 nine o'clock remember a hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best hallmark greeting card bring you an exciting dramatization of an unforgettable story on the whole play was chosen from the world of fiction by one of the world's best known authors hallmark is proud to present the distinguished novelist mr. James Hilton ladies and gentlemen tonight on the hallmark playhouse we present the first dramatization of a novel by George Agnew Chamberlain called the Phantom Philly this is the sort of story that just couldn't be written by a man who hadn't lived and also loved the kind of life you wrote about so I asked mr. Chamberlain about this and sure enough he had and not only that but he remembered it with warmth and humor I like this story because it gives us a breath of the open air and somehow the freshness and charm of the American soil and also to be quite candid because it's about horses the love of a man for horses one of the oldest and best loves on earth and I wasn't surprised when Mr. Chamberlain confessed that of all the stories he'd written this was one of those he'd enjoyed most writing as we talked he told me another thing that of all the tributes he received the one he valued most came from an old man here in California who said there wasn't a single mistake about horses in it and this old man surely should have known because he belonged to a trade rapidly going out these days he was a blacksmith I suppose mr. Chamberlain must have raised some frauders himself mr. Hilton yes he raised them trained them and read them so what could be more natural than for him to write a telebread story like this the phantom fillet but before we begin here is Frank asked with a message from the people who bring you the hallmark playhouse 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 a word of good cheer an expression of sympathy there is a hallmark car that says just what you want to say the way you want to say it and that identifying name on the back hallmark well that says you've cared enough to send the very best and now the phantom fillet on the hallmark playhouse boy's name was Sparky Thornton he was old for a boy but young for a man and very new to roundhouse bar he tried not to show it on that first morning of his arrival at his uncle's thunderbolts decrepit horse farm but he'd been bitterly disappointed there was one horse in the decaying table the lady and the lady was blind whereas across the road behind a half mile long fence was low meadows farm gifted with magnificent and numerous horses forgive Sparky Thornton for crying loose that board in the fence forgive him his boyish trespass and don't say it serves him right as black name monster in the paddock behind the fence but as a terrifying cry and charges wildly as a young intruder easy the boy easy he has a way with people he killed them nice horsey what's that skimpy rig you're driving what's the racing stock you've caught farm across the road you know you're an enemy territory don't you why not the bulls and the bulls don't get along are you a bull oh no I'm sure my father's dead group he's manager and chief trainer for Godot bull I'm Sparky Thornton your trespassing I guess so what's the idea all right courses that's good enough for me so that dinky rig is a sulky huh and a lot tougher to drive than you think it's a girl's tricycle with a horse where the front wheel belongs you like to try it get out get in what do you call this horse trumpet all right let her go yep I was doing all right that was the rottenest piece of driving I've ever seen in all my days how many days is that I 17 years I'll see you again when you're 17 and a half thanks for the buggy ride all of all the ridiculous goodbye miss Bruce you'd no call to trespass on good or booze property Uncle Thunder I want you to teach me to drive a racing sock you were wrong been on booze property but no nephew of mine is going to be out rid by anyone with booze tables sharp Bruce isn't a boo she's the trainer's daughter I said anyone sparky we'll be out on the old cornfield track every morning rain has shined but you can drive a racing sulky and good this way where's Uncle Thunder this morning the attic the attic or I've been waiting on the cornfield my driving lessons I'll go getting no sparky don't go is he sick you could call it that but it's in the heart heart trouble maybe I should say the soul once a year comes spring your uncle here's the trotters trotting when that happens seems you can't no ways hold back from drowning out the sound with liquor and this spring it's ten times worse why is it worse I counted you what did I do that was wrong you came along 15 years too late I'm going up to him no no sparky no I'm going up I say you're not with me you're not take a look at roundhouse farm you'll see ruins dust mold what happened no doubt bull may own this farm together we had a fight over firing or not firing the ladies groom little thing like that but I'm a firm man for seeing justice down all right I go away to a harness meet come back and find out the partnership is busted up he takes the horses I got the land he fixed that all right only horsey let me keep was a lady blind poor lady blind or not she's a Morgan mayor that's good that's great greatest bloodline in the business thunder what kind of a horse would you say hammer car chief is great bloodlines too but he's gone mean why asking to learn coming downstairs under I'll be down for dinner tell mom I'll tell her well go on why I just wanted to say I'm sorry I came 15 years too late you'd have been a great driver with those whispering hands of yours if I had the horses well come downstairs real soon won't you thunder even thunder time I came downstairs did you do the right thing first what's that did you pray yes my dear what'd you pray for under the strength what else did you pray for forgiveness I pray for heaven to send me a horse to beat the living tired a good old boy how many times have I told you not to say live in tar sorry can I have to eat now I use cross the meadows under the silent star behind him walk the horse who must have been a long time blind to walk so surely in darkness they cross the road to an eight foot fence the fence yielded easily well it had yielded once before to Sparky Thornton but the breach was wider this time much wider in Hamel car chief's store the great stallion awoke the boy closed down the boards of the breach fence and waited alone inside came a terrible and triumphant sound no matter thunder this is going to be a rough Thanksgiving week for you what's the matter see this razor strap so what you're going to get it boy what for you're going to tell tell what you know what oh what's wrong with you read the lady to some cat meat stallion will you cut that out who was who's the father hammer card she made in the lady with some glue part of a hammer card she I've got a certificate to show for it you're lying I'm not you're for I didn't I made friends with Hamel car teeth groom he doesn't know I'm your nephew he gave go to our bull a certificate to find and he signed it where'd you get the $100 fee the groom paid and I'm paying him back on instalments 20% interest worth it that's what I thought Hamel car chief yes sir you've got to forgive me son you've got to forget it when the wedding take place last May comes a full from the lady look sparky on your soul not a word of this to anybody I know secret for the handle car chief I take it back son you came just in time all I needed was the horse we're going to have a horse now greatest ever maybe George Agnew Chamberlain an outstanding story selected for you by James Hilton before we return to tonight's story I have a story of my own it's about an architect and the man who wanted to build a house but the architect made one strange provision don't show me your lot he said nor tell me how much you plan to spend first let me meet your family and get to know them you see I want to design you a home not just a house a home that expresses your own personalities your own tastes now isn't that the kind of thinking you want when you choose a greeting card to send to a friend you want a card that has a touch of extra warmth and friendliness a card that says just what you want to say the way you want to say hallmark cards are the result of that kind of thinking and planning for no matter what the occasion no matter what sentiment you might want to express there's a hallmark card that just suit your needs no wonder people get such an extra amount of pleasure from hallmark cards and no wonder at places and even more when they look on the back of the car as you did and find the name hallmark the name that tells your friends you cared enough to send the very best now James Hilton continues with the second act of the story he has chosen for tonight the Phantom filly by George Agnew Chamberlain early April night an absurd creature made its appearance on earth it had a body about a foot long and legs about two yards long it was golden brown and had black stockings and wouldn't have taken the practice I longed to see that Hamilton car chief was looking to be a father a suite of fillies I ever saw you can name a sparky she was born in April could we call her the April star for a long time thereafter sparky Thornton learned all the thunder could teach him about harness racing day after day sparky rose in the misty dawn to do his chores and then to take the rain behind the lady racing through the sunlit afternoons and then in the stillness of dusk dreaming of trumpets and triumphs to come for the secret for the April star since it was forbidden for anyone now to invade the roundhouse farm sparky one day walked over to the bull farm to talk to char Bruce busy been a long time it's been very busy but with business aren't you gonna ask me to go swimming anymore in the pond on your uncle's farm I'm gonna teach you to drive a sulky soon big talk I might even give your dad a lesson or two haha I'm gonna have to race him someday don't be afraid I'm gonna have to beat him okay what'll that mean to us sure nothing at all you're sure sure because you'll never beat my dad never don't forget what you said it'll mean nothing at all remember what you said that's all the mind harnessing the lady today sparky we're taking out the April star for the first time getting it boy so is she she understands your hands you got them the April star savvy them she's a winner son the winner April will I be ready thunder you'll be ready come see Patrick's day you wait and see next month in the mettonville and you're ready but I tell you I'm scared a full month in advance I'm scared who in Thunder Nation is that in the road char Bruce what I tell you about keeping her off the farm I'll turn around and go back never mind now she's seen you go April let it go it had to happen sooner later what a lovely silly yeah and all this time you've been keeping a secret oh she's beautiful she go on this boost you was saying I'm a car chief what do you mean sure that silly has camel car chief written all over oh that silly no it's not I know now what you've been up to a secret oh sure what are you crying for here I'll get out keep away from you're sleeping on this much I don't want off like that no way let her go don't blame the girl April stars are sorting right at her father's heart yeah I know let's go back you'll feel all right come April in the mettonville I hope a sweet sure I thought a race I'm glad you were here after all your dad wasn't driving today I came to watch you read congratulations thanks sure oh gee the April stars wonderful what's the go-doll booth curious because the camel car everyone knows it now she's the lady's full too well what next you know the Chester Clay Elk's race my father drives in that one I know you'll never be suppose I do be I just want you not to feel bad when you don't be all right promise I won't feel bad and it's part of the profits it's done you know it isn't there it isn't done enough is what I always say here at the Chester Clay Oatsley I hope and in spite of everything sparky the very best of luck I've been looking for you I thought I'd find you with tug by Abonay where's the why are you crying I can't tell you what not because I happen to win the second heat no or because I might win the race in the next heat oh no they had a fight who father and go double what about the bull called father terrible names because he lost the second he he said what did he say I want to know he said if you let that pimple of a boy beat you again you're fired what did he call me oh he's such a mean little man well your dad can always get a big job at some other far no again once you're lost I would go to a bull you're finished you ruin my dad if I win your father is out of work for good if I lose oh no you've got your own race to run and to win father wouldn't have it any other way yeah sure I've got my race to win thunder wouldn't have it any other way and sparky yeah from the bottom of my heart good luck yeah I'm sorry I've got to do this sorry April star I'm sorry it's a dirty trick I got to do it once you're lost that would go to a bull you're finished in the hardest race easy easy girl no worries easy so girl no no you've got to forgive me now hi yeah April star too you weren't blind somewhere near the half but I had to thunder I had to do it for you I had couldn't ever raise the bull in the horse again I just couldn't you'll never have to son she'll never be unhappy or separate go hungry and there's a job for jet Bruce and the kind of horse farm I'm going to have now there'll be other April stars barbie brood mayors and fools in every stall at roundhouse five although April stars other April star other eight I like that other winners I like that but could a girl kick today's winner it's part of the profit yeah we invest that part of the profit that interest story he has selected for next week meantime I'd like to remind you that there's nothing like one of those charming hallmark dolls from the land of make-believe to make a child's eyes light up with joy there are 16 dolls in all little Miss Muffet Cinderella little boy blue and 13 other childhood favorites each one wears a hat topped off by a jaunty plume that's a real feather each doll stands up by itself and each one has a clever story verse inside but that's not all no indeed there's also a big beautiful album to put them in there are separate pockets in it for mistress Mary Peter Piper little Bo Peep and all the rest and on the cover is a picture of lovely little Luanna Patton star of Walt Disney's melody time the hallmark dolls are as easy to send as any hallmark greeting cards and cost only 25 cents each and the big hallmark doll collectors album which would expect to cost at least a dollar is also only 25 cents when you buy one or more of the hallmark dolls that means you can give some little friend of yours the album with three dollars in it to start a collection for only one dollar see all 16 of the cute and colorful hallmark dolls and the beautiful new hallmark doll collectors album tomorrow at the store where you buy your hallmark greeting card now here again is James Hilton before I tell you about next week's story I'd like you to know that our excellent cast included Barbara Eyler as Shaw and Sam Edwards as Sparky Ed Begley and Myra March were thunderbolt and his wife and Tom Hamlin was the rate announcer and now next week on our hallmark playhouse we have a story that's different different at any rate from our previous stories in this series it satisfies two hankering that I've had since our program began one was to do a story of this kind and the other was to include in our series something by the great American novelist Edith Wharton we've chosen the story of what's called afterwards I don't want to spoil it for you by saying too much but I will throw out this teaser if the story had a second title or a subtitle you might call it the ghost goes eat well at any rate if you don't get my meaning or for that matter even if you do be sure to listen next Thursday then the following Thursday we shall present the Ole Nest a story by Rupert Hughes so until next week good night to be doubly sure of the finest quality always look on the back of your cards for those pre-identifying words a hallmark card hallmark cards 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 now this is Frank Goss saying good night to you all until next week at the same time when James Hilton returns to present Edith Wharton's afterword this program came through the hallmark playhouse this is CBS the Plumby Broadcasting Center AMBC Kansas City Missouri