 It's Showtime! It's on a musical that will live long in the hearts of all of us for it was originated by one of America's best-loved showmen. It's George M. Cohan week on Showtime for the great song and dance man wrote the music, the words and the story for our current production. It's Pretty Nelly Kelly starring Gordon Macrae and Jane Powell. Our choir is under the direction of Norman Luboff. The music arranged and conducted by Carmen Dragon. Here now is the first act of Pretty Nelly Kelly. Looking sharp as a shamrock for the title role of Little Nelly Kelly. Officer Kelly is your daughter home? Oh, hello there, Jerry, me boy. Nelly, the boys are here for you again. How many, Father? The usual number, half a hundred or so. And Jerry Conroy and the lead. Happy. Okay, Nelly, come on, fellas. Let's go, Nelly. I've got a boat. I thought we'd go out in the lake in the moonlight. Gordon, what would you do with my Nelly out on the lake in Central Park in the moonlight? Oh, I'd think of something. Oh, Jerry. Jerry, I'm sorry, but I've got some bad news for you. I'm going to have to work tonight. You're working at the dress shop on Monday night? Well, Mr. Devere called up and said it was something urgent. Yeah, I'm awfully sorry. Well, it's just that so many of the fellas want to take you out. And when my turn comes, I hate to be disappointed. Oh, but I go out with you more than the Reds. Yes, but I'm in love with you, Nelly. Can't you choose out one of us from the gang? Me, for instance? Oh, but that wouldn't be fair to the Reds. After all, you're all my boys. Every one of you, you're all... Hey, Kelly's inside, though. Nelly, hurry. Why, what's the matter, Mr. Devere? Where are we going? To a party at Mr. Lloyd's house. But I don't understand. Mr. Lloyd is a millionaire, Nelly, and he's my best customer. If he wants all the girls from Devere's come to his mansion for a party, who is Devere to say no? Well, little Nelly Kelly is saying no. Please, Nelly, Mr. Lloyd's a very nice young man. And he has such a pretty checkbook. But it's mixing business with pleasure. Who says you have to have a good time? Be miserable. Let's go, Nelly. To see you. I was very kind of you to invite all of us here, Mr. Lloyd. May I make a confession? I asked all of the girls from Devere's to come here only so that I could invite you. Oh, Mr. Lloyd. Now, ever since I first saw you modeling dresses into Devere's shop, I've been in love with you. I'm very flattered, Mr. Lloyd, but... There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, Nelly Kelly. Hey, let's open the door. Well, what do you want? I'm looking for my girl. Jerry, Jerry, what's the matter? Are you all right, Nelly? Well, of course I'm all right. Hey, what's the idea of breaking into my party? Well, I dropped by the dress shop, Nelly, and it was all dark. Then I saw you getting into a cab, so I followed you here. Oh, Jerry, you shouldn't have. I was worried about you. I thought maybe you'd do something you shouldn't. Oh, nonsense, my boy. I brought her here myself. All the girls from Mr. Devere's shop are here as my guests. Oh, oh, that's different. I didn't understand. In fact, before this evening is over, I hope I can persuade Miss Nelly Kelly to become Mrs. Jack Lloyd. Oh, Mr. Lloyd, I didn't have any idea that... Well, that's all right, Nelly. I guess I just didn't know how things were resolved. Oh, but Jerry, this is a bigger surprise to me than it is to you, believe me. Well, I guess I know what you'll do. Golly, it's wonderful having a millionaire like Mr. Lloyd ask you to be his wife. Why, he can buy you anything you want in the world. Oh, Jerry, you know I wouldn't marry a man just because he's rich. Ah, but Mr. Lloyd is handsome, too, and young. I'm sure gonna be lonesome without you, Nelly. Oh, Jerry, don't talk like that. Ah, I guess you know why I fell in love with you, don't you? Well, not exactly, Jerry. You remind me of my mother. My mother was a lot like you. So the same as you. Oh, Jerry, he must be the thief. No, no, it's not true. Jerry wouldn't steal anything. Well, then where is he? He disappeared while the lights were out. No. No, no, I can't believe that Jerry would do such a thing. What? I just a minute ago, he was singing to me. Yeah. We're ready now for the second act of George M. Cohan's little Nelly Kelly starring Gordon MacRae and his guest Jane Powell. Everybody thought I was the fellow who stole the pearls at Jack Lloyd's party. But I didn't know anything about it. I was feeling so discouraged about losing Nelly that I just dotted out the door when the lights went out and dropped into the station house to see Officer Kelly. That you, Jerry, me boy? Yes, it's me, Officer Kelly. Is Nelly with you? No, she's not. I don't think I'll be seeing Nelly anymore from now on. How's that now? A Conroy can't be holding a grudge against a Kelly. No, no, of course not. I think the Kellys are the finest people to come out of Ireland. Don't you know that? Sure, I know it. But it makes me proud to hear somebody else say it besides me. Well, I'll say it any day of the week. What's the greatest grandest name? Kelly is the name we say. Kelly with the capital K. What's the name that's known for fame? Kelly is the name we say. Sir Adamus with the K. Michael Arnie's Lakesides where you never were so right before. It's the grandest name that ever came from the dear old Emerald Shore. The name of Kelly has ruled for many a day. There's a swing to the name and a ring to the name that commands the right away. Oh, Brian and Brian and Sullivan and Mulligan all say that any Kelly with the K. E double L. Y is more than common clay. He's a king with the capital K. Drop them kindly sentiments Jerry Me Boy, but I'll have to answer me telephone. Leasing 29, Officer Kelly speaking. What? You don't say. I'll be on the spot in a moment with Me Boy. What's up, Officer Kelly? Oh, there's bad news tonight. One of them rich society women had a pearl snitched from around her neck. And I've got to find the culprit who did the snitching. You want to come along with me, Jerry Me Boy? Sure, sure, Officer Kelly. You can mine the sireen. Come on, boys. What's the place, Officer Kelly? I can't go in there. Kelly and the Conroy can go into any mansion on this earth. Follow me. No, no, no, I shouldn't have come. We're glad you're here, Officer. Hey, that is fast service. He's already caught the criminal. Well, congratulations. Yes, congratulations, Officer Kelly. Yes, congratulations, Officer Kelly. You've caught the criminal. Now, wait a minute, Kelly. You don't know what they're talking about. What criminal? Well, this young man with you. If he crashed my party, then ran off with my aunt's pearl. Oh, there must be some mistake. Nelly, what in blazes are you doing here? Oh, it's a party, Dad. For all the girls from DeVille. Officer, I demand that you arrest this young man. Young Jerry here? Why, this boy never stole anything. I didn't take the pearls. And why did you disappear when the lights went out? Not just a minute. Please, please, just a minute. Now, let me talk with Jerry alone and I'll find out what really happened. Come on, Jerry. Why did you run away? Well, Nelly, I... I wanted to get out of your life as fast as I could. I didn't realize you were so much in love with this millionaire. Oh, Jerry. Don't you know I couldn't love a man like Jack Lloyd? No. And can't you guess who I'm really in love with? There's a tiny voice I hear. Oh, please, I still think this man is a thief. Oh, you're wrong, Mr. Lloyd. Then who did take the pearls? I'll find the culprit for you. Where's DeVille? DeVille. Did somebody want me? Search that man. Oh, no, please, please don't search me. Why not? Because I'm ticklish. Come over here. No. Come on. No. How did you know that Mr. DeVille was a thief? Have you seen the prices he charges for them dresses in his stores? He's been stealing money from the women of New York for years. Well, I... I think I owe you an apology, Mr. Conroy. And I think you owe him some congratulations too. Oh, I've asked Nellie to marry me and she's accepted. Well, that's wonderful. Of course I can't give her all the rich things you could buy for her. Oh, but I'll be happy, Jerry, with whatever we have. All I can promise is a cozy little home until my luck comes rolling along. Promises that I'll be on the level and the things will never go wrong. Happy disposition and a wild desire to succeed. Will you hold me tight? Oh, I'd like to give you everything there is to give and will as soon as I'm strong. But there's a cozy little home until my luck comes rolling along. Congratulations to you, Jerry, may I buy? Yes, congratulations and best wishes, Nellie. Thank you, Jack. I should have known that only a Conroy could marry a Kelly. Say, what's going to happen to Mr. DeVille, officer? He's going out of the dress business for a while. I think you'll find him engaged in road work for the government wearing a striped suit. Then I'm going to buy DeVille's shop and give it as a wedding present to little Nellie Kelly. And I'll make the first purchase, Nellie's wedding gown. Oh, I'm scared. We've presented Little Nellie Kelly by America's great song and dance man, George M. Cohen. Jane Powell was heard in the title role and Gordon McCrae starred as Jerry Conroy. Our choir was under the direction of Norman Luboff. The music arranged and conducted by Carmen Dragon. Showtime is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service, The Voice of Information and Education.