waters | Roslyn Silber & Berg | ["Comedy", "Domestic", "The Goldbergs", "Gertrude Berg", "Oxydol"] |
Molly Goldberg counsels Jake on calming his anxieties over rising material costs in the garment manufacturing trade. |
| "At the Hay Ride with Gertrude Berg" | CBS (WABC) 1942-09-04 5:00 PM EWT |
Procter & Gamble Duz Detergent |
Gertrude Berg & Waters | Alfred Ryder & Berg | ["Comedy", "Domestic", "The Goldbergs", "Gertrude Berg", "Duz"] |
The Goldberg family joins their neighborhood community on an autumn countryside hay ride to raise wartime relief funds. |
| "Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson)" | NBC (WRCA) 1956-09-04 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Documentary Biography |
Anna Mary Robertson | NBC Special Projects | ["Biography", "Documentary", "Biography in Sound", "Grandma Moses", "NBC"] |
An audio portrait honoring primitive American folk artist Grandma Moses on the eve of her ninety-sixth birthday. |
| "Labor Day Comedy and Stunts with Charlie Ruggles" | Mutual / WOR 1941-09-04 8:00 PM EDST |
Emerson Drug Co. Bromo-Seltzer |
Charlie Ruggles & Rubin | Judy Canova & Van Steeden | ["Comedy", "Variety", "A Barrel of Fun", "Charlie Ruggles", "Bromo-Seltzer"] |
Comedian Charlie Ruggles hosts high-energy studio audience party games, slapstick sketches, and eccentric carnival stunts. |
| "Modern Writers in Profile with BBC Radio 4" | BBC Radio 4 1975-09-04 |
Sustaining Literary Profiles |
Contemporary Authors | BBC Literary Staff | ["Books", "Interview", "Author's Studio", "BBC Radio 4", "Literature"] |
Contemporary novelists and dramatists discuss their creative writing routines, character development methods, and latest publications. |
| "A Song Is Born with US Army Recruiting" | Syndication / US Army 1946-09-04 |
U.S. Army Recruiting Military Service |
Dramatic Repertory Cast | C.P. MacGregor (Prod.) | ["Drama", "Military", "Proudly We Hail", "US Army", "CP MacGregor"] |
A soldier composer in the armed forces writes a hit marching ballad that boosts troop morale across overseas military encampments. |