Archival Dispatch: August 31 Calendar Walk — Kraft Music Hall, Mike Hammer, and Bela Lugosi
Date:
Author: radio index
Reading: 3 min
Tags: August 31, Calendar Walk, Kraft Music Hall, Paul Whiteman, Bob Burns, Donald Crisp, Sonny Tufts, Oscar Levant, Vera Vague, Kraft, That Hammer Guy, Ted de Corsia, Mike Hammer, Mickey Spillane, Mystery House, Bela Lugosi, Dead Ringers, BBC Radio 4, Jon Culshaw, Alternate Titles, Original Filenames
August 31 Archival Metadata Enrichment (Increment 459)
This archival dispatch documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on August 31 across American network variety, hardboiled detective mysteries, Gothic horror, and British topical satire, three generations of Kraft Music Hall featuring Paul Whiteman (1933), Bob Burns with Donald Crisp (1939), and Sonny Tufts with Oscar Levant performing The Trolley Song (1944), Ted de Corsia as Mike Hammer in That Hammer Guy (1954), Bela Lugosi hosting Mystery House (1947), and Jon Culshaw and Jan Ravens on BBC Radio 4's Dead Ringers (1933–2001):
1. August 31 Archival Inventory (Increment 459)
| Original Circulating Filename & Alternate Titles | Canonical Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hammer_1954_TedDeCorsia.mp3 Alt: Ted deCorsia as Mike Hammer |
"The Big Grab with Ted de Corsia as Mike Hammer" | Mutual (WOR) 1954-08-31 8:30 PM EDT |
Sustaining Hardboiled Detective |
Ted de Corsia, Slate | Mickey Spillane (Author) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Hardboiled", "Mike Hammer", "Mickey Spillane"] |
Mike Hammer investigates the murder of a waterfront docks watchman connected to an organized syndicate diamond heist. |
KMH_1933_Whiteman.mp3 Alt: Kraft Music Hall 1933 |
"Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1933-08-31 10:00 PM EDST |
Kraft-Phenix Cheese Kraft Miracle Whip |
Paul Whiteman, Taylor | Paul Whiteman (Director) | ["Music", "Variety", "Symphonic Jazz", "Paul Whiteman", "Kraft"] |
Paul Whiteman conducts symphonic jazz orchestrations, novelty vocal arrangements, and pop melodies for Kraft. |
KMH_1939_Burns.mp3 Alt: Bob Burns Donald Crisp KMH |
"Guest Host Bob Burns with Donald Crisp and Alice Brady" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1939-08-31 10:00 PM EDST |
Kraft-Phenix Cheese Kraft American Cheese |
Bob Burns, Donald Crisp | John Scott Trotter Orch | ["Music", "Variety", "Comedy", "Bob Burns", "Kraft"] |
The Arkansas Traveler Bob Burns trades down-home humor with film stars Donald Crisp and Alice Brady while playing the bazooka. |
KMH_1944_Tufts.mp3 Alt: Trolley Song Sonny Tufts |
"Guest Host Sonny Tufts with Oscar Levant and Vera Vague" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-08-31 9:00 PM EWT |
Kraft Cheese Company Parkay / Kraft Dinner |
Sonny Tufts, Levant | John Scott Trotter Orch | ["Music", "Variety", "Comedy", "Oscar Levant", "Kraft"] |
Sonny Tufts trades comedic banter with pianist Oscar Levant and Vera Vague before the ensemble performs The Trolley Song. |
Mystery_House_1947_Lugosi.mp3 Alt: Mystery House 1947 Episode |
"The Legend of the Black Cat with Bela Lugosi" | Syndicated Horror 1947-08-31 |
Sustaining Gothic Horror Drama |
Bela Lugosi (Host / Star) | Mystery House Staff | ["Horror", "Macabre", "Gothic", "Bela Lugosi", "Mystery House"] |
A superstitious recluse trapped in an isolated ancestral mansion is haunted by an ominous black cat seeking retribution. |
Dead_Ringers_2001_S3E6.mp3 Alt: Dead Ringers 2001 Episode |
"Political Parodies and Impressions (Series 3, Episode 6)" | BBC Radio 4 2001-08-31 6:30 PM BST |
Sustaining Topical Satire |
Jon Culshaw, Ravens | Bill Dare (Producer) | ["Comedy", "Satire", "Impressions", "BBC Radio 4", "Dead Ringers"] |
Vocal impressionists perform rapid-fire topical sketches parodying British cabinet ministers, media pundits, and TV personalities. |
2. Archival Verification Summary
- Target Calendar Day: August 31
- Broadcasts Resolved This Increment: 6
- Cumulative Resolved on August 31: 54 / 376
- Target Repositories Synchronized:
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