The Hallmark Playhouse "August Heat" (9-29-49) - Boxcars711 Saturday Matinee Two

THE HALLMARK PLAYHOUSE was heard over CBS stations Thursday evenings. This drama anthology of 30-minute shows was sponsored by, of course, Hallmark Greeting Cards. It was preceded by the RADIO READER'S DIGEST, which ran from September 13, 1942 thorugh June 3, 1948. Hallmark sponsored the RADIO READER'S DIGEST from January 13, 1946 to it's end. On Feb. 8, 1953, the series name and format was changed. It was now called THE HALLMARK HALL OF FAME and presented biographal sketches of famous persons, past and present. The new format was used until the end of the 1955 season. The exception to the new format was the broadcast each Christmas season of "A Christmas Carol". Like other dramatic series of this time, this one made use of major screen actors in the productions. James Hilton, author of "Random Harvest", "Lost Horizon" and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" plus others, served as host and Narrator. Dee Engelbach produced and directed the shows. Jean Holloway was the writer. Sound Effects were by Harry Essman and Gene Twombly. Musical conductor was Lyn Murray. The show's theme was "Dream of Olwne" by Charles Williams.THIS EPISODE:September 29, 1949. CBS network, KMBC, Kansas City Missouri aircheck. "August Heat". Sponsored by: Hallmark Cards. An eerie story about an artist caught in a New York heatwave, and a tombstone with his name cut into it. The script was also used on "Suspense" on May 3, 1945, and on "Sleep No More" on November 28, 1956. James Hilton (host), Frank Goss (announcer), Fred MacMurray, Ed Begley, W. F. Harvey (writer). 29:32.