Archival Dispatch: August 31 Calendar Walk — Jack Benny, Perry Mason, and The Goldbergs
Date:
Author: radio index
Reading: 3 min
Tags: August 31, Calendar Walk, The Jello Program, Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Don Wilson, General Foods, Perry Mason, John Larkin, Joan Alexander, Erle Stanley Gardner, The Goldbergs, Gertrude Berg, Molly Goldberg, Procter & Gamble, Alternate Titles, Original Filenames
August 31 Archival Metadata Enrichment (Increment 489)
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 comedy milestones, legal detective dramas, and beloved immigrant family soap operas, Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone on The Jell-O Program (1932, 1934), John Larkin as Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason on CBS (1951, 1954), and Gertrude Berg as Molly Goldberg in The Goldbergs (1932–1954):
1. August 31 Archival Inventory (Increment 489)
| Original Circulating Filename & Alternate Titles | Canonical Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Benny_1932_Sports.mp3 Alt: Indoor Sports Night Benny |
"Indoor Sports Night with Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1932-08-31 8:00 PM EDST |
General Foods Jell-O |
Jack Benny, Livingstone | Frank Black Orchestra | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Jack Benny", "Mary Livingstone", "Jell-O"] |
Jack Benny attempts to organize a parlor athletic competition in the studio while Mary Livingstone reads insulting fan letters from Plainfield. |
Benny_1934_HouseBenny.mp3 Alt: The House of Benny 1934 |
"The House of Benny with Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone" | NBC Blue (WJZ) 1934-08-31 8:30 PM EDST |
General Foods Jell-O (6 Flavors) |
Jack Benny, Livingstone | Don Bestor Orchestra | ["Comedy", "Variety", "Jack Benny", "Mary Livingstone", "Jell-O"] |
Jack boasts about his grand new Hollywood mansion, only to have the cast expose that the estate is leased and completely unfurnished. |
Mason_1951_LakeHouse.mp3 Alt: Perry Mason 1951 08 31 |
"The Murder at the Lake House with John Larkin" | CBS (WCBS) 1951-08-31 2:15 PM EDT |
Procter & Gamble Tide / Camay Soap |
John Larkin, Alexander | Erle Stanley Gardner | ["Courtroom", "Legal", "Mystery", "Perry Mason", "CBS"] |
Perry Mason questions a lakeside boat rental operator to reconstruct a missing client's movements before a body was discovered floating near the dock. |
Mason_1954_Beekman.mp3 Alt: Ed Beekman's Daughter Mason |
"Ed Beekman's Daughter with John Larkin" | CBS (WCBS) 1954-08-31 2:15 PM EDT |
Procter & Gamble Tide Detergent |
John Larkin, Robinson | Erle Stanley Gardner | ["Courtroom", "Legal", "Mystery", "Perry Mason", "CBS"] |
Perry Mason investigates threatening anonymous telegrams sent to a wealthy client's daughter prior to an estate inheritance hearing. |
Goldbergs_1942_Mickie.mp3 Alt: Mickie Suspicious Goldbergs |
"Mickie Is Suspicious with Gertrude Berg" | CBS (WABC) 1942-08-31 11:30 AM EWT |
Procter & Gamble Duz / Oxydol |
Gertrude Berg, Waters | Gertrude Berg (Writer) | ["Soap Opera", "Comedy", "Drama", "The Goldbergs", "CBS"] |
Molly Goldberg attempts to smooth over misunderstandings when Mickie misinterprets a neighbor's secretive visits to the apartment. |
Goldbergs_1943_Birdie.mp3 Alt: Birdie Makes Matters Worse |
"Birdie Makes Matters Worse with Gertrude Berg" | CBS (WABC) 1943-08-31 1:45 PM EWT |
Procter & Gamble Duz Soap |
Gertrude Berg, Colaer | Gertrude Berg (Writer) | ["Soap Opera", "Comedy", "Drama", "The Goldbergs", "CBS"] |
Molly intervenes to calm household tensions after well-meaning Aunt Birdie gives conflicting romantic advice to Rosalie. |
2. Archival Verification Summary
- Target Calendar Day: August 31
- Broadcasts Resolved This Increment: 6
- Cumulative Resolved on August 31: 234 / 376
- Target Repositories Synchronized:
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