 Lux presents Hollywood the Lux Radio Theatre brings you Alice Faye Ray Milland and Robert Preston in Alexander's Ragtime Band. Ladies and gentlemen your producer Mr. Cecil B. DeMille. Greetings from Hollywood ladies and gentlemen the real history of our time isn't all in the textbooks some of it's in the song books and if you look under the name of Irving Berlin you will find songs that represent a whole chapter in the American saga. That history has never been told but it's been whistled and sung on the broadways and byways of America for more than 30 years. The first Irving Berlin song hit paved the way for the Jazz Age was the granddaddy of swing and gives the title to tonight's play Alexander's Ragtime Band. This is the story of a singer a songwriter and an orchestra leader who started as a professional trio and became an emotional triangle. It begins in the days before the world war and as it comes down the years you'll hear those Irving Berlin songs that are linked with the memories of our own time. As the singer in this cavalcade of melody Alice Faye has the same part she played in the picture. In fact playing singers of the more glamorous kind seems to be a very special talent with this young lady the most recent evidence being her success in Darryl Zanuck's 20th Century Fox production Lillian Russell. The second member of our dramatic triangle is Ray Merland as the orchestra leader the Alexander of Alexander's Ragtime Band. It's a perfect part for Ray and I think you'll like what he does with it. In the role of the songwriter we've cast Robert Preston now one of Paramount's brightest stars but when I first met him just in the tendon to the parking lot. As an actor Bob had his first big chance in my production Union Pacific and has gone from there to a starring role in my next picture Northwest Mounted Police so you can see what I think of it. We've set the stage for a fine performance here and if you'd like to do the same just star Lux Flakes in your home. Millions have done that already and their applause for Lux Flakes comes back to us all the time. Now our stage is set for Alexander's Ragtime Band and the curtain rises on the first act starring Alice Fay Estella Kirby Robert Preston as Charlie Dwyer and Ray Merland as Alexander first known as Rod Grant. San Francisco the Barbary Coast 1913. The man with the belligerent voice is a beefy gentleman known as Dirty Eddie proprietor of Dirty Eddie's Cafe Pride of the Coast. The gentleman reclining on the sidewalk committed an unforgivable sin. He sang a sour note while entertaining Eddie's select clientele composed mostly of thugs from the waterfront. As Eddie stands glowering in the swinging doors the girl comes from the street stepping carefully over the fallen tenor. Is that a coming out party? The bum sings off key I should have killed him. Oh you must be kind of hard to please tonight. Maybe I shouldn't have come. What do you want sister? Well I wouldn't be fresh air in this cute little cottage. Come on inside what's on your mind sister? They tell me you're going in for music. Well here I am. Yeah what do you play? I don't play. I sing and good. I've been up at Lefty's for three months. Maybe you're so good why aren't you there now? Lefty got fresh and I quit. I know I'll be safe here though. Yeah you'll be safe here. Sure like in a volcano. Sense of humor huh? Listen I'm gonna knock you right out of your seat tonight mister. I've got a song here that's dynamite brand new nobody on the barbie coast ever heard anything like it. You must have ordered yourself huh? No a friend of mine said it to me from New York. That's why you hear it. Let's see the music. Alexander's reg time band never heard of it. I told you it was new. Let me sing it will you please. Okay stick around a while I'll tell you when. Thanks. Hey Stella. Stell. Well for crying out like snapper. Are you still? Well am I glad to see you. Sit down will you. I ain't seen you since the fifth grade. Say did you ever learn long division. No I never even learned short division but I'm doing all I want out of it. Hey snapper Russia says we're all set. Okay hey Charlie I want you to meet Stella Kirby. Stella this is Charlie Dwyer the best piano player in Frisco. Hello Miss Kirby. Hello. Say do you fellas play here? No not yet we're just trying to get the job. We're gonna play for Eddie right now. Yeah well I'm singing for him later. Meet you out on the sidewalk Mr. Dwyer. How many of you are there? Oh just five counting Rod. Rod Grant he's a leader. Grant? Yeah. I don't think I know him. No nobody knows any of us that's a whole trouble. But Rod's got some pretty good ideas we get a break soon maybe. All right Charlie come on snapper ready to start. Oh excuse me. Oh that's all right. Oh this is Stella Kirby Rod. Rod Grant. Hello. How you doing. Now look Charlie in that last part I want the piano soft understand. And you too snapper you're coming in too strong I want everything soft and dreamy. Okay Rod. Now one more thing. Well I'll leave you gentlemen to your knitting. Well I'm sorry Miss Kirby. Don't mind me. See you around snapper. Nice girl isn't she. Charlie keep your mind on your business. All right you guys get started. All set Miss ready. Well go ahead and you better be good too see. Don't worry about that. Now I'll leave the worry into you guys. Go on now one thanks Mr. Ready. All right boys. Hey Rod. Rod wait wait. The music. What about the music. Well it. It's gone. It's gone. But you had it Charlie I saw it. Well I must have left it on the street car. But you couldn't do that. Well I did. Well what do we do now. Say are you guys going to play or not. Yes sir right away. Hey Rod look look here's the music you hear on the chair. Let me see it. Alexander's ragtime band. What's that. What's it look like Rod. It looks like that. I don't know what it looks like. We've got to play something. So come on. All right boys. OK Rod that's it our Charlie. Yeah. Hey look right if they start throwing bottles on me trying to ferry. Hey what is this stuff. Oh come on David just do your best we're in a spot let's go. Hey Rod I don't get it. What kind of rhythm is this. I don't know. I'm a crazy guy on murderous for this. Please please don't interrupt us now. Please Miss Kirby. Hey hey fellas. I got it. Just loosen up a little bit. Hit it. Come on. Come on and here. Come on and here. Alexander's ragtime band. Come on and here. Let you want to go to war. Just band water. Come on along. Come on along. Let me take you by the hand. I'll choose a man. And if you care to. I'm sorry Miss Kirby but. I don't believe that sorry stuff on me. The minute my back was turned trying to set yourself in here with my stuff. I didn't know that was your song I just write kids that's dynamite you're in sister who's in the whole bunch. Don't hook me up with this outfit. I came here to get a job for myself not for this crowd it was my music and my singing to put them over they don't know how to play their right. I suppose just because you can stand up here and shout you know everything about music I fight it out among yourselves but it's all of you and nothing. A beer for Mr. Alexander's ragtime band on the house. Hey my name is Alexander it's Roger Graham it's Alexander to me from now on so I don't know music. Maybe I don't know the track they play up and snob here but I know what they like down here and that's more than you'll ever know and if you think that I'm going to work with you take it easy take it easy what give you the idea to even have you in my band in your band give me my music now wait a minute this is a situation let's try and figure it out I've got it all figured out I don't want anything to do with you is that plain fancy pants always a pleasure to meet a lady good night Miss Kirby good night you now wait wait be a little reasonable reasonable what do you take me for a half what don't pay any attention to Roddy which is shooting off his mouth are you stick with us for a while we all need the job I wouldn't stay here if it was the last job on earth I've seen all I wanted that pain in the neck then you won't stick I told you no you know Miss Kirby I got an idea I can talk you into it we're still a Kirby just wanted to see how you look it's a pretty important opening for us well this dress will do it ought to cost me my last time don't think it's a little flashy dear what do you mean what all those feathers you shouldn't hide your beautiful throat under feathers take them off well now and I know wait a minute and those phony flowers you don't need them it's just like gilling the lily hey hey give me give me I'm afraid you'll have to take off that jewelry too why you too buy force not get out of here I wear what I like you're not dressing for your sale of friends now I'm trying to build a band that is class and distinction and I'm beginning tonight well let me tell you something I know how to dress and you were nobody else is going to tell me what to wear do you understand well you're not going out there looking like a comic Valentine and stop shouting suits me to hey Alex that pickle face owner sort of fit out there we better hop to it you ready Stella I'm not going on our stellar cut out all let her do what you want I don't want a woman with a band anyway oh here we go again what a sapphire was never let you talk me into this I knew how it would end with that conceded Stella I'm surprised that you he didn't mean anything but we just a little excited new place couple of new boys oh you can't let us down now there you go sticking up for him look what he did to my feathers I should have slapped his ears down well you can do that tomorrow you're gonna sing now sing I'll see him dead first all right then don't sing for Alex sing for me hmm please Stella now you're talking come on all right but you're just taking advantage of my good nature that's a girl just remember the three musketeers all for one yeah and that one's a pain in the neck yeah all right now come on outside what for I want you to get acquainted with Alex what are you talking about hurry up Charlie hey just a second Alex I want you to meet Miss Kirby what say what is this Miss Kirby this is Alex oh I believe we've met before sure but forget it you're meeting for the first time right now I take those chips off your shoulders it's not polite now what do you say we got to be good tonight what does he say well I guess Charlie's right you and I have entirely different points of view Miss Kirby but we both grown up and I don't see why with a little common sense we can't work together listen you're out to set the world on fire you're all hopped up with the idea that you've got something to give and you're gonna do it or bust well that's your business but don't try to make it my business all I'm trying to do is earn a living all I want is a job and this job's as good as another as long as I can pay my own way and as long as you leave me alone but listen you've got a great voice and a great future too if you don't need to realize your possibilities and try to make something up listen I'm doing all right I am what I am and I'm not gonna let you make me over into something else just to fit your plans I guess I have been unreasonable only seeing my side of it but all this means a lot to me music having my own band and whether we like it or not we seem to be tied up together we couldn't get this job without you and you probably couldn't get it without us but doesn't it seem sensible to try and meet each other halfway okay there you are you see how easy it is yeah but something tells me I'm sticking my head in a noose Alexander's ragtime band now on their fifth week of the cliff house how do you like it jolly well it's a long way from the Barbary Coast yeah and it's only the first step we just beginning hello Stella hey rehearsals not to three I know but I thought I'd get over a little early say you look swell isn't that another outfit yes I'm afraid it's too loud is it jolly no I think it's great I wonder I wonder if you'll realize how much you've changed in the last few months what do you mean change just because I pay more for my clothes and let my hair go natural that may be part of it oh I see you mean I'm getting to be a lady more refined and agreeable well you're wrong I'm just trying to save myself a lot of arguments oh sure it burns you up to get prettier every day I suppose we're just about break your heart if anybody told you you were blasting me into the most beautiful the most charming I'd call him a liar to his face all right I'm a liar say what's that you're playing oh just a little hit tune I've been working on you mean you wrote it you that's right you like it like it great it's marvelous hey take it easy no I'm the lovely just imagine you having I wrote it for you Stella if it's any good that's why thank Charlie I love to sing it sure I'll speak to Alex maybe we can work it into the ladies and gentlemen our next numbers being sung tonight for the first time written by one of the boys in the band Charlie Dwyer we have met the world may know the sentimental story it is from the tale of boy lost in imitation marvelous I never knew you could sing like that didn't you you ought to listen some time I was listening tonight I had a feeling that Stella you weren't singing that song but somebody will you I mean somebody in particular maybe that's what I thought I'm afraid to ask who you don't have to be you probably know you can see them enough imagine you and me like this what happened Alex don't ask me I guess the roof fell in on us the minute I started to sing that song look up here that's for tonight and that's for all the times I want to break your neck and this is for all the times I wanted to slap your ears down oh Alex do you suppose we've been in love with each other all of this time for me and over the girl who wears feathers not in your life well you were no Christmas bargain yourself darling don't you understand I'm an artist like pig million like oh oh just a Greek who took a hunk of Marvel and molded it and polished it into a beautiful woman and then you fell in love with it oh so you've just fallen in love with your own stature that's it no no no you fell in love with me the first time you ever saw me feathers and everything I guess you're right this is the real thing isn't it the realest thing that's ever happened when you decide to come back Charlie I sorry Charlie listen I don't say a word don't apologize don't explain I know all about it you see I was there when it happened what you were where I pour out my heart in a song to a dame and she takes it and pours out her heart to the boss well it was a good song Charlie and if you if you hadn't written it the lady and I might have gone on through life just slugging each other well when's the wedding hard don't be so practical he's just started courting me sure we just business partners no well then I guess it's all right to talk business Charles Dillingham's in town Dillingham the big producer himself I read it in the paper Alex this is the break you've been waiting for where's the telephone get me a phone he's got to hear us what do you say oh Alex it's wonderful he wants me to go to New York New York he's gonna make me a star oh darling isn't it the most wonderful thing you've ever heard everything you wanted for me yes but but what about the band well he says he can't use the band now but he'll find a place for you later oh isn't it marvelous can you believe it and you're going well of course I'm going I see well what did you expect me to do turn it down if it's the biggest break I'll ever get well at least you might have talked to me about it first I'll just go ahead and say yes without even thinking of me this isn't going to make any difference with us we can still be together you can come on to New York to and get a job I know Dillingham will find a spot for you that'll be great but you've told me over and over again that I could make something of myself if I tried and now just because it's happened you you're all burned up now it serves me right expecting anything from you of all the selfish little tin horn sports you're jealous because he wants me and not you and all that molding and polishing you weren't doing that for me you were doing it for yourself because you thought it would help you get ahead and now that it's backfired and help me you're yelling murder don't go on go on here go with him don't think I won't do the same thing if you had Alex don't let her go like that you're going telling you're wrong before it's too late also you're starting with her again I'm wrong and she's right sure you don't own Stella you can't order her around she has a right to decide for herself she doesn't know the band of thing we're liable to be stuck here the rest of our lives is that the way you feel about it yes I do why you're sticking around why don't you clear out too all right that's a good idea well maestro when does alexander's ragtime band hit Broadway doesn't what isn't any alexander's ragtime band in just a moment we raise the curtain on act two of alexander's ragtime band with Alice Fay Rameland and Robert Preston well it's June again and that means graduation time in school parties for millions of young people all over the country it was graduation time a year or so ago for Mary Coppersmith a charming girl down in Mobile Alabama her mother Mrs. A. J. Coppersmith wrote us for one of the last big school dances I made Mary a lovely sheer printed evening dress with the skirt measuring eight or ten yards round it seemed a little impractical but Mary just had to have it at the dance like to go out in the garden for a while Mary I'd love to beautiful tonight well let's take a turn around the that'd be grand I want one last look at it in the moonlight watch your dress it's awfully dusty here mother just look at the bottom of my skirt it's horribly dirty oh honey with all the red clay ground into it I'm afraid the dress is ruined what are we going to do I've got to have something for the garden party and open house at school we certainly can't afford to get you another dress could you possibly wash this I don't know oh mother please try I'll tell you what I'll try washing it in Lux Flakes they're so gentle I did just that I dipped the dress up and down in lukewarm luck suds and then rinsed it carefully every bit of the soil came out and the dress looked as lovely as ever that one experience saved us nearly $10 naturally I think Lux is simply wonderful and so do millions of other women they're more enthusiastic than ever now because of new quick Lux it's a wonderfully fast in water as cool as your hand it dissolves three times as fast as any of ten other leading soaps tested it's the quick easy care for everything safe and water alone and thrifty care too you know why because new quick Lux goes further gives more suds ounce for ounce even in hard water than any of the other soaps tested and of course it has the same marvelous Lux purity that you've always known the famous safety that has made Lux the leading care for fine fabrics the country over when you place your order tomorrow get the thrifty big box of new quick Lux it comes in the same familiar package costs you no more will keep your nice things washable silks rayons cartons and woolens new looking longer now our producer mr. DeMille act two of Alexander's ragtime band starring Alice Fay is still a Kirby Ray Milan does Alexander and Robert Preston as Charlie Dwyer it's January in 1919 the world is just beginning to relax after the horrors of the war on Broadway on a cold gusty morning Alex makes his ways slowly toward the Globe Theater he's still in uniform but the old jauntiness is gone his face is tired and gray and he leans heavily on a cane in the lobby he stands for a moment reading the playbill Charles Dillingham presents stellar Kirby in come one come all then he turns slowly and limps toward the stage entrance everybody on stage please we'll run through that last scene almost Kirby will you stand by please right here anybody got a cigarette if I want to mine well it's Alex when the word come outside I saw your name out front I thought I'd just drop in and when did you get back a couple of days ago that's wonderful all right oh sure did you get up to the front off and on but but you didn't get hit no no scratch and then why are you all you mean the cane well that's just little fat I picked up on the other side without my walking stick I'd feel a little bit undressed I tried to see you before you left Alex you did I didn't know you were doing that show for the armor here in New York I was there the last night I went backstage you'd gone it's too bad we didn't get together still I wanted to tell you how sorry I was well for everything will you forgive me of course I will I've never stopped loving you Alex oh let's get out of here I just can't stand here just talking I want to put my arms around you and tell you that Alex you don't know what it's been like wanting you every second you've never been out of my mind I don't care what's happened and either do you we belong to each other Alex don't you know no what Charlie and I had been married for more than a year sorry I thought you knew no I didn't miss Stella Mr. Dillingham has an idea that hey hello Charlie Alex how are you oh fine you just got back that's right just got brown to say hello I'm glad you did Alex sorry I wasn't with you over there my I never got further than hoboken well I see you did the songs for set Stella's new show well congratulations thanks blame it on Stella she cracked the whip well it's been great seeing you two again I can't you stay and have lunch with us no no sorry I got a couple of fellas waiting to see me goodbye Stella bye so long Charlie so long he's changed a lot hasn't he in some ways Alex here's the setup we round up some of the boys maybe snapper maybe yet if we can find him and you and me and we put Alexander's ragtime band right back on the map what do you say have another drink Dave no listen will you Jerry here has swell pipes haven't you Jerry sure the agents are fighting over who gets me they're all willing to give me up to the other guy I'll cut it out she's swell Alex honest she can do the vocals and we'll be back in the running bigger and better than ever oh what's the hurry hey what do you mean what's the hurry we gotta get jobs we gotta eat don't why hey listen what is this the bank grows getting thin our time enough to worry when it's gone drink this Davy say are you crazy sure you mind Jerry certainly not I'm a little cracked myself you see she understands she knows we heroes have to have a little time to adjust ourselves cut that out the boys aren't going to sit around and wait for the mood to hit you they're going to get other jobs and then where will we be I'll bite where oh listen listen Alex I need a job and I promised Jerry that she'd get a job with you Davy let him alone can't you see he doesn't want to talk business business what's that you know the thing you do to take your mind off your drinking Jerry you're a very understanding girl I wish I was raring to go but unfortunately I'm not forget it it's all the same to me just out of step I guess you'll catch sure when like Davy says when the mood hits you almost home honey do you want to go somewhere for a drink thanks Charlie I'd rather not okay by me so you like you tonight Stella and so did I guess the show's in for a run yeah another year at least a year that's a long grind isn't it what's the matter Stella you're not yourself at all anymore I'm sorry just tired I guess forget it come on darling you can put the car up Jim yes who's that hey it's snapper are you Charlie are you still why are you all son of a gun never of all people look Charlie a baby car she's a father he's certainly great to see you folks what are you doing here in New York and out with a baby this time it's nice oh nothing how are you both anyway gee you look great same to you and let's have a look at the baby no don't touch a carrot Charlie I mean well I I wouldn't disturb him now oh it's a hint well no no no it ain't oh a girl oh swell snapper well to tell you the truth folks it it ain't either it's a it's six bottles of Scotch what a bootlegger how old is it snapper about six hours right out of the bathtub you too you too sure doing all right ain't you huh caught your show Stella you're certainly come a long way right up on top and the music's all right too Charlie thanks never don't forget snapper you had a hand at all of it way back in the beginning it's funny ain't it you and Charlie on Broadway and Alex down at Greenwich Village Alex down in the village sure him and Davey got a swell band down at Scarby's I got on the job happened to run in when they were broke anytime you want to come down just use my name thanks never well I got to beat it now I got to put the kid to bed never been great seeing you fellas yeah well so long I guess he's doing all right the end of a great musician it's funny about Alex too I mean him and Davey together again down in the village I thought they'd gone back to San Francisco so did I say what do you say we drop in and see him sometime for old time's sake I'd rather not those old times are over what's these are trying to rake them up again never works sometimes it does how do you mean Stella you're not too tired to talk for a minute are you what's on your mind well I've I've been doing a lot of thinking lately making up a lot of speeches about life and marriage and fate you know very profound stuff but it all seems very silly now that I'm sitting here with you like this somehow it doesn't go with you you're too honest and direct what is it all right here goes what do you say we call this marriage off yeah a market up to experience a grand adventure while it lasted but I don't let's spoil it by beginning to pretend a lot of things we don't feel you're still in love with Alex aren't you yes I suppose so I thought it was over I guess you just can't turn those things on and off yeah of course not you that's what I'm getting at but but no there aren't any butts about it I'm a lucky guy to have had you as long as I had I'm grateful for every minute of it but I want you to be happy I guess I never should have married you I honestly didn't realize what I was doing down in my heart I guess I belong to Alex I always have sure I know that now I guess I should have known it all along well you go on to get a divorce then you too can make a life for yourselves a real life no not a word people talk too much anyhow he's a pride of Greenwich Village hello snapper yeah did you come to see Alex yes I did he be through in a while then we're having our own private party party sure yeah come on over here we got a table all set for us oh but look snapper I just wanted to see Alex I didn't want to hone in on a private party come on come on say the boys will fall all over each other when they see you still hey is that stellar Kirby hello Davey oh say are you terrific you look like you were born on Fifth Avenue oh you look pretty swell yourself how are you anyhow never better say where's Charlie I ain't seen him in years oh he's out of town Davey oh that's a shame you know he's the only one of the old gang not here hey Alex Alex look what I found hey stellar Kirby everybody our own little personal gift to Broadway just like all home week a maestro hello Stella hello Alex just in time for the celebration sit down oh this is Jerry Allen Mrs. Dwyer how do you do how do you do how's jolly oh fine thanks I didn't mean to bust you know and you're like this well I'm glad you did you see we're leaving right after you finish up leaving yeah sure we're on our way to Europe Stella how do you like it Europe you mean the band yeah one of those horses who's hit us finally we landed the contract that's wonderful but it's rather sudden isn't it well you see they needed a band in a hurry and we were lucky hey lucky nothing we've got the hardest band in New York and yada here Jerry sing you're with a band yes I am she took your place I tried to anyway Jerry is great one of the best hey Alex Alex is a couple of friends of mine over there want to meet you give him a break will you okay excuse me Stella don't be long Alex I'm sorry I missed hearing you sing Jerry thank you I enjoyed your show very much how long have you been with the band ever since it started again I was one of the charter members then you must have met Alex soon after he came back from the war yes he was still in sort of a days from it I stepped in and helped him snap out of it that was very fortunate for him for me too you see Alex and I are going to be married well I'm really very happy for you thanks all right boys it's gonna work come on Jerry already oh Miss Kirby would you sing this one if you don't mind I love it I know yeah why not Stella sort of goodbye Jesse just for luck I'll make an announcement well Stella and guess I haven't much of a chance I mean I won't have much of a chance to say goodbye to you later so say it now Alex goodbye goodbye and good luck to you over there good luck to you we have a great celebrity with us tonight Miss Stella Kirby we bring you back three of Alexander's ragtime band with Alice Fey Ray Milan and Robert Preston during this short intermission here's Libby Collins with more news from the fashion front what is it tonight Libby fingertip fashions mr. Roy rings on her fingers and bells on her toes rings on her fingers is right mr. Roy great big ones a ring with one huge stone is the smartest thing this season and topaz and aquacolor stones the most popular they're inexpensive and very striking looking white beads combined with crystal are especially good for bracelets they're really lovely they're so cool and fragile that means hands have to look cool and fragile too don't they certainly do rough red hands are out of fashion anytime whether a woman wears rings or not we'll have to do something about that the best place to start is in the kitchen when you're doing the dishes now don't use harsh soaps that roughen your hands instead try new quick luxe it's a wonderfully mild and pure it helps your hands stay soft and dainty and feminine a test of five leading soaps including luxe proved that hundreds of women took the test dipping one hand in luxe suds the other in suds from another soap they did this for 20 minutes three times a day for weeks under conditions similar to home dishwashing when their hands were examined scientists conducting the tests found the luxe hands were still smooth and soft the other hands rough and red and ugly looking think of that one hand test when you're buying soap for your dishes and ask for new quick luxe it comes in the same familiar box at no extra cost it's fast it's thrifty and it's so gentle it'll help keep your hands soft smooth and lovely looking we pause now for station identification this is the Columbia broadcasting system curtain rises on the third act of Alexander's ragtime band six months of past and Alexander's ragtime band in England and on the continent has gone from one success to another but the months have been empty ones for Stella her heart is no longer in her work alone on the darkened stage of the Globe theater she sits at the piano idly picking out a tune hey take it easy what do you say no use going on like this you know as well as I do I haven't been delivering what you're crazy you've just been off your feed you'll snap out of it all right no it's more than that there's no use messing things up for everybody I just can't give so I'm bowing out Stella do you realize what you're doing what this means to you do you know you're throwing away everything you've worked for all your life yes I know but I'm an old hand at throwing things away sorry Mac okay I guess you know what you're doing I'd better tell Mr. Dillingham because I don't mind walking they say that London fog makes your cheeks rosy but I'm afraid it makes you wet too I'm sorry Jerry we'll get a can come on I was just kidding I wanted to see if you still remembered how to talk I guess I'm not very good company these days what's on your mind Alex the band's doing swell you've got a chance to go back to New York if you want on that radio deal we're sitting on top of the world what more do you want are you gonna take that program maybe Jerry what I was just thinking let's get married are you on that subject again well why not a couple of months ago was all set let's take the plunge now tonight you don't really want to marry me you're just trying to avoid the bachelor tax don't you think we get along of course we would and why not because you are in love with me Alex I used to think you were but I was wrong you mean an awful lot to me Jerry I know I do but that's not enough to marry on I'm not complaining Alex and I'm not asking for a thing just remember that you think too straight for me Jerry but you're a swell person thanks let's go shall we that fog is leaking through my shoes played by Alexander's rag time with us again next week at the same time Alexander may be heard nightly in the tropics room of the Drake Hotel in New York this is Darren Howard speaking and good night trying to see before the show but you were pretty busy Charlie is great to see you come on I want to speak to you oh swell have you been doing oh so so say I hear you're doing all right yeah I've been pretty lucky what's all this about a concert at Carnegie Hall well it's not settled yet but I've got an idea people might go for the modern stuff yeah sure why not yeah say you've been writing anything Charlie oh little I got a number I thought you might like to hear I'll be glad to I'll plug it at the hotel thanks I'll bring it in tomorrow Stella I don't know what I haven't heard from her in a long time she disappeared right after the divorce divorce you and Stella divorced yeah just didn't pan out I knew she wasn't in show business but I I thought you two are leading a quiet life someplace raising a family not Stella things got a little tough for me and she walked down now I should have expected it what are you talking about Stella wouldn't walk out on anybody she did on me you're a liar Charlie Stella's as well as girl I ever knew if she walked out on you she had a good reason so you're still in love with it well what of it well that's all I wanted to know she's still in love with you you weren't gonna sock me were you and she didn't walk out how you know her better than that we just busted up that's all Charlie I've got to find it sure but where I tried for months somebody saw in Chicago singing in some dive by the time I got there she'd gone she's changed her name dropped right out of the picture folks are pretty little vocalist miss Lily Lamont you say I wanted to ask you Stella Kirby singing here no no no Lily Lamont I changed my name before the personality seen Alex no you're going to his concert tonight aren't you no I don't think so you ought to go Stella this is a pretty big night for him he kind of like to know you were sitting out there he doesn't need me no well he's been looking high and low for you that's all yes why don't you go and see him no no let him keep thinking of me the way I was oh you're crazy Stella you're coming with me I got a box no thanks finish up here tonight and I'm catching a train at 11 oh look still still I gotta make a telephone call I'll be right back you're going to call Alex Alex no no certainly not sit tight I'll only be a minute yeah I will oh Joe Joe what's your mother Joe when when that fella comes back tell him I couldn't wait will you where do you want to go now lady I don't care I still got an hour to kill before my train leaves just drive around okay how about the park doesn't matter like some music kind of helps the past the time away that guy sure got it who's that coming from Carnegie Hall Alexander's right time band I was a matter lady don't you like it want me to turn it off well stop we ought to stop so we can appreciate it oh that's where it comes from that's Carnegie Hall over there but I didn't ask to go to Carnegie Hall I know you didn't might as well be standing still as cruising around all right the magic can't be inside and hear it right turn it off now we've got to listen to one play Alexander's ragtime band we can't go without that I don't want to hear it turn it off I tell you why don't you want to hear it because I can't gentlemen we're going to play Alexander's ragtime band for two reasons one because I consider it the first and best of all swing songs second because this particular song means more to me than any other piece of music hearing it may take you back playing it takes me back so if you'll forgive me I'd like to play this song not only for you but especially for the one person with whom I associated did you hear that Miss Kirby how did you know my name I heard you sing many a time and you remembered me sure he was great you ought to be in there miss Kirby go on why don't you go ahead just wanted to watch a minute I'm Stella Kirby oh miss Kirby well of course miss Kirby come right over here you can see fine from here miss Kirby I'm so forget it look out there he sees your Stella he wants you out there no I can't go ahead go on out there this is your number Stella Stella come out here no no no I go on I tell you go on how to girl Stella come on Stella sing sing darling sing give Alexander's ragtime band with Alice Fay Ray Merland and Robert Preston mr. DeMille returns with our stars in just a moment while we're waiting we have time for a song about well about something that women all over the country using their homes every day and that is speedy new quick looks listen to the song of bubbly luck sir millions of bubbles so speedy luck bubbles will bubble your troubles away life is a song with bubbly luck sir fluffy white bubbles these 50 bucks bubbles will bubble your troubles away here's new quick looks turn on the water here come the bubbles you've hardly begun when your work is all down hold life is a song with bubbly luck sir millions of bubbles those speedy luck bubbles are ever so gentle you say that song tells how new quick looks flakes helps you they're fast they're thrifty and so gentle kind to hands and kind to washable colors and fabrics to ask for the generous large box of new quick looks flakes tomorrow it's in the same familiar package and cost you no more here's mr. DeMille with our stars tonight we welcome three new stars to these footlights as Alice Fay Ray Milan and Robert Preston take their first curtain call in the Lux Radio Theater thank you mr. DeMille I think we all had a good time here this week doing Alexander's ragtime band and the three strangers we found our way around without any trouble what I hear Alice has been finding a way around most of the United States in the last few weeks just part of it Bob I went to Pittsburgh for the premiere of Lillian Russell and then on to New York for the first showing there this you like best Pittsburgh in New York I used to live in New York but I always wanted to try personally I think these trips around the country when a picture opens are one of Hollywood's greatest inventions I made one with mr. DeMille last year and you've got to make another one this year Bob a good stiff gallop for Northwest Mountain police if I can only stick with you long enough boss I may see the world yet well we're taking a little trip in the Lux Radio Theater next Monday night Bob a trip across the Pacific in the play till we meet again who's going to be in it mr. DeMille our stars will be Merle Oberon George Brent and Pat O'Brien in the same parts they played on the Warner Brothers screen production of till we meet again it's the drama of two people who fall in love the first time they meet and the barrier that stands between them each has a strange secret a secret they dare not tell and which leads to some of the best drama of the year Merle Oberon George Brent and Pat O'Brien well that's three pretty strong reasons for listening so mr. DeMille goodnight goodnight goodnight goodnight our sponsors the makers of Lux Flakes joined me in inviting you to be with us again next Monday night when the Lux Radio Theater presents Merle Oberon George Brent and Pat O'Brien in till we meet again this is Cecil B. DeMille saying goodnight to you from Hollywood heard in tonight's play with Hal K. Dawson the snapper Nancy Leitch is Jerry Wally mayor is Davey do Merle as manager Warren Ash as Eddie and Earl Ross Fred Shields Walter White Dick Ryan lowest Collier and James Eagles Irving Berlin's latest musical show Louisiana Purchase has already brought the applause of critics and public alike Robert Preston is now on the screen in the Paramount Technicolor production Typhoon in which he co-stars with Dorothy Lamour Ray Milland will soon be seen in the same studio's Technicolor picture untamed our music was directed by Lewis Silvers and your announcer has been Melville Roick heard tonight for the title song from the picture Alexander's ragtime band and say say it with music from the music box review of 1921 this is the Columbia broadcasting system