Archival Dispatch: August 23 Calendar Walk — Ed Wynn, Bob Hope, and Nero Wolfe

Date:
Author: radio index
Reading: 4 min
Tags: August 23, Calendar Walk, The Texaco Fire Chief, Ed Wynn, Graham McNamee, Texaco Star Theatre, Jane Froman, Al Goodman, Bob and Ray, Wally Ballou, WHDH Boston, The Bob Hope Show, Margaret Whiting, Les Brown, December Bride, Spring Byington, Harry Morgan, The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe, Santos Ortega, Rex Stout, Alternate Titles, Original Filenames
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August 23 Exhaustive Archival Metadata Enrichment (Increment 58)

This archival dispatch documents the comprehensive provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and story synopses for historical broadcasts transmitting on August 23 across American network broadcasting history (1932–1953):


1. August 23 Archival Inventory (Increment 58)

Original Circulating Filename & Alternate Titles Canonical Title Network, Airdate & Showtime Sponsor & Commercial Ads Credited Cast & Performers Director, Writers & Crew Genres Story-First Plot Synopsis
Texaco_Star_1942_08_23.mp3
Alt: Gal in Kalamazoo, Jane Froman Texaco 1942
"Texaco Star Theatre Summer Show: Jane Froman & Al Goodman (Texaco)" CBS (WABC)
1942-08-23
9:30 PM EWT
The Texas Company
Texaco Fire-Chief & Havoline
Jane Froman, Al Goodman Orchestra, Merrill Staton Voices William N. Robson (Producer), Jimmy Wallington ["Variety", "Music", "Big Band", "Vocal", "War"] Songstress Jane Froman and Al Goodman's Orchestra headline the summer edition of the Texaco Star Theatre, performing swinging wartime numbers including Glenn Miller's 'I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo' and romantic ballads.
Ed_Wynn_1932_08_23.mp3
Alt: Episode, Texaco Fire Chief 1932
"The Texaco Fire Chief: Ed Wynn with Graham McNamee (Texaco Gasoline)" NBC Red (WEAF)
1932-08-23
9:30 PM EDST
The Texas Company
Texaco Fire-Chief Gasoline
Ed Wynn (The Fire Chief), Graham McNamee, Don Voorhees Ed Wynn (Writer/Director), Graham McNamee ["Comedy", "Vaudeville", "Variety", "Music"] "Tonight's the night!" Giggle-voiced vaudevillian Ed Wynn dons his fireman's helmet as the Texaco Fire Chief, driving straight man Graham McNamee to tears of laughter with his zany inventions, pun-filled bedtime stories, and classic comedic banter.
Bob_Ray_1949_08_23.mp3
Alt: Quiet New Subway, Wally Ballou 1949
"Wally Ballou in the Quiet New Subway (Bob and Ray — WHDH Boston)" WHDH / CBS
1949-08-23
2:30 PM EDT
Sustaining
Local Boston Advertisers
Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding (All Characters) Bob Elliott & Ray Goulding (Writers/Producers) ["Comedy", "Satire", "Parody", "Sketch", "Improvisational"] Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding present deadpan satiric sketches, including ace roving reporter Wally Ballou broadcasting live from a brand-new ultra-quiet subway line where the acoustics are so silent that nobody can hear the trains arriving.
Bob_Hope_1953_08_23.mp3
Alt: Summer Encore 1953, Bob Hope Jell-O
"The Bob Hope Show: Summer Encore with Margaret Whiting & Les Brown (Jell-O)" NBC (WNBC)
1953-08-23
8:00 PM EDT
General Foods
Jell-O Puddings & Swans Down
Bob Hope, Margaret Whiting, Les Brown Band Larry Gelbart & Sherwood Schwartz, Jack Kirkwood ["Comedy", "Variety", "Standup", "Music"] Rapid-fire comedian Bob Hope delivers stinging monologues roasting summer beach vacations, Hollywood politics, and golf games, followed by vocal performances from Margaret Whiting and swing tunes by Les Brown and His Band of Renown.
December_Bride_1953_08_23.mp3
Alt: Stolen Diamond Clip, Spring Byington Lily Ruskin
"The Stolen Diamond Clip (Starring Spring Byington as Lily Ruskin — Maxwell House)" CBS (KNX)
1953-08-23
7:00 PM EDT
General Foods
Instant Maxwell House Coffee
Spring Byington (Lily Ruskin), Harry Morgan, Dean Miller Parke Levy (Writer), Norman Macdonnell, Bob LeMond ["Comedy", "Sitcom", "Domestic", "Family"] Sprightly widow Lily Ruskin intervenes to soothe tempers in the Henshaw household when son-in-law Matt suspects that Pete Porter's anniversary surprise for Gladys is actually a stolen antique jewelry clip.
Nero_Wolfe_1943_08_23.mp3
Alt: Departed Guest, Santos Ortega Nero Wolfe
"The Case of the Departed Guest (Starring Santos Ortega as Nero Wolfe)" NBC Red (WEAF)
1943-08-23
8:30 PM EWT
Sustaining
NBC Mystery Presentation
Santos Ortega (Nero Wolfe), Luis van Rooten (Archie) Rex Stout (Author), Louis Vittes, Ed Michael ["Detective", "Hardboiled", "Mystery", "Crime", "Culinary"] Orchestrating his investigation from his brownstone greenhouse without leaving his orchid collection, corpulent detective Nero Wolfe dispatches legman Archie Goodwin to solve the poisoning murder of an unwelcome houseguest at a lavish Hamptons estate.

2. Archival Verification Summary

  • Target Calendar Day: August 23
  • Broadcasts Resolved This Increment: 6
  • Cumulative Resolved on August 23: 348
  • Target Repositories Synchronized: radioindex.org-meta and radioindex.org-blog