 Ladies and gentlemen, the railroad hour. And from Hollywood, here comes our star-studded show train. The creation of American Railroads presents the rollicky musical success, Hit the Deck, starring the host of our series, Gordon MacRae, a very charming guest, Miss Frances Langford, and featuring a great cast of Hollywood players. The show train is brought to you by the American Railroads, the same railroads that bring you most of the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the fuel you burn, and all the other things you use in your daily life. And now, here is Gordon MacRae. I don't need to tell you that the tune common dragon in the orchestra are playing is Hallelujah. From tonight's show, Hit the Deck, a musical that was a tremendous success on Broadway, on the screen, and still plays in theaters all over the country. Sometimes I'm happy, sometimes I'm blue. Yes, sometimes I'm happiest from Hit the Deck, too. As well as many other hits you'll hear tonight sung by lovely Frances Langford, myself, and our choir under the direction of Norman Lubbock. So, try and picture me in a sailor uniform with one of those little white hats perched in the back of my head, because I play the part of a god named Bill Smith, who falls in love with Frances Langford. I mean, Lulu Martin. But suppose I let Elvia Almond tell you the story, because she's Lulu's Aunt Lavinia, and remembers a lot more about it than I do. But you know, every time I hear that tune, it takes me back to the day Lulu and I were standing on the dock in San Diego, just outside her coffee shop, listening to a gob named Bill Smith making a recruitment speech. But since I knew Lulu couldn't join the Navy, it didn't worry me too much. But I wasn't counting on a little guy named Dan Cupid. Okay, men, who's gonna be the first to sign up? Step right up and get your papers. Uncle Sammy puts the bills. Join the Navy and see the world. All soda clerks and them that works and loading grates and washing plates and those that's driving trucks in every tailor should be a sailor and sailor worth. It's great to serve so quickly, job and be a gob and go with Uncle Sam down to Havana or to Savannah or Prisco Bay. Sure and sure, there's always a girl who has left behind who's been behind before. It may be Lulu or Sue, it's all the same to you from China to Peru, you've nothing to lose. Where the seas always see the world. Paces where a strike can heal, join the Navy and see. Coffee shop on the dock, too long to be fallen for sailors. What's wrong with sailors? Now, don't get me started. Navy Little Red Riding Hood did meet the first wolf, but that wolf was just a schmo compared to the ones who hang around here. But this one's different. So is your Aunt Lavinia. What's his name? Mr. Smith. Smith? He sure didn't knock himself out thinking of that one. His name is Smith Aunt Lavinia and he, oh here he comes now. Be nice to him Aunt Lavinia. Why there's two of them deck swabbers coming this way. Lulu Martin, have you been learning about sailors maneuvers? Hiya Lulu, I want you to meet a pal of mine. How do you do? I'm Matt Smith, seaman first class. And I'm Lulu's Aunt Lavinia. Cook third class, chaperone second class, and bouncer first class. Come on Aunt Lavinia. Aunt Lavinia helps me run my coffee shop. Well, I'll eat that nice. Hey Lulu, wanna go for another walk with me tonight, huh? Well, I... So you're the reason Lulu was out so late last night. Yeah, did we make too much noise when we got back? The noise was all right, it was a silence that worried me. What were you talking about? Oh, nothing. Took you a mighty long time to say it. We didn't talk much. Yeah, we were just thinking most of the time. What were you thinking about? Don't answer that. Won't you boys date for dinner? Uh, I can but Matt can't. He's gotta clear up the groban on the watsis after recruiting duty. Huh, sounds like mighty hard work. Oh yeah, yeah, it is. No kidding. Well, I gotta shove off. I'll stop by for you when I get finished there, Bill. Okay, Matt. Come on in the coffee shop, Mr. Smith. Suit's me. Aunt Lavinia'll dish up dinner right away. Here you are, Mr. Smith. Sit right up to the counter and make yourself at home. Mmm, sure smells nice in here. You mean it did. Huh? Well, I'll go get the child. Where's your home, Mr. Smith? Oh, I haven't got one. A couple of distant relatives here and there, but nothing to call home. Bet you'd like a nice little home in the country with a picket fence and roses round the door with someone to fix dinner for you all. Not me. Oh, the wife part's all right, but I'd rather live in the city where something's going on. To me. Nothing could be sweeter than just a little sweet or two. No, nothing could be sweeter than living on the avenue. Easy streets. Happiness would be complete if we could go out to eat. I'm not looking. I don't want a cottage that has a waterfall. Is dandy for a week or two. But after that, it's awful. Flat. Raisin' kids is safe and sane, but first I want to raise some canes so nothing could be sweeter than just a little sweet or two. All my life I've waited for the one they say I'm fated for. I hope and pray each night and day the man for me would know what seemed to care for, even act quiet. Mr. Smith, tell me some more about your plans for the future. I'm going to be in the Navy. I'm going to write for my master's papers and try to get a job as a captain of a freighter. Captain of a freighter? Gee, my dad was a captain. Well, I'm going to be too someday. I got some money saved up. Not much, just a hundred bucks. That'll help toward getting a freighter. It's you will. Well, set it down. We can eat it. We're lucky you. Call me when you're finished. It's not the things that aren't nailed down. There. Go ahead and eat. I hope you like my cooking. Me too. Cream chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes, pie and coffee. Smells well. Wouldn't it be nice if we could eat all our meals together like this? Yeah, but you ain't eating, sister. I'm not hungry with you here and all. I've been thinking about you and that freighter. My dad used to say it would be awful lonesome on a freighter without me. Yeah? His first mate used to say that too. I mean, he used to say it would be awful lonesome on a freighter without his wife. Yeah. The second mate, guys, you should have heard him talk about how lonesome it would be on a freighter without a wife. What'd you say, Mr. Smith? Oh, nothing. Oh, want some more coffee? Nope, I'm full up. I'll be right with you, Matt. Matt's waiting for me, baby. But you just got here. Can you come back soon? No chance. We shove off tomorrow. Will you think about me when you're away? Right to me, maybe? Sure. Sure I will, sister. I'll think about you all the time. And I'll always remember tonight, the freighter and you, mostly you. I hope it makes you happy, baby. It will, sometimes. I don't get you. Sometimes I'm blue. My disposition depends on you. I never mind. From the sky. Sometimes I hate you. Salon, baby. I'm waiting for you. It's right here in this drawer. Here. Here it is. Here. That's me under the hat. Just what I wanted. Can you see me when you get back? Sure, I will. I like to have a place in every port where I can drop in. Well, goodbye, Mr. Smith. Salon, sister. Well, aren't you going to kiss me goodbye? Mmm, must be slipping. Come to baby, Papa. No, come to Papa, baby. There. Now make that last till I get back. Mr. Smith. Goodbye. Captain of a freighter. I'm going to buy a shop and that diamond pendant my mother left me. The one that the jeweler offered me $5,000 for. I could sell him and buy him a freighter. But what about a bum? He is not. He has money in the bank. He told me. He saved $100. $100? All right, so he's a bum with assets. But I'm not going to let you make a fool of yourself, Lulu. I'm just not going to let you do it. You can't stop me, Aunt Lavinia. Back to hit the deck. Let's consider Thanksgiving Day. Or rather, two Thanksgiving days. The first one was more than 300 years ago when a tiny band of immigrants precariously hanging on to what was little more than a beach head on the very edge of a wilderness continent set aside a day in which to give thanks for the bounty and blessings which they had received in America. This week, another Thanksgiving Day will be observed. This time by a great and numerous people securely occupying the whole of the vast continent, which was a wilderness and has now become one of the most richly productive countries of the Earth. The pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving Day with a dinner made up of whatever was right at hand near Plymouth, grain and vegetables from the garden patches, fruits and nuts from the surrounding forests, turkey shot wild in the woods. By contrast, most of the people who will celebrate Thanksgiving Day this week live a thousand miles and more for most of the food they will eat. But they are able to draw to their dinner tables wherever they might live in America the products of a whole continent and not just on Thanksgiving Day but on every day of the year. And what is true of food is typical of everything else we use. For here in America, the producer has the widest possible markets. The consumer has the broadest possible choice of sources of supply. In this great national competitive market made possible by the continent-wide low-cost transportation service of American railroads. Back to Hit the Deck starring Francis Langford and your host, Gordon McRae. And here's Elvia Allman as Aunt Lavinia to go on with the story. Next time I heard that song, there was more recrutin' goin' on. Only this time, Bilge wasn't there. But a ship was expected that day and as usual, Lulu had dragged me down to the dock to look for him. You don't suppose we missed Mr. Smith, do you, Aunt Lavinia? Lulu, why don't you face it? Trying to find a Smith in the Navy is like looking for one bean in Boston. I guess you're right. I've never been wrong where sailors are concerned. Six months he's been gone without even writing you a picture postcard. And still, you insisted on selling your diamond pendant in your restaurant. What could it do you to invest that money? Now you're just rich. Sometimes I don't understand people. You say you know all about sailors. Sailors aren't people. Aunt Lavinia, I know what I'll do. I'll give a dance. I'll invite every sailor in the Navy whose name is Smith. Captain Roberts will help me. He's an old friend of Dad's. But he may even let me give the party on his ship. Now don't be so backward, honey. Why don't you ask President Truman if you can use his yacht? And don't poke fun at me, Aunt Lavinia. I'm gonna find my Mr. Smith. I know I am. Wonderful dance. You set a faithful, baby. Why not? Ms. Lulu Martin used her influence with the old man to throw this party aboard ship for us, Smith, so try to pretend you're gentlemen. Well, who ain't been behaving? You. You gotta cut out slapping dames on the back. Oh, they love it. Yeah, I know, but they gotta pretend they don't. So cut it out. All right, now you guys are dismissed. And the first guy that cuts in on me when I'm dancing with that red head is Jason the break fallout. Well, what cloud did you drop out of, Angel? My name's Toddy Gale. Shall we dance? Well, let's sit here and get acquainted first. See, it embarrasses me to put my arm around the girl until I've known her for at least 15 or 20 seconds. Yeah, say, say you're a pretty cute kid. You got any boyfriends? Just one. Deal me and baby and make it two. I pass. Well, it's been nice knowing you. But he's in Japan. Come to daddy. How about having that dance now? I'd love to. We'll get to that later. Come on, baby, after we dance, I'll take you after and demonstrate the ship's hold to you. Huh? Oh, why? It's Lulu. Hey, you must be the dame that's giving us here a party. That's right. I was hoping he'd be here. You don't know where he is, do you, Matt? Last I heard he was transferred to a destroyer. He could be anywhere. Gosh. Poor kid. That's a tough break. Yeah, well, come on. We'll all have a glass of punch. Maybe that'll cheer you up, huh? No, don't worry about me. The blues don't get beat down. I got a secret formula. Yeah, you have? Sure. When I was a little girl down in South, I used to hear the colored folk sing a certain song. And whenever I get the blues, I can almost hear them singing it. And it clears me up. I'm from times when I was small and bright and free. Dancing tonight? That's a safe guess. They tell me we're all smiths here tonight. Hey, why are you staring at me, baby? What's eating you? I meet so many women. Don't you remember the girl in the restaurant? The cream chicken, the mashed potatoes, the... the javel? Hey, sure I remember you, honey. You bet I do. I knew you all the time. I was just kidding. Do you remember what happened when we... when we stood in the door saying goodbye? Sure. I'd been a pugnose pelican if I hadn't kissed you. You sure would've. I, uh, I did kiss you, didn't I? That was me, all right. Take a look at this on my sleeve. Three stripes in a wheel. Quartermaster, first class. Doing all right, huh? I'm gonna write for my master's paper soon. Oh, Mr. Smith, I'm so proud of you. And you know, I think I like you better than I think I do. Oh, please do, Mr. Smith. Please do. Yeah, I'm sure I love you. Hey, what do you say we get spiced, huh? I dare you. You mean marry you? What do you say? I wish you'd ask me a little more romantic. Well, I haven't got a ring to give you, baby, but here. Wear this. Your identification tag. Let me put it on you. There. That makes it official. We are now the future Mr. and Mrs. Bill Smith. Mrs. Bill Smith. What a beautiful name. Free life. See life. Although its lore is strong. Could never hold. Trust me. Just me. Cosy fireside where troubles will fly. Sin wonderland. Tiny someone will say how to do. And he will seem like a sweet little arm full of you. How cosy armchair. That's come before. A rosy fireside where troubles will fly up the flue. Will fly up so high up way up in the flue. Though we're in Dallas or Kalamazoo. Our little palace will never be blue. You'll be my Alice in wonderland always have the latest book. Tiny someone will say how to do. And he will seem like a sweet little. Baby we shove off for China in the morning. China? I can't lose you so soon again. It'll be my last trip baby. When I come back we'll be married. Now I've got a big surprise for you. Remember that freighter you told me you wanted? Sure. Well, how would you like to say a lot of freighter that I could get you? You could get me. Hey wait a minute hold the phone. Are you the Martin Dame who's throwing this party? Yes I'm her. I should have guessed it. Seeing you all dialed up like that I should have known you had dough. Well I'm not having any sister. When I sail a ship I'm going to be the boss. And when I love a girl I do all the giving. But Mr. Smith I can't help it if I'm rich. That's your story baby. But I don't have to get stuck with it. Midnight parties over. Mr. Smith please don't go. You heard what the Admiral said so long. But you don't understand. Fuck we were having about Thanksgiving day. Traditionally this is the day to give thanks for the fruits of the earth harvested during the past season. This year not only Americans but people all over the world have special cause to be thankful. For this year American farmers have harvested a record corn crop and near record crops of wheat of other grains and of many staple fruits and vegetables. It is the job of American railroads to collect and distribute this bountiful harvest to wherever it is needed in this country and to our coastal ports for shipment overseas. This year's record crops have been handled faster and more efficiently than ever before. That's because of fine cooperation of shippers and receivers of freight in the prompt loading and unloading of cars. Yes and because of the more efficient use by the railroads of the new equipment they have bought and the improvements they have made. Our country's high standard of living is based on two things common and widespread distribution. These are not mere accidents. They are products of our American institutions of human freedom and our system of enterprise and individual opportunity of which both the American farmer and the American railroads are essential parts. Our show train will return in just a moment after a brief pause for station identification. Francis Langford and your host Gordon McRae with Elvia Allman as Aunt Lavinia. This time I heard that song. We were in, yep, you guessed it, China. And me, what hates chop suey. You know why we were there too. Lulu couldn't rest till she found that Vilge Smith. Somebody told us we could find him at a tea room called Ming Fuz. Oh, off we went. Come on Rita, bring up your tea and let's get out of here. Take your time sailor and for gosh sakes cheer up. This is the first time I've ever been to Ming Fuz I ain't in the mood for fun. I got things in my mind. That gal again? Yeah. Look Rita, is it wrong to marry for money? You mean there's some other reason? Wait a minute. I don't mean for money. I mean to be a person that's got money. Are you telling me this thing your nuts about is rich and you wonder if you should marry her? Either you're out of your mind or she's got a face like a rubber boot. There's nothing wrong with her face. It's beautiful. Here's a picture of her you can see for yourself. Hey, she's cute. And you've got so because she had money. You wanted to be a big shot, didn't you? I'll bet you totally you wanted to buy the meals even if you're starved to death. Something like that. Sounds pretty dumb now that I think of it. Rita, there's just one solution. After I muster out the Navy, I'm going back to San Diego and let her marry me. Hey, what's all the excitement? Sounds like trouble. Come on, men, pull in. What's up, chief? Vantage from the hill. It's all the civilians stay right here. Now, right? Hey! Where's the place at, Lavinia? But why... There he is! Mr. Smith! Mr. Smith! Even if it is here, he can't hear you in all this racket. Mr. Smith! You wait here. I'm going after him. You better stay here, girly. There's banded trouble out there and this is where they've ordered civilians. Hey, hey, don't I know... I don't think so. Gee, that's funny. I got it. I just saw a picture of you. A sailor showed it to me. He said he loved you, but he didn't want to marry you because she was rich. Mr. Smith, then it was him. How did he look? What did he say? Well, he said he loved you, and as soon as he got out of the navy he was going to go back and marry you. Adavinia, he loves me. Well, here we go again. I'm going back to San Diego and open up my restaurant again. Then I'll get rid of my money and be poor and wait for Mr. Smith. Be poor? You mean on purpose? If that's the way he wants me, that's what I'll be. Come on, Adavinia. We're off. If you ask me, you've been a little off ever since you met the guy. Isn't it wonderful to be home again? The restaurant hasn't changed a bit, has it? Neither has the navy. It's still lousy with sailors. Look, here comes another mob of them. Hello, boys. It's good to see you all again. And since you're my first customer since I opened my place again, the Java's on the house. Rip and navigate my way. Here's strong for your coffee, too. Second sky's a cold and gray. Notice you sent out to all the Smiths in the navy, Lulu. Tell them you were back in the restaurant business again. Well, I wanted every Smith to know. So I wrote to all the Smiths in the Pacific Fleet. A lot of them have come to see me. But not the right one. Oh, maybe that's Mr. Smith now. If it is Adavinia, you can tell him that I never want to see him again as long as I live. But don't make it sound like I'm mad. Hello? Yes? Oh, yes. It's for you, Matt. Oh, yeah, yeah. Oh, hello? Yeah, yeah, this is Matt Smith. Yeah? Oh. Ah, Toddy. No. Ah, Toddy. Ah, Toddy. Wait. That was Toddy. She's gonna get married this afternoon. So she's gonna get married, so what? She's gonna get married, Matt. Toddy's a sweet girl, but there are lots of others. At three o'clock, she's gonna get married. At three o'clock. All right, so let her get married if she wants to. She's gonna marry me. She's a lovely girl, Matt, and I know you'll be very happy. Yeah. Well, she wants you to be her maid of honor, Lulu. She told me on the phone to tell you. Oh, I'd love to, Matt. You can make believe you're rich again, Lulu, and wear one of those dresses you bought when you sold the restaurant. Yeah, well, I guess I'd better be chevin' off, Lulu. I'll drop by later and pick you up. Okay, Matt. Bye. I haven't been to a wedding in a long time. Oh, I wish... I wish... Hey, Lulu! Lulu! Who is it? It's me, baby. Filch. Mr. Smith. Oh, come on in if you want to. I hardly recognized you with all that cold soot on your face. Well, I would have washed before I came, baby, but your ship just got in, and I thought if you liked me enough, the little dirt wouldn't hurt. It doesn't. But you can wash. There's soap and a towel on that basin. Okay. I was down in Buenos Aires when I got your notice about opening up this joint. You out of the Navy? Yeah. I've been out for weeks now. Hey, how'd you come to lose your dough? I don't know. It's just gone. All of it? Except what I earned here. Well, I'm here to take care of you now, baby. Does that mean you love me? Sure I love you. Why'd you think I'd come over here so fast without washing? Oh, Mr. Smith. Hey, Lulu, I got the promise of a ship. A ship? What kind? A coal barge. Of course it isn't as fancy as a freighter and she sails to Portland instead of the South Seas, but she's a ship. If you were in love, we'd almost feel like it was the President's yacht. What do you say, baby? Somehow I don't feel like sailing on a coal barge. Oh. So you're gonna hi-hat me, huh? Okay. I know when I'm not wanted. Just as you say, Mr. Smith, I got used to getting along without you. Yeah? Yeah. Oh, Lulu, I'm crazy about you. Honest I am. I never once took out one of the Buenos Aires names without thinking of you. Never mind taking them out. Do these fancy dresses belong to you, Lulu? Yes, but I... So you're not broke after all, huh? Okay. But like I told you before, baby, I'm not living off any rich wife. Mr. Smith, please, you've got to believe me. I have a dissent. I signed it over to a trust company. Then it's still yours with a string on it. No, I can't touch it. It's being held in trust for someone. Who? Oh, tell him to go take a jump, Lulu. Go on, tell him. Who's it being held in trust for? I can't tell you till we're married. So long, baby. No, don't go. I'll tell you. Don't look at me. Well, it's... It's being held in trust for my first baby. What? If his or her name is Smith. Lulu. Hold him till I get a minister in the gun. He may want to shove off any minute. Sing hallelujah and you'll shoo the blues away. When cares pursue your hallelujah get you through the darkest day. Lies away. And to L.V. Allman, Jim Bacchus, Sandra Gould, Sheila Stephens and Barney Phillips for their fine performances in our production of Hit the Deck by Herbert Fields with lyrics and music by Leo Robin, Clifford Gray and Vincent humans and adapted for radio by Ed Gardner and Bill Demling. Well, next week our star-studded show train will arrive in the same tracks and at the same time. On board will be Nadine Connor and Rudy Valley to join me in bringing you Sigmund Romberg's New Moon with our orchestra on the direction of Carmen Dragon and the chorus under the direction of Mr. Norman Lubar. Well, it looks as though we're ready to pull out so until next week, goodbye. And remember, during the coming week as always the American Railroads will provide for you the dependable low-cost transportation that is so essential to the American way of living.