 At the tone, 8 o'clock. Remember a Hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best. You an unusual true story on the Hallmark Hall distinguished host, Mr. Lionel Barrymore. And welcome to another true story about real people on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Tonight we're going to take you back to those wild and wonderful days on the western frontiers of America almost a hundred years ago, back to Colorado when Denver was a young boom town. In those days, killing a man wasn't much of a crime, apparently. But wait a minute, that's the true story we're going to tell you tonight as we honor William Newton Byers, the two-gone editor of the Rocky Mountain News. Now here's Frank Goss from the makers of Hallmark cards. One of the particular joys of Christmas is sending and receiving Christmas cards. While the pleasure Christmas cards bring can never be measured, isn't it good to know that Hallmark cards are priced the same this year as they were last year, and the year before, and the year before that, and that the quality of Hallmark cards has constantly improved throughout the years. Yes, today, just as for many Christmas seasons, that Hallmark on the back of your card is looked for and welcomed. It tells your friends, you cared enough to send the very best. Lionel Barrymore appears by arrangement with Metro Golden Mayor, producers of Julius Caesar with an all-star cast, including Marlon Brando, James Mason, John Gilgood, and Louis Calhoun. And now Mr. Barrymore brings you tonight's exciting story on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Did you ever look at an old map of the Rocky Mountains and read the names of those wonderful towns, names like Mystic, and Whoopup, Sunbeam, and Crook, Headstrong, Last Chance, and if the map was a new one, it might show for the first time a young boom town just ten months old. Then this town's name was Denver. Yeah, yeah, Denver. 1859. And the gold seekers are pouring in, greedy men lusting for gold. Among them, in strange contrast, is a mild-eyed man named William Newton Byers, and his worried wife. But Miss William, what was that? Target practice, my dear. Are there no laws in this place? Frontier life, my dear. First the deeds. Is the blacksmith sharp that man told us about? Oh, yes. My name is Byers. Is this Mrs. Byers? I do, ma'am. How do you do? We have only this moment arrived in Denver, Mr. Pollack. Persons have recommended you as being a resourceful person, the proper sort of person to come to for information. Well, how do you want to know? Name it. But on the outskirts of town, my partner Mr. Gibson is waiting with our wagon, a printing press, paper, and a quantity of type. You're going to start a newspaper that is our intention to publish the first newspaper in the Rocky Mountains. Well, I'll be a ding-dong son of a gun. We need to find a room. The rooms are scarce, ma'am. But I can defend myself if that's what you mean. Well, I've... Oh, no, ma'am, don't... William, show Mr. Pollack your new pillow. I just... Watch out how you handle them things. Oh, but we're both quite skilled, Mr. Pollack. We practiced on the trail. You did, eh? Yes, we did. Your weapon, my dear. So you see, Mr. Pollack, your warnings are quite unnecessary. Now then, where can we find a room? A room? Have you got spare sleepin' or workin' purposes? But I fear the one must serve duly until we have made a success of our venture. Oh, bust it, huh? Well, naturally, we will repay you for your aid. Oh, I don't want no money. Oh, but I am... There's just one free ad in your first edition, that's all. Delighted. Joey, mind the shop. I had to run this establishment. Yeah. Goodness. What are none of these men drinking? Well, they call it... I couldn't rightly say what it is. Seems effective, though. You shouldn't have come, ma'am. A courtroom upstairs. That lawyer's office still empty. Yeah, I want you to let him to Mr. Byers here. He's fixin' to publish a first newspaper in these parts. Huh? They're fixin' to put out a paper? Callin' it to Cherry? They're holdin' them up. Oh, enough advertising. What's the least of our problems? Well, you mean you already got some advertising? Well, of course. I've been selling space ever since I left Kansas City. Ah, I hear that. Get a couch. You write down Mr. Pollack's ad while I go get Mr. Gibson in the wagon. You figure to get your paper out of four of those other fellas, huh? Within 24 hours, Mr. Pollack. Well, then I'll tell you what. In addition to that one free ad, I... Well, if you'll just dictate them to me. Yes, ma'am. Oh, incidentally, you got a name picked out. We call it the Rocky Mountain News. What about stories? Well, William has been collecting mining news from the people we met on our way into town. Yes, and I dare say there are social events and political announcements, and... Yes. There was a near murder in the street as we arrived. The aggressor, I believe you hailed him downstairs in the bar. Uh, was his name Gordon? Jim Gordon? Oh, why not, Mr. Bouton? Well, I... An exciting story. I saw part of it with my own eyes. You listen, Uncle Dick here. He knows what he's talking about. Gentlemen, my creed is a free press and an informed public. My creed and my motto. And I stand by it. Now, if you'll excuse me. Mr. Byers can be firm, very firm. You'll see. That's how many firm people they are. The Washington hand press set up. Cases distributed. And we're busy setting type. And just 28 hours from the time you arrived in Denver, William Newton Byers had the first copy of the Rocky Mountain News on the streets. And in Uncle Dick Wooten's bar, there was real excitement. You'll see what's here in the bar. It's 25 cents to copy, and there's enough for all. Are you scared of the Speller Byers? I'm generous. I give him this one chance. Yeah, sure. How about next time? Next time, I shoot him. See, cannibal? Yeah. Yeah, I see. So come on, let's get a bill to that town's lightning. One chance, see? Then bang. Like that. If there's a man's town and no nosy little editor's gonna change it. But we return to the second act to the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Have you discovered that you often know who sent a certain Christmas card before you glance at the name inside? Something about the color or design or the gaiety or formality of the greeting you have in hand seems to say this is from the Johnson's as just like their farm in New England. Or Abed Janet shows this card she loves everything in shades of blue. It's true that a Christmas card almost always reveals the taste of the person who sends it. And that is as it should be. For nothing you give your friends all during the year expresses your feeling of warmth and love so completely. Now a pleasant way to find that perfect card for you or your family is to select from the Hallmark Christmas card albums. You'll find the collection is widely varied and that Hallmark cards are the ones you'll be proud to have imprinted with your name. And here's a wonderful plus that Hallmark on the back of every card you mail gives added meaning to your message because it tells your friends instantly you cared enough to send the very best. And now Lionel Barrymore brings you the second act of our true story of William Newton Byers. Brought his printing press and mining camp and founded the Rocky Mountain News. In a region where murder was commonplace and lost in a region his lone voice spoke out for law and order. Now Denver was divided in those days by Cherry Creek. Split down the middle one side Denver the other side Araria and there was great rivalry. Byers and his partner Gibson built their office on stilts right in the middle of the shallow creek. One day while they were at this they received a visitor. Hey Gibby. Yeah? Hand me the drawer shave will you? Here you are Billy. Well, look y'all there, huh? Professor O.J. Golderick A.B. M.A. L.L.D. How do you do? This is my partner Mr. Gibson. What can we do for you professor? It strikes me your paper is sadly a need of prose. That is to say of prose which elevates the psyche of the reader. Oh, do I offend? Oh, go right ahead. And I am therefore offering me services as reporter for your journal. Reporter? Tell me professor Can you dig post holes? I can indeed. Singular roof? Certain experience. And take off those yellow gloves Professor Golderick. You are now a reporter on the Rocky Mountain News. It's a print. You know I do like my little piece on floral arrangement. It has rather a sprightly ring, don't you think? You shouldn't have put in about the Edelweiss professor. Only confuse these hard rock miners. Hey Billy! Noisy Tom, how are you sir? You'll have to wait till next week Tom. Well, suppose like last week I had a real good story. Well, if you have a story that'll warrant our breaking up the front page you can put in your hand. How is it Jim Gordon? Tales of murder or humdrum in this area Tom, no one was to read of a murder when he can put his head out of the window and see one. That's so, that's so. But this time he's committed a crime, so hate is not my blood boils when I think of it. Well pray illucidate my good man. Yes, what'd he do? Cut fruit, got drunk this morning and shot the bartender in the elephant corral. Well now I don't blame him. Poisoned at seven. Quiet, Gibby. Tom, is that all? Here it is. I've done that myself. It's really rather amusing, you know. Under certain circumstances. Well hold on professor, there's a real one now. Oh sorry. He shot that one? No sir, he shot the dog. That's fine. That is a story. Gibby, break up. You know, scent must be brought to justice. Nor all the tears of the little children must again. That's enough. That's enough I say. I give that buyers this chance. What'd he do? He told the truth. Little decent fellas like us. It's like me to tell these men why you was nicknamed the cannibal. Well at least I never shot no portals. What are we waiting for? Let's go shoot us a head in the... Make me story. Maybe instead of just that boardwalk we ought to put in a drawbridge or something. My dear Gibson, the life of extreme exigency has impressed one great Christian precept upon this hardwood soul. What's that professor? The evil of the day is sufficient unto itself Gibson. And furthermore... Look out! Professor, suffering but a scratch. Personally may I observe that I've been considering pain. Now your shoulder, your shoulder, you're bleeding. Well you're very clever to notice that Gibson. You got your gun? You got your gun there, Gibson? Yes, you got it here, right under the press. All right. Professor, take one of my pistols. Thank you. Now let's see. There's the trap door. Suppose I go down into the stream and work around to the bank while you two keep them occupied. All right Billy. You could shoot a man whilst he was looking you and I, you won't shoot me. You're too civilized, too decent. Bring in this town professor. But what are you going to do? Let him get away with it? Arrest him? Yes. I'm a citizen of this town professor and it's my duty to see him brought to trial. He's right in your back. Fair and square. For a nice high-minded literary types like you. Now me, I'm just a fiend. Wasn't that what you said in your paper? Thanks to Tom here and his marksmanship. The urinating in the mountains swept down the little creek and wiped out the shotgun stilts the home of the Rocky Mountain News. I have a precious old copy of the paper here. It tells about that flood and the by-life actually... In this instance, a frightful phenomenon sounded in the distance and a shocking calamity presently charged upon us. Hark! What and where is this, a torrent or a tornado? These were the questions so little-acquised and spoken one to the other. Alas and wonderful to behold, it was the water engine of Death Dragging. Uncommon sight in those days and the weeks after the flash flood hit Cherry Creek you could see two men panning the sands below the former site of the Rocky Mountain office. But not for gold. But for the precious newspaper type. There up a case, Professor. Spires eventually did get his press reassembled and the Rocky Mountain News rolled out. And it's still rolling out to this day. Yes, sir. One of the finest papers in the west. Or anywhere. In one of the great cities of the west. Oh, yes. The rough, tough, mining camps of Denver and a rare yet finely merged becoming the just, law-abiding and fine, decent place to live this Denver today. Thanks to the courage and determination of the original two-gun editor of the Rocky Mountain News, William Newton Byers. In the hallmark hall of fame we have for you the incredible story of Squanto the Cockney Indian. Yep, that's what I said, the Cockney Indian. What an extraordinary man he was. He was the chief of the Port Tuckett tribe who amazed the Mayflower pilgrims by greeting them in their own English language when they landed at Plymouth Rock. Hey, more about Squanto in a minute. But here, Frank Goss, he's been eavesdropping again and he wants to tell you about a little conversation he snooped in on while riding in a bus the other day. Well, today I overheard two women chatting on the bus about the Christmas shopping they were going to do and one of them said, we're getting ready for our gift-wrapping party. It's becoming a custom at our house. This sounds like a good idea to me because half the fun of giving your Christmas gifts is wrapping them. Especially if you get your papers and trimmings well in advance. And one glance at the new matched hallmark gift wraps will convince you. There's a pattern and color to please everyone you know. You see, all year long, the hallmark artist creates sparkling designs scaled to every size box imaginable. There are tiny Christmas patterns for small boxes, bold patterns for the largest gifts of all, and hallmark tags and seals in exactly the same styles as the papers you select. So why not give your gifts that extra just for you touch of thoughtfulness which means so much? Just look for the hallmark on the gift wraps at your favorite store. It means you cared enough to send the very best. And now here again is Lionel Barrymore. Yeah, yeah Frank. You know, there is an art in giving. It's not the size of a gift or its cost, but the way it's presented and the thoughtfulness that prompts the giving. And I certainly agree that those handsome hallmark gift wraps would make the smallest. The most inexpensive gift will look fit for a king. You know Frank, as I listen to you talk about Christmas and all the pleasure we get out of sharing the Christmas spirit with others, well I am already starting to get my feeling for thanksgiving. A fellow named Jeremy Taylor once said, the private and personal blessings we enjoy, the blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty and integrity deserve the thanksgiving of a whole life. Eh, what do you think of that? Well now, next week we'll have a thanksgiving story on the hallmark hall of fame. Don't we Frank? Yes, Mr. Barrymore, we're honoring the Indian chief who played such a vital part in establishing our custom of observing thanksgiving day. And we're going to tell the surprising and colorful story of how Squanto, this Indian chief, traveled to England. So was able to greet the pilgrims in their own tongue. Hope you'll all be with us next week. Remember you're also invited to the hallmark hall of fame on television every Sunday, starring Mr. Richard. Until next week then, this is Lionel Barrymore saying good night. We are sold only in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service. Remember a hallmark card when you will carry enough to send the very best. Our producer director is William Gay. Our script tonight was written by James Cole. William Newton Byers was played by William Johnstone. Featured in our cast tonight were Charlotte Lawrence, William Conrad, Lawrence Dubkin, Hal March, Tom Tully and Harry Bartell. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you until next week at the same time when we present our true Thanksgiving Day story of Squanto the Cockney Indian. And the following week, we'll tell you a little known incident about Benjamin Franklin. And the week after that, the actual story of Major Charles Yeager and his flight through the sound barrier on the hallmark playhouse. This is KMBC, Kansas City, Missouri.