Archival Dispatch: August 31 Calendar Walk — Fibber McGee, Pat Novak, and Twenty Questions
Date:
Author: radio index
Reading: 3 min
Tags: August 31, Calendar Walk, Fibber McGee and Molly, Jim Jordan, Marian Jordan, Johnsons Wax, Pat Novak For Hire, Jack Webb, Raymond Burr, Richard L Breen, Twenty Questions, Bill Slater, The Quiz Kids, Joe Kelly, Alka-Seltzer, International Airport, ABC, Alternate Titles, Original Filenames
August 31 Archival Metadata Enrichment (Increment 499)
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 domestic sitcom landmarks, hardboiled waterfront noir, parlor deduction games, child prodigy quizzes, and aviation customs dramas, Jim and Marian Jordan across two decades of Fibber McGee and Molly (1936, 1955), Jack Webb and Raymond Burr in Pat Novak, For Hire (1947), Twenty Questions (1946), The Quiz Kids for Alka-Seltzer (1947), and International Airport on ABC (1936–1955):
1. August 31 Archival Inventory (Increment 499)
| Original Circulating Filename & Alternate Titles | Canonical Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Questions_1946_MysteryObject.mp3 Alt: Twenty Questions 1946 Episode |
"Animal, Vegetable, Mineral Mystery Object with Bill Slater" | Mutual (WOR) 1946-08-31 8:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Parlor Game Show |
Bill Slater, Vandeventer | Herb Polesie (Panel) | ["Quiz", "Game Show", "Panel", "Twenty Questions", "Mutual"] |
The panel tests their deductive reasoning against listener-submitted subjects across history, science, and everyday household artifacts. |
Quiz_Kids_1947_Assault.mp3 Alt: Why Didnt Words Armed Assault Disturb Police |
"Why Didn't the Words 'Armed Assault' Disturb Police? with Joe Kelly" | NBC (WMAQ) 1947-08-31 4:00 PM EDT |
Miles Laboratories Alka-Seltzer / One-A-Day |
Joe Kelly, Kupperman | Louis G. Cowan (Prod.) | ["Quiz", "Game Show", "Education", "The Quiz Kids", "Alka-Seltzer"] |
Child prodigies solve linguistic word puzzles, classical music identifying quizzes, and algebraic speed problems. |
Novak_1947_FleetStreet.mp3 Alt: Pat Novak For Hire 1947 Episode |
"Fleet Street Waterfront Murder with Jack Webb" | ABC West Coast (KGO) 1947-08-31 7:00 PM PDT |
Sustaining Hardboiled Waterfront Noir |
Jack Webb, Raymond Burr | Richard L. Breen (Writer) | ["Detective", "Mystery", "Hardboiled", "Pat Novak For Hire", "Jack Webb"] |
Pat Novak is hired to rent a boat to an evasive stranger and finds himself framed when a murdered seaman is discovered floating beside the pier. |
Airport_1949_Diamonds.mp3 Alt: International Airport 1949 Episode |
"The Smuggled Diamonds on Flight 402 with ABC Radio" | ABC (WJZ) 1949-08-31 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Aviation Crime Drama |
Dramatic Voice Ensemble | Robert Sloane (Writer) | ["Drama", "Aviation", "Mystery", "International Airport", "ABC"] |
Customs investigators and airport security race against departing transatlantic flights to intercept an international jewel smuggler. |
Fibber_1936_Anniversary.mp3 Alt: Eighteenth Wedding Anniversary Fibber |
"Eighteenth Wedding Anniversary with Jim and Marian Jordan" | NBC Red (WEAF) 1936-08-31 8:00 PM EDST |
S.C. Johnson & Son Johnson's Wax / Glo-Coat |
Jim & Marian Jordan | Don Quinn (Writer) | ["Comedy", "Domestic", "Sitcom", "Fibber McGee and Molly", "Johnsons Wax"] |
Fibber attempts to plan an anniversary surprise dinner for Molly while keeping the budget hidden from visiting neighbors. |
Fibber_1955_Birthday.mp3 Alt: Fibber McGee Molly 1955 Episode |
"Molly's Birthday Gift Surprise with Jim and Marian Jordan" | NBC (WRCA) 1955-08-31 10:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Domestic Comedy |
Jim & Marian Jordan, Bryan | Phil Leslie (Writer) | ["Comedy", "Domestic", "Sitcom", "Fibber McGee and Molly", "NBC"] |
Fibber hunts for a misplaced jewelry box hidden inside the hall closet ahead of Molly's birthday party. |
2. Archival Verification Summary
- Target Calendar Day: August 31
- Broadcasts Resolved This Increment: 6
- Cumulative Resolved on August 31: 294 / 376
- Target Repositories Synchronized:
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