 Ladies and gentlemen, the railroad hour. And here comes our star-studded show train. Tonight, the Association of American Railroads brings you a popular version of Friedrich von Flotow's immortal opera, Martha, starring Gordon MacGray and his celebrated guest, Gladys Swarthout. Our choir is under the direction of Norman Luboff, and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. Yes, tonight, another famous drama with music is brought to you by the American Railroads, the same railroads that bring you the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the fuel you burn, and the multitude of other things you use in your daily life. And now, here is our star, Gordon MacGray. Thank you, Marvin Miller, and good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, I shall be Lionel, and Miss Gladys Swarthout will sing the title role in our railroad hour impression of Martha. Do you hear that? That's Martha, the most beautiful, the most wonderful. But wait a minute, we're getting ahead of our story here. Let me start by explaining something. You see, back in England in the days of Good Queen Anne, they had a health problem, the same as we have today. And that's why they started the fair at Richmond, where all the servants gathered in holiday dress to look for employment. Right now, I'm bound for the Richmond Fair to find a good maid servant to work on my farm. Sir Treestrum. Yes, Lady Harriet. What is that singing? I believe it is the servant people marching to the fair at Richmond. Oh, happy they sound. I wish that my life would be so full of songs. What you need is diversion, Lady Harriet. I shall take you to luncheon at the donkey races. Oh, dreary. Oh, bolt excursions. Dreary or yet? I might put my arm about your waist and plant a kiss upon your brow. That, Sir Treestrum, would be dreary at the ball. I am always playing Romeo without a jewel yet. I have an idea. Let us go to the fair at Richmond. Impossible, it is for peasants. Just a change of clothes will turn you into Bob the Plaman. What a ghastly thought. And I shall don a homespun country dress and become the maid servant. Come, Plaman Bob, we're off to the fair at Richmond. Ride and bust the masses, come, the fair shall now begin. Show your rosy faces and a heart you soon shall win. Ride and bust the masses, come, the fair shall now begin. Show your rosy faces and a heart you soon shall win. Attention, all of you. I desire a young woman to serve as a maid of all work in my house. She must be young and she must be pretty. Oh, dear, Sir Treestrum, he's looking straight at me. Come, Lady Harriet, let us be guard. Wait! You in the country homespun. You call to me, sir? Yes. What is your name, little serving girl? They call me Martha. Martha, indeed. Well, what can you do, my child? Well... I can boast, sir, I can boast, sir. I can bake and broom and sing like you. Come, mind a house and rule it too. There's not I cannot do. Worth five guineas I will hire her. On my farm I shall come to work for me. But a high-born lady cannot go to work as a barn servant. It's not proper. I can boast, sir, I can boast, sir. I can bake and broom and sing like you. Come, mind a house and rule it too. You're a pig girl. I can see no harm come through your farm for a house. And rule it too. There's not no better way to get us through. So the bargain's made. Done. So the bargain's made. Done. So you can mow and you can mow and you can mule. Mind a cow and mind a house. And rule it too. There's not a better way to get us through. So the bargain's made. So the bargain's made. So the bargain's made. So the bargain's made. So the bargain's made. Lady Harriet, you realize what you've done? It's only a joke, Sir Tristram. A joke? By the law of England you're bound to serve that man for a year. Come, Martha, climb upon my hay wagon. We're off to my farm. There's only one thing to do. Make a dash for it. Try to get away. But I don't want to get away, Sir Tristram. What? I like him. Well, good Martha, welcome to my house. Now, what are we going to have for dinner tonight? Nothing, sir. What? I've never been in a kitchen in my life. Oh, you prefer to work in the fields then? Dirty my hands farming. I should say not. What? What a servant. What a... at least you can spin. No. But I'm willing to learn. Well, here. Sit down at the spinning wheel and I'll show you how it works. Oh, but fun! This may set the wheel of flying. Set it worrying. Set it flying. How delightful see it flying. Worth the tether with a will. But I've even said you're flying. Never let your will be tilled. Come, you will not lose. But my mind can see you have a will. While the golden thread is flying. See your merry-go-round. See your merry-go-round. Sing a merry-go-round. Sing a merry-go-round. Sing a merry-go-round. Sing a merry-go-round. Sing a merry-go-round. Sing a merry-go-round. Careful there. You'll tip over the wheel. So clumsy. Now, now dear Martha, do not worry. You will learn. Oh, forgive me. I've deceived you. As you see, I'm not better to do a maid's work. All I can do is laugh and sing. Not now. I insist. You insist. I pray you. It is late. May I retire to my room? Of course, my dear. Garage is waiting below, Lady Harriet. You must leave now before this madness goes any farther. You are right, Sir Tristram. I will hurt him if I leave. But I shall hurt him far more if I remain. We'll return with act two. Farmer, businessman, engineer, soldier, statesman. President of the United States. George Washington's achievements and interests were immense and widely diversified. And not the least of these interests was transportation. For George Washington, perhaps the number one American tourist of his day, had a very keen insight into the essential role transportation would have to play if America were to achieve her destiny as one of the great powers of the earth. He saw that unless some way were found in the United States, he saw that unless some way were found to overcome the enormous labor and tremendous cost of moving small quantities of goods by the muscles of men and animals, our settlements would never stray very far from water, and our production and consumption of goods would remain restricted largely to articles of subsistence and local origin. Unfortunately, the father of our country did not live to see the solution to the problem. That came some 30 years later when the railroads succeeded in applying mechanical power to land transportation. And then, even Washington would have been amazed at the speed with which America expanded, once the railroads opened up the rich resources of the continent. In the track of the iron horse, agriculture flourished with ever-widening markets for its produce. Industry developed as raw materials were easily carried where they were needed and finished goods were made readily available at prices people could afford. And today, a century later, America's railroads are still growing in strength, still setting new records for efficiency in their service. For there is nothing in existence and nothing in sight which can take the place of the train of cars on tracks ready to haul anything in any quantity over any distance between all sections of the country and in all seasons of the year. As a result, railroads haul more goods more miles than all other forms of transportation combined. Their average charge is lower than that of any other form of general transportation. This is a wonderful and healthy sign for America. For it gives assurance that the best is yet to come. And that together, America and its railroads will continue to grow stronger and more productive than ever. Now act two of the Lawrence and Lee version of Martha starring Gordon McRae as Lionel and Gladys Swarthout in the title role. Martha! Wake up my pretty one. We'll have another lesson at the spinning wheel. Martha? Martha! I am lost now. Lost. I have searched everywhere for her. It was no use. Trees of the forest, tell me where is she? Harriet, you do not seem to be enjoying the hunt. Surely you know why, Sir Tristan. We are close by the forests of Richmond. Were you played the servant maid for a week? Yes. For the happiest week of my life. Martha! I have not saved me, it is Lionel. Martha, you have come back. Sir, whom do you address as Martha? Why, this young lady? I hired her as a maid servant at Richmond Fair. The man is raving. This is Lady Harriet. No, the dress is different. But the eye is in the face. It is my Martha. I think you are mistaken, sir. Tell me, lass, do you remember me? We have never met before. You are my Martha. I am not. And I do not know if you are a high-born lady or a serving girl. But I know you have deceived me. It is better to sell my child. But if he could love me as a serving girl, may I not teach him to love me as a Lady Harriet? Pray no rash decisions, my lady. Good, Priest Rome. Will you go and search for him and help me groom him for a proposal of marriage? From him? It is always my fate to be a groom but never to a bride. Here is my plan. You will seek out Lionel and... What is this place? What does it look like, sir? The banners, the gay crowds. I could swear that this is Richmond Fair. It is in your honor, sir, that the courtyard of our castle has been decked out as the Fair at Richmond. In my honor? I don't understand. Boy, you will. Well, choose yourself a young lady, sir. Let's see you to the last over there in the dress of country homes, pardon. Martha? Not Martha, sir. The Lady Harriet. But no less ready to do your bidding. Tell me, lass, can you cook and spin and sew? What can you do, Lady Harriet or Martha? I shall have two brides and one love for both of them. I can just one moment. Meanwhile, our thanks to Carlton Young who played Sir Tristram and our entire company. Martha was prepared for the railroad hour by Lawrence and Lee. The railroad hour is brought to you each week at the same time by the American Railroads. Marvin? There are few more wonderful sites in the world than the activity that goes on in a big and busy freight yard. The endless succession of heavily loaded freight cars moving out to every part of the country is not only fascinating to watch, but it gives a vivid picture of just how big and busy our nation really is. Box cars, refrigerator cars, truck cars, tank cars, gondolas and hoppers. All are loaded with the things we eat, wear and use every day of our lives. All engaged in the essential job of moving the nation's commerce and speeding our national defense. It's a big job. A railroad job. Thank you, Marvin. You're so right. And now dear friends, here again is tonight's guest, the charming and delightful Gladys Swarthouse. Thank you, Gordon. It's been quite a while since I've taken a trip on the show train and it's good to be back. Well, Gladys, you have a standing invitation to join us at this microphone and any Monday that you like. What's on the show train next week, Gordon? Listen. That sounds like Johann Schrupp. Yes, it is. It's the Great Waltz, Gladys. And charming Elaine Malden will be our guest. We'll all be listening. Good night, Gordon. Good night, Gladys. You were wonderful. All aboard! Well, dear friends, it looks as if we're ready to pull out. Until next Monday night and the Great Waltz on behalf of the other members of the cast and the American Railroads. This is your friend Gordon McRae saying good night. Martha was presented by special arrangement with the Tams Whitmark Music Library. In the weeks ahead, the railroad hour will bring you such stories and stars as the Great Waltz with Elaine Malden, Victor Herbert's classic, the Red Mill with Eileen Farrell as guest, Lucille Norman as the bride of Tom Moore and the minstrel boy and Miss Malden returning to play the title role in Irene. Every Monday night, the American Railroads promise you an unforgettable evening of music on the show train. Gordon McRae can be seen in Three Sailors and a Girl in Technicolor. Our choir is out of the direction of Norman Luboff and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. This is Marvin Miller saying good bye until next week for the American Railroad. Now keep tuned for your Monday night of music on NBC.