 The DuPont Cavalcade of America starring Melvin Douglas. Good evening. This is Melvin Douglas. Tonight Cavalcade tells the story of a man of warm humanity whose life story needs no fine adjectives or brilliant phrases in the telling. I'm delighted to have the chance to portray him tonight. His name is Dr. Chester Arthur Chester-Soudan. But before we begin, here's Bill Hamilton of the DuPont Company. Good evening. If your car had not been polished for some time when you looked at the finish under a microscope, you would probably find it looking rough as baked mud. That's because the sun, wind, and rain cause a gradual chalking of the finish and loosen the tiny pigment particles which roughen the surface and dull the luster. DuPont number seven polish removes scum and chalk pigment safely and produces a beautiful dry luster. Treat your car to a good cleaning with number seven polish, the only polish containing methyl cellulose, the quick and easy stroke saver. Number seven polish is among DuPont's better things for better living through chemistry. Now, Village Doctor, an original radio play starring Melvin Douglas as Dr. Arthur Soudan on the DuPont Cavalcade of America. It's the summer of 1926. At the University of Chicago, a man leaves the campus. There's a smile on his face, one of the expectancy and a faraway look in his eyes. This man is? Dan? Oh, Dan. Hey, Dr. Soudan. What? Don't you know your nickname anymore? Oh, yeah, sure. I was dreaming, I guess. Well, that's obvious. What do you have on your mind? Fish, Charlie. Just fish. Fish? Fish. What kind of fish? Big ones, little ones, medium sized ones, millions of fish. I don't get it. Charlie, I'm going on a vacation. You vacation? Vacation. Well, that's wonderful. I've taken leave of absence from research and teaching. I'm going to Colorado. I'm going to fish every stream, every lake in the state. 10 to 1 year back before the summer's over. Well, if I am, it'll be because the fish are all gone. Oh, Charlie, I've been dreaming about this for a long time. I've grown fins just thinking about it. And I'm going to buy every kind of rod and reel I can find. I'll probably catch fish no one's ever seen before. You like fish? Not that much. You don't know what you're missing. I tell you, you get up early in the morning. There's no one around you. But fish. That's it. I can see them now. Big rainbow trout curving up out of the water. Flashing in the sun. Yes, sir, doctor. You'll find them big, way over there. They're the best spot in Colorado. Let's see if I've got the direction straight. First you. Take the road straight out of Kremlin. That's where you are now. Uh-huh. And then let's. Oh, say, you've got some mighty nice equipment there, Doc. You like it? Yeah, bet. I sure wish I could get around more. But this drug store kind of keeps me busy. And, oh, excuse me, my God. Morning, Mrs. Coussoulis. I heard there's a doctor in town. Oh, yes, there is. This is the doctor. Was anything wrong? My four kids are so sick, Doctor. The throat is so sore they can't swallow. And their heads are hot and. Has the doctor seen them? Oh, there's no doctor here. No doctor? Will you come up and take a look at my children, please? Well, Doc's on a vacation, Mrs. Coussoulis. That's all right. How far is your place, Mrs. Coussoulis? We're pretty far from here. The roads are terrible. Oh, Doctor, they're awful sick, kid. Oh, that's all right now. We'll have them fixed up in a jiffy. Oh, thank you. I've got to get something at the store. I'll be waiting right outside. Makes it tough, you know, Doc. A lot tougher in winter when the snow comes. You mean to say there's no doctor here at all? No. That's folks in Kremlin have to do the best we can. Yes, babies, pneumonia, measles, everything. Well, I better get going. It may not be just a sore throat, you know. Hey, yes, I know. Oh, you'd be kind of out of the way of the fishing spot I was telling you about. The fact is, you'll have to come back here after you get through with the kids and start all over again. Well, that's OK. Fish know how to wait. I sure am grateful to you, Dr. Sudan. I don't know what we'd have done. Well, that's all right, Mrs. Coussoulis. You just keep an eye on those throats. If there's any more soreness, use that medicine I left. Good morning, Dr. Sudan. Well, hi. How's the throat? Lots better. Sure, sure. Are your sisters all right this morning? Sure, they're all right. You betcha. You were pretty sick kids the day I came up here. You packing? You're going to leave? Yep, going fishing. Ain't no big ones around. You've got to go away. I know. But fixing up that throat of yours was more important. Yeah, let me take a look at it. Come on, open up. You ain't good at it, are you? Nah, not this morning. Come on, open up. All clear. It's better, huh? You betcha. I sure wish we had a doctor near here. Makes the person feel a lot better just knowing this, even if nobody's sick. Well, I'm all packed. You going fishing, huh? You betcha. Don't forget, the big ones are way over there. Yes, sir. I'll remember that. Well, goodbye, Mr. Sewells. And don't forget to use that medicine. Hey, it's Mr. Burke. Hi, Mr. Burke. Good morning, son. Mr. Sewells. Morning, Mr. Burke. Kids all better, huh? Fine and dandy. You're the doc, huh? My name's Sadan. Yeah, I heard about you staying here to fix up the kids. You know, it was darn nice of you. And I thought maybe while you was around these pots, you wouldn't mind coming over to my place and look at my wife. Well, I think maybe it's just a summer cold, but kind of cough that I don't like to sound of. I'd be glad to run over and do what I can, Mr. Burke. Yeah, I guess you would, Mrs. Sewells. Thank you, but it kind of makes me feel better to know that a real doctor had a look. Where is your place, Mr. Burke? That's West. Uh-huh. It's not way over there. Oh, no, sir. Why? Wondering. I don't like to break up your fishing, Dr. Sadan, but, gee, I'm awful worried. Yeah, well, well, this beautiful country, I don't mind taking a look at it. Let's go, Mr. Burke. One by one, the families who lived in the district heard about the kindly doctor who didn't mind giving up a bit of fishing to help them. One by one, they came to him. Dr. Sadan, while you're up here, would you mind running over to my place? One of the kids is a little short, all right? Doctor, I know you're on a vacation, but this won't take you very long. My little boy's got a bad foot, and I thought he'd be. Why, of course, I'd be glad to. Right away. I'm awfully glad you made it up here, doctor. I heard you were leaving soon. Vacation's about over. Well, you just keep that boy warm. He'll be all right in no time. Well, Dr. Sadan, glad to see you again. Are you finally going to get in some real fishing? No, vacation's over. I've got to get back to Chicago. Oh, well, that's too bad. We're going to miss you around here. Well, Dr. Sadan, it's good to have you back at the university. I'll bet there isn't a rainbow trout left in Colorado. Oh, there are a few, I'm afraid, Dr. Wingron. Well, the vacation's a fine thing for a man. Set him up with a new point of view for the new semester's work. Now, I've been thinking, if you want to rearrange your research laboratory, I think I know where we can get the fun. Well, that's very tempting, doctor, but I won't be needing any changes in the laboratory. No. But last spring, you said that you were so crowded. Well, I might as well tell you, I've come back to the university to offer my resignation. Resignation? I don't believe it. About six months ago, I wouldn't believe it either. Oh, I see. A better position at some other university. Oh, no, no, no, I'm going back to Colorado. I'm going to practice there. What? But you're one of our best teachers, our best research man. Why on earth do you want to practice? Because where I'm going, teaching and research mean practice. Well, I'm afraid I don't understand. Ever been in Colorado Mountain, sir? Yes, I've traveled through there once on my way to the Grand Canyon. Oh, beautiful country, but beautiful and lonely. The people are spread out miles apart. And when they're sick, there's no doctor. They don't know how to take care of themselves. Many of them don't even know the first primary rules of first aid. I wanted to research in terms of people, teaching in terms of better health, better communities, better lives. But you're fitted for big things, Dr. today. Oh, this is a big thing. It's the only thing I can do as a doctor after seeing what those people out there need. I figure it this way. When a person is sick, anything you can do to add to his comfort is good medicine. Even if it's nothing more than words or straightening out a rumble bed or washing his face. Well, we're sorry to lose you. But in a way, I guess I'm glad we're losing you this way. Goodbye and good luck. Thank you, sir. I suppose Mrs. Sudan will join you later then. Oh, no, no, she's going with me. Well, that just about does it, Doc. Gets all your stuff smoothed in. Yeah, I think so, Ed. My wife's in there unpacking already. Thanks a lot. That wasn't anything. Well, I better be getting back now. I've got to make some more deliveries before night. All right, see you later. Yep. See you there. Be back tomorrow, Doc. All right, Ed. So long. And thanks. Good night again. Oh, too late. Oh, nothing. Sorry? Sorry, me now. That wagon was our last link, wasn't it? Yeah, I guess so. Well, let's see what we can do with the cabin. There isn't much room. You won't have an office. It doesn't matter about me. Are you worrying about me? In a way, I guess. Doesn't seem right, setting you down in one room, no electricity, no running water. Look at it. I think it's cute. Besides, it's got a beautiful view. Yeah, now. But in winter, they say the snowflakes out here is big as geese. And don't forget the fish. Yeah, that's right. Tulene, come over here at the window. What is it? You see that range of mountains way over there? Yeah. Well, there's a stream up there where the crowd are so big that when they're running, they raise the water level three feet. Oh, Dan, maybe a little smaller, huh? No, no, smaller. Someday I'm going up there and say it still early. My fishing stuff is right where I can get at it. Why don't we? Too much to do, I guess. Unpack, get settled. If we leave now, we could get in a few hours fishing. Sure. Sure, I bet we could. There's not much to unpack. It wouldn't take as long to do it tonight. I want to see those trouts so big that they won't. Huh? Morning, folks. Morning. Oh, good morning. We didn't hear you walk up. I heard you talking on the door was open, so I... Why, of course. Come on in. I'm Dr. Sadan. This is my wife, Colleen. How do you do? Howdy. My name's Gardner. My ranch is just over that away. Oh, we're neighbors then. Well, maybe about 15 miles, but we're neighbors. Sure, sure. Nice of you to drop over. Well, as a matter of fact, Doc, I kind of hated to bother you knowing you just got here and wanted to get settled and all, but... Was there something wrong? Well, I don't know. You see, my wife's... Well, it's about time, and I... Oh, I see. Colleen, would you mind getting out my case? It's right on top of the fishing stuff. You are listening to Village Doctor, starring Melvin Douglas as Dr. Archer Soudan on The Cavalcade of America, sponsored by the DuPont Company, makers of better things for better living through chemistry. During a vacation trip in the Colorado Mountains, Dr. Archer Soudan was deeply moved by the plight of the isolated mountain folk who had no doctor to tend their ills. So he gave up his promising career at the University of Chicago to become their village doctor. And now, on a wintry night several years later... Well, we can't get up to the house, Doc. We've got to go on foot from here. All right. You're going to make it, Doc. Sure, don't worry, Collins. Come on. Hated to get you out on a night like this. The snow's so deep. Looks like the temperature's going to hit bottom, too. There's no worse than any other winter. Well, Mrs. Peters taking care of my wife. I kind of worry about her. Been to many deaths lately. Babies and mothers. Mrs. Peters. Oh, she's the old woman who does the cleaning. Yeah, yeah. She's been midwife up here for years, too. She's a queer superstitious old lady, but... Well, she does the best she can, I guess. Your wife needs a doctor at a time like this. Here we are, Doc. Steps are right there. Oh, you got back, huh? Well, it ain't going to be long now. Can we call writing to Mrs. Peters? Of course. Now, don't you worry, nun. I'll take care of it. Oh, this here's Doc Sudan, Mrs. Peters. Could have saved yourself a trip, Doc. Everything's all right. Well, of course, but we'll just make sure. I've done this a hundred times. Well, that's all right, Mrs. Peters, but you better change your clothes. My clothes? What for? Well, they're a little soiled for this kind of work. Sure they are, but I've been cleaning up the place. Anyhow, I've done this a thousand times. I guess I know what to do. Mrs. Peters, I know you've helped in a lot of cases like this, but I'd rather you change your clothes. What for? Because, Mrs. Peters, I don't like to take chances of infection. Chance? Everybody takes a chance at a time like this. Now, you're younger than I am. Yes, Mrs. Peters, yes, but I'm afraid you'll have to do as I say or you can't help. Now, I'm sure we both want this to be a fine, healthy baby, don't we? Well, he's newfangled notion. What's the world coming to? Coming to something better, I hope. So let's help it along, shall we? Dan? Dan? Hmm? Oh, I'm sorry, Tulene. What'd you say? Nothing yet. I was just wondering what you were thinking about. Look, darling, you know, just being a doctor isn't enough. I don't understand, dear. Well, the other night over at Colin's place, if I hadn't arrived when I did, Mrs. Peters would have taken my place. Oh, dear. Yeah. You know, I want to tell these people how to take care of themselves, prevent sickness before it gets started. That's an awfully big job. Sure as being a doctor, you see, I figure it's part of my job to teach people, not only to cure them. Well, you've got a lot to do and just that alone. I know, but suppose I do take on that extra job. Think of what it would mean to everyone, whether sanitation, home, nursing. You'd have to do a lot of talking and a lot of teaching. Sure, I know, but they're willing to listen. That's half the battle already. Look, you remember when that rancher was accidentally shot? Yeah. Well, if anyone near him had known the first thing about first aid, maybe we wouldn't have had to amputate his leg. There are a dozen cases I can think of where a little knowledge of nursing would have saved hours of pain and suffering. And who's going to teach all this? I am. Darling, how are you going to find the time? I'll squeeze it in somehow. I can start in the spring when the roads are cleared. In the spring? But then there won't be any time for your vacation. Oh, it doesn't matter. Besides, maybe we can get in a little fishing on the side. Maybe. Now, look, here's the right way to tend to a wound like that. Be sure that everything's clean. First, do all you can to stop the bleeding. This is a tourniquet, and it's applied like this. Now, don't forget you're to come to see me every week until the baby's born. Understand? Follow the diet I gave you. All right, Doc. And remember everything I've told you. You'll be all right. Day after day, the doctor's fight for better conditions went on. Then he concerned himself with another important matter. Adjust the movement, doctor. Isn't the matter of road construction a little out of your problem? No, it isn't, commissioner. I can think of a dozen cases where good roads would have meant the difference between life and death. Gentlemen, please, we've got to have good roads. And we've got to have equipment to keep them open during the winter months. And so Dr. Sudan fought for and got what he wanted. Through the long, bitter cold winters, the doc's car plowed through the snow till it could go no farther, and the doc got out and walked. In the summer, he supervised work on the 19-room hospital he helped build for the people of his community. Through the years, he became not only the man to whom people came with their illness, but... Dr. Sudan, I can't think of nobody else who could tell me what I want to know. Should Jesse get married now or finish school first? Doc, your advice is always good, so I want some more. What do you think about me buying that other 40 acres on the south side of my place? Dr. Sudan, Pa said you'd be able to tell me if my dog's gonna get over that fight with that skunk. Year after year, the doc went on working, always patient, always kindly, always resourceful. But most important, always a friend to the people whom he observed and who had come to love him. Then, after 21 years of continual faithful service it just don't seem true, Doc, you're leaving here. It doesn't seem right to me either, Colin. I feel as though I should just be arriving. We're gonna miss you, Doc. I'll be back to see you, don't worry. If anything gets wrong with this, we'll come down to Denver to see you. No, you won't. No, you won't, because I've left a good young man here in my place, Dr. Sariana. You listen to him, do what he says. You'll carry on where I left off. My, it don't seem like 21 years have gone by. It does when I look at that son of mine. He's grown like one of those Colorado pines. Well, come back and see us, Doc. Come back often. No, I will. You betcha. And when I do, we'll land the biggest crowd in the world. And so Dr. Sudan went to Denver. He would have liked to stay in the mountains, but those years of hiking through the snow, the cold and the rain, the nights when he'd been forced to stay out because he couldn't get back home and taken their toll. So Doc Sudan had to prescribe for himself. Besides, his son wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and there was a fine medical school at the University of Colorado. But the story isn't over. On January 7th, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio. And so the American Medical Association makes this first annual award for Outstanding Community Service by a General Practitioner. We're pleased to present this gold medal to Dr. Archer Chester Sudan. Thank you. Thank you. The goodwill that doctors enjoy today is the heritage of past generations of general practitioners. Therefore, I accept this award as your recognition of thousands of general practitioners. It's a great honor indeed to have been selected from among hundreds of equally meritorious candidates to receive this, such award. Words cannot express my gratitude. General practitioners today as in the past are doing their utmost to maintain and to enhance. Oh, just looking at some lines and trout flies. What's that shiny thing in your creole? Oh, nothing. It is too, let's see. Why, Dan, it's the gold medal they awarded you. Is that where you keep it? Well, I can't think of a better place. Among my favorite treasures. Well, then I think we should take it along with us on our trip. It might help you to land an extra big one when we get way over there. Yeah, it could be. When are we going? Soon as Chester gets here. Oh, well then we better get this equipment packed up. He should be home any minute now. You know, that kid's beginning to show signs of being a master trout fisherman just like his old man. I hope he has more time than his old man. Yeah. Come in. Hey, Doc, you ain't busy now, are you? Well, uh. Oh, Doc, please. My wife is awful sick. Can you come right away? Well, I was just going to. Tainter just south away. South? Not, uh, way over there? No, Tain. Mm. Mm. Chalene, dear, tell Chester to take my equipment and go on ahead. If he wants to know where the big ones are jumping, he can just tell him it's, uh, way over there. Mm-hmm. The radio audience joins the audience in the theater tonight, applauding the performance of Melvin Douglas and the rest of the nice cast of the Cavalcade and the Cranes. Melvin Douglas will return in just a moment. But first, here's Bill Hamilton of the DuPont Company. What color is your house? What color do you think is most attractive on a New England farmhouse? The California bungalow. At the DuPont Company, we need to know the answers to these questions because DuPont manufactures paints and finishes of many kinds. Under the American system of free enterprise, a manufacturer stays in business only so long as he supplies you with what you want. So we ask 20,000 people from many parts of the United States what color they like best in outside house paint. More than half of them, 53% to be exact, voted for white. DuPont number 40 outside white house paint starts white and stays white. Now there's a reason, a chemical reason. DuPont number 40 is made with titanium dioxide, the whitest pigment known to science. Another reason it is liked so much by professional painters and homeowners is what we call controlled chalking. DuPont number 40 outside white is so formulated that as time goes on, a microscopically fine white powder forms on its surface. Heavy rains wash away this powder and take the dust and dirt along. In other words, DuPont number 40 actually washes its own face. That's why it stays white so long. Of course, it doesn't work out in exactly this way on every house. If there is a lot of smoke in your neighborhood or if your house is sheltered by too many trees, the self-cleaning action is slower. This ability of DuPont number 40 outside white house paint to wash its own face is a hidden value, a plus value to keep in mind when you buy house paint. If you're having your house painted this spring, ask your painter to tell you about it. DuPont self-cleaning house paint may now be had in popular light tints as well as white, colors that are as attractive as they are long lasting, and that are popular additions to the DuPont company's better things for better living through chemistry. Now, once again, here's tonight's star, Melvin Douglas. Next Sunday, millions will celebrate I Am an American Day. Why don't we all prove that we believe that America's security is our security by saving through U.S. security bonds? There's an easy automatic way to do this, either through the payroll savings plan where you work or the bond a month plan where you bank. Let's look into it and make every payday I Am an American Day. ["I Am an American Day"] Next week, Cavalcade presents the brilliant Hollywood star, Irene Dunn, in Queen of Heartbreak Trail, the thrilling story of Harriet Pullen, a woman who dared to venture into Skagway, Alaska during the colorful days of the gold rush in the 90s. We invite you to listen next week to Queen of Heartbreak Trail on the DuPont Cavalcade of America, starring Irene Dunn. Tonight's DuPont Cavalcade village doctor was written by Russell Hughes. Music was composed by Arden Cornwell and conducted by Donald Brian. Melvin Douglas can now be seen in Mr. Blandings, Bill's, His Dream House, an RKO picture released by Selznick. This is Ted Pearson inviting you to listen next week to Queen of Heartbreak Trail starring Irene Dunn. Cavalcade of America is presented each week from the stage of the Longacre Theater on Broadway in New York and is brought to you by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.