 Remember a Hallmark card when you'll carry enough to send the very best. To Bobby Driscoll in Knee Pants by Amel Schoemacher on the Hallmark Playhouse. Hallmark will bring you Hollywood's greatest stars in outstanding stories chosen by one of the world's best known authors. The distinguished novelist, Mr. James Hilton. This is James Hilton. Tonight on our Hallmark Playhouse we present Amel C. Schoemacher's delightful story of his own childhood which he very aptly titled Knee Pants. His adventures were not only amusing and worth the turn of this century. Those of us who were born about that time can't help but treasure our memories of it of so much that was wonderful no matter where we lived, New York or London or some little place nobody ever heard of. Teen year old Bobby Driscoll who last year won a richly deserved Academy Award as the best juvenile actor. And Mr. Frank Doss, before we begin the first act of Knee Pants. There are Hallmark cards for every memorable occasion on your calendar. For birthdays, anniversaries, holidays. Yes, for every occasion that calls for remembrance, for a friendly greeting or a say. There is a Hallmark card that says just what you want to say. The way you want to say it. And that identifying Hallmark on the back. Well, that says you carried enough to send the very best. Now Hallmark Playhouse presenting Knee Pants starring Bobby Driscoll. This century in uptown New York, it was the era when hobbled skirts were in style and horses were in clover. It was the time when the showmakers bought their first touring car, a spacious, handsome machine with a gleaming brass radiator, acetylene headlights and a burnished taillight that sparkled like diamonds and rubies. It was the period when a family fortified with a picnic hamper would go adventuring into Central Park to spend a very pleasant Sunday afternoon. And this day being Sunday, the showmakers were on their way. To the church we'll gently steal and the wedding bells will peel. You may go. I know my dear. Now, Mom, we did 21 last Sunday. Be still, Abel. Joseph, you're on the go. Why don't you move to the mother-in-law seat? But Dad, Mom isn't a mother-in-law. Ha! You slow down this instant. I am a veterinary surgeon. Here's a can of polish in the rag. Start shining the taillight. Ah, but we just got here. Your mother and I will take a walk and then I'm going to take my nap. Any chance you're oversleeping today, Dad? I don't think so. Oh, some fellas have all the luck. What's the matter with you? Oh, nothing. I'll start polishing. Thank you, Emil. When I return, I expect to be able to see my face. Please, Jeannie, if I rub this lamp hard enough, will you make my dream come true? It's real important. Hello, Emil. Oh, Mr. Bohaffi. Got any new giraffes in your zoo? No. Why are you rubbing that lamp so hard? I was pretending it was Aladdin's lamp and a Jeannie would appear and grab me my wish. No. What's your wish? To make Father sleep until it's dark. Then I can light the lamps of our automobile. I've never seen them yet. Emil, your Jeannie has arrived. Where? I don't see him. He's right here beside me. Now, he just whispered that you're going to ride home in the dark. Oh, that'd be wonderful, Mr. Bohaffi. Jeannie just instructed me to take this mat and let the air out of this tire like this. But Mr. Bohaffi will have a flat tire. It'll take about an hour to fix it. That's why you'll get home when it's dark. The Jeannie just told me. The horse-drawn fire wagons that charge madly down the street as if they really were going to a fire. You remember the spotted dog, the Dalmatian, who kept pace with the charging horses? And the exciting clang-clang of the fire bell? There were no shrieking sirens then. As a veterinary, Father Schoemacher spent quite a bit of his time at the firehouse and young Emil liked nothing better than to accompany him. And while Emil knew every horse in the fire station on 89th Street, his favorite was Old Smoky, a big dappled gray. Mr. Klein, is it true that you're going to send Smoky away? Yes, Emil. But Smoky's a real hero. How can you want to hurt him? I don't want to hurt him, son, but, well, he's pretty old. Don't you think you better go on to school? I'm not going. This is more important. I'm not afraid of any old, true old officer. I was when I went to school, son. Dad! Dad, listen, do you know what they're going to do with Old Smoky? Yes, the law says the fire department must retire all their horses as they get automobile equipment. Naturally, the oldest horses must go first. But what's to become of them? Well, Emil, I guess the youngest ones will be sold quickly. They're fine horses and can still do a lot of work. But the old ones like Smoky... Yes? I just don't know. Oh, Dad, don't shoot him. I won't let them! No, please, Emil. Dad, isn't there some place where they take old horses, like they do old people? Well, yes, there is. There are several farms where horses can be put out to pasture. The only thing, son, is that it costs quite a bit of money for its feed and its keep. Dad, you give me 20 cents a week allowance. I can pay for Smoky's keep with that. I'd just spend it on ice cream and candy anyhow. It would be a lot better for my teeth if I don't have any more of that. Good sons. Don't you think 20 cents a week will be enough? Under the circumstances, it just might be. Yes, I'm quite sure, Emil. Remember when you hoped to be the toughest kid on the block? As tough as Lefty Scotty or Herbie Gomez, who weren't afraid to walk on 88th Street among the dreaded 88s? Remember when your mother said it was time you gave up Lefty and the other bad boys and stopped being destructive? Of course, you didn't listen. But when she said you were going to start dancing lessons and it would be nice for you to escort Delores drink her, then your world suddenly fell on you. The kids on the block, every last one of them, would call you a sissy. I'm going to run away from home, Lefty. That's what I'll do. Where are you going? Out West. Want some company? No, I'm going alone. I'm going to conceal my real name and be known only as Slim. No? Maybe it'd sound better if I called myself Silent Slim. Well, gee, when are you going to leave? Oh, I'm not. I can't go West. Why not? My uncle Lip lives out there, and he'd be sure to find me. But the West is big, so is my uncle. Maybe I could get Dr. Burns to tell Mother I was sick and had to live far out in the country where there were no dancing classes because they were bad for my heart. That's a good idea, Emil. No, that wouldn't work. Why not? My father's a horse doctor. He could tell. Well, gee, you're really a betrayer, aren't you? Maybe you'd better leave it up to me, huh? But what is there you can do? Well, I'm an adventurer, ain't I? You did? All right. I'll drink you here in the cellar any minute. You are? Well, maybe I'd better leave then. Depend on a person like Houdini. You want to make me make an elephant disappear? I've only had an elephant. Yeah, do it with me. Make me disappear. Well, you're not an elephant. That's what you know. Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. Well, Laura, I'll show you how to saw a woman in half. That's right. Then you're the woman. No! I dribbled Daria. Have you ever done this trick before, Lefty? Let's take out. Hey, what about the magic words you're supposed to say? You don't need any magic words with this trick. Mr. Beadle. With him, I could study to be a great artist. Then my mother won't neglect my wonderful talent and send me to dancing class. Mr. Beadle's no artist. He's a billboardy facer. He likes to draw on moustaches on the signs. Now we're going to take care of this burlesque poster here. Not nice for ladies to be dancing in tights, you know. Do you think it's all right, Mr. Beadle? What if Father Timothy should see us? Oh, Father Timothy. You know Father Timothy. We're going to do it. And right now, crossing the street from the church, there's no place for ladies dancing in tights. Oh, no. We're going to give her a long skirt that'll even cover her ankles. Now, you just fill in my outlines and you work rapidly, huh? Yes, sir. Yes, sir, ma'am. Oh. Father Timothy. Amen. Aren't you ashamed of yourself destroying other people's property? And you, Mr. Beadle... But Father, this picture may be the congregation. Father, it wouldn't even be nice for you to look at it. Well, Amel, you ought to go home immediately. I'll have a talk with your parents later. Oh, boy. Am I going to get it now? He also sees the player piano with a certain unpleasantness. For as he sat playing it, he wondered what dire punishment would be needed after him. Then Mother entered the music room and stared at him. Then Father followed in her footsteps and glared at him. And Amel wished he'd taken the precaution of inserting his big geography book in the place where it did most good. Then Mother said... Amel, Father Timothy sent this holy picture to you. And then Father said... Good boy, Amel. You knew that poster was blessed for me. As a reward, you don't have to go to dancing class. Then Amel said... Boy! No dancing lessons with the Loris drinkers. And Father said again... That's right, Amel. No dancing lessons. Monday you'll begin violin lessons with the Loris drinkers. In just a moment, we'll return to the second act of knee pants starring Bobby Driscoll. If ever there lived a master of words who fully understood and made use of their dramatic power, it was George Chapman, the Elizabethan poet who translated the epic poems of Homer, translated them into English verse whose beauty has enriched the minds and lives of men ever since. It was George Chapman who once said how strong an influence works in words. And you know that thought strikes home when you choose the message of a Hallmark reading card. Hallmark cards know, as you do, that the words you send to those you care for can influence their entire outlook in time of sorrow or on special festive days that are important to them. They must be the right words, as you would like to say them, to a friend who is ill or who's celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Yes, whatever the occasion, there's a Hallmark card that says just what you want to say, the way you want to say it. And what is true of the magic of words in a Hallmark card is equally true of everything else about its design and craftsmanship even to the fine texture of the paper. That is why when you ask any group of friends what name they think of in greeting cards when they want to send the very best, they quickly answer Hallmark cards. So do continue to look for that Hallmark on the back of every card you choose. For that Hallmark says, you cared enough to send the very best. You are invited to listen to a very special broadcast. Next Thursday evening, Hallmark Playhouse will present the dynamic story of Kansas City for the first time on the air. Broadcast direct from the Kansas City Music Hall. One full hour of thrilling drama that portrays the highlights of 100 fabulous years. We're proud to tell you that our stars will be Jane Wyman and Robert Young. And for this special broadcast, Ms. Wyman, Mr. Young and the entire cast will go to Kansas City. This promises to be one of the most exciting programs of the season, and I do hope you'll be listening. Back to the second act of Knee Pants starring Bobby Driscoll. There's so much to see to do to cram into a day. And with young Amel Schoemacher at the dawn of the 20th century, there never were enough hours to absorb the happy adventure of living. And then miraculously, he was 30. He came from public school to DeWitt Clinton High. He hadn't yet graduated from Knee Pants to Longies. Back for this picnic? No, Amel. I've been waiting for a long time. But I saw you yesterday, and look, I can't afford to have you hanging around me. But yesterday, you came over to my house and we studied together, and I explained the function of algebra. That was yesterday. Amel, my... Sis, when do you have a girl? Oh, we've been going steady for a long time. A long time? Yeah, sweet now. I think we're in luck. If you wouldn't understand that, you're just a kid. I won't do what you want to do, but just ignore me. Here she comes. Hiya, Dolores. Hey, sister De. She's beautiful. We have some punch, Dolores. I'm rather in the mood. Do get some, bestie. And bring one for Amel, too. Now look, Amel, remember, Dolores is my... I guess I'll be going home. Good girls. Why, but you're popular. Changed much, Amel. You look different. You look nice. And I didn't before. Oh, you look nice before, but not like you do now. And you act different, too, sort of sophisticated. That's because I'm an actress. Golly, I never knew an actress before. Who do you ask? What do you act you know? Pretty nothing, but you're as delicately as he is. You've read it, of course. Huh? Oh, sure. Well, I brought the play along to study. Would you read a scene with me? Well, I... We'll do the death scene. You see or know, we're about to die. You've always been in love with me. Only I don't know it. Why did I tell you? It's obvious. You've never read the play. Here, we'll hold the book together. I'll begin. The blood and the tears. May I open it? Amel, you don't say it that way. You say it with feeling, as if you're willing me... And read it. Farewell, Roxanne. Because today I die, I know that it will be today my own dearly beloved. And my heart so heavy with love, I have not told. No more shall my eyes drink the sight of you like wine. Never more with a look that is a kiss. Follow the sweet grace of God. How you read! Remember the way you have of pushing back a lock of hair with one hand from your forehead. And my heart cries out. You've got to... Shout and keeps crying. Dolores, there's going to be a freshman dance at school next Saturday. You suppose, I mean, would you... Would you let me escort you? That's not in the play. Gosh, that'd be swell. Well, lefty. Oh, why, of course, Dolores. You don't think that I'd take a girl to a dance in knee pants, do you? You got your first pair of longies. Can I get a pair now? My dad was so tall and so wide. Do you think I can get a pair on my own? That's up to your father. There's a blue suit of longies hanging in the window on the banjo that says Natty, $7 credit. Mine is unallowed to hock anything. Oh, I don't want to hock anything, Mr. Mahoney. Mahoney, it calls me. My name's Dill. There ain't no Mahoney. Well, can't I see the suit in the window? Please, Mr. Dill. So why can't your papa come? I'm thinking of buying the suit for myself. All right, I'll get it out. I'll be back and see you later. Me, is that on you now? A quarter for lunch money and a nickel car there to get home. Well, I couldn't take that away from you. Tell you what, I'll allow you $2 in the suit you have on and you'll pay me $0.50 a week for the rest. Oh, golly, that'd be swell. Can I try it on? Sure, here. Put it halfway along. Yes, turn them up from the bottom. That's all. Nobody will know the difference. Now, what to do? Haven't you got another suit that'll fit me, Mr. Dill? I got plenty of watches. But no suits. Like a gambler? Oh, just look at the vest with the... And that jacket for two of him. Oh, don't worry, Mom. I'm not too fixing it. Send them down to the cellar for the janitor to burn. Oh, Dad, I can't afford to throw them away. I just have to have a pair of longies. It's my girl to a dance. Oh, she's awful pretty. I kind of expected that. The men of our family is lovely as your mother. Oh, there's nobody like Mom. She's special. But Dolores is... Well, she's swell, too. Dolores? Strinker. You remember? Indeed I do. Fix this suit? No. No, Amy. I'm lucky to have folks like you. Well, I guess your mother and I are pretty lucky, too, so... I hope you won't mind if your mother and I still think you're young and hardly out of knee pants. Parents are funny that way. You know something? I can hardly remember when I wore knee pants. Yesterday seemed so long ago. In 1900s it was quite an experience. Then a boy on his way to manhood could look around his world and believe it was getting better. He could see all the great new inventions that were coming along and imagine what a thrilling life they were going to make for him. There seemed no cloud in the sky at all. And though nowadays we know what clouds there were and still are, it is good to keep the bright days in our memories as we hope and work for the future happiness of children in this land and in all land. On May 28, the exhibition of the International Hallmark Art Award formally opens in Kansas City, home of Hallmark greeting cards, at the Rock Hill Nelson Gallery. You've probably heard of the exhibition, which has been on the tour of the principal cities of the United States, for it has been extensively reported in newspapers and magazines. It's one of the outstanding art events of modern times with the high purpose of stimulating the fine art of two nations and broadening public appreciation of art. If you're in Kansas City, you are cordially invited to see these paintings by French and American artists, which are winners of the $28,000 in prizes given by the makers of Hallmark cards. And may I again remind you about our special Hallmark Playhouse broadcast next Thursday, direct from Kansas City with your host, James Hilton, Jane Wyman and Robert Young. We think you'll want to tell your friends to listen in. Here again is James Hilton. Our best congratulations, Bobbi Disco, for your fine performance this evening. Thanks, Mr. Hilton. It was swell to be here. I sure wish I was going with you next week to Kansas City. That sounds fine. Well, we think so too, Bobbi, because the story of Kansas City is a really exciting one. And of course, we shall do a full hour broadcast with Jane Wyman and Robert Young as co-stars. I hope you'll be listening. I will be, Mr. Hilton. Good night. Good night, Bobbi. Our Hallmark Playhouse is every Thursday. Our director-producer is Bill Gay. Our music was composed and conducted by Lynn Murray, and our script tonight was adapted by Jack Rubin. Until next Thursday then, this is James Hilton saying good night. There are so lonely in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service. Remember Hallmark cards when you carry enough to send the very best. Bobbi Driscoll appeared through a special arrangement with Walt Disney, producer of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island soon to be released in Technicolor and co-starring Bobbi Driscoll with the famous English actor Robert Newton. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you all until next week at this same time when Hallmark Playhouse presents the dynamic story of Kansas City, broadcast directly from Kansas City. A full hour of thrilling drama starring Jane Wyman and Robert Young on the Hallmark Playhouse.