 Remember a Hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best. It's an outstanding story, chosen by one of the world's best known... James Hilton, tonight on our Hallmark Playhouse we present our own dramatized version of one of the world's best known stories, Cinderella. Nobody knows who wrote Cinderella, perhaps people made it up. People who for thousands of years have wished for good luck and that their dreams would come true. Anyhow, the Cinderella story in one form or another has been told countless times. So we tonight are in good company. Especially because to star as Cinderella we have chosen one of Hollywood's most adorable actresses, Judy Garland. And now a word about Hallmark cards from Frank Goss before we begin the first act of Cinderella. 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 card that says just what you want to say, the way you want to say it. And that identifying Hallmark on the back, well that says you cared enough to send the very best. Now Hallmark Playhouse presents Cinderella, starring Judy Garland. It belongs as much in our own days in the past. We still have pumpkins, princes, fancy dress balls, wicked stepmothers. Although I must say the glass slipper craze is somewhat on the way. So Cinderella is not necessarily a child from the misty days of Shakespeare or King Arthur. She might be that attractively modern young lady you see walking into McCloskey's shoe store. May I help you? I'd like a pair of shoes exactly like the ones I have on. Well, frankly, Miss, I can't tell just what style these are. They're so worn down, I really can't tell. Well, I suppose you think I don't have any better shoes to wear. Oh, no, I didn't say that. No doubt you've heard of Lucinda Brown, the well-known woman novelist. I can't say that I have. Is that one of your own books you've got there? No. Please don't look at that. Cinderella. I'm just reading it for research. I've got nothing against Cinderella. I can't quite read your size, Miss Brown. Four double A. Be careful. Don't poke your finger through the sole. This right one is a little thin. Well, let's see now. I think I can give you a pretty good match. Yes. You know, it isn't every day I get to try a shoe on a well-known novelist. Well, I'm not really such a well-known novelist. Not yet, anyway. You will be. I'm sure of it. You've got a light inside you. A light? Yes, it shines right out through your eyes. Is that so? What a perfectly nice thing to say. I'll take these shoes. Fine. They're a bargain, too. $6.40. $6? Oh, but they used to be only three-something. Well, I guess you'll have to charge it. We have to clear these things through our credit department. You mean Lucinda Brown's credit isn't good? Oh, I didn't say that. I guess that makes it pretty clear where I stand with McCloskey's shoe store. Miss Brown, if you're... I would sooner go barefoot than give you $6.40 for this ratty pair of oxfords. And when my name is mentioned in the same breath with Ernest Hemingway, I assure you both of us will take our shoe business elsewhere. Good day. Miss Brown, you're still wearing one of our ratty oxfords. Oh, I beg your pardon. Well, I... Oh, dear. It's not raining. I'm afraid it is. Your feet will be soaked in these old shoes. Oh, to tell you the truth, Mr... The guy's around the shoe store. Call me Joe. Joe, you were perfectly right not to let me charge these shoes. I'm practically... Well, I had a story I was sure they'd buy for Real Romances magazine, but the editor says they want sordid realism. Everything I write seems to come out like Cinderella. And that's why you're reading it? Well, I've got to find out what I'm writing wrong so I can write something right, instead of subconsciously stealing from Cinderella. Tell me, couldn't I buy just one shoe? Yeah, well... You see, I think I can just about make $3.20. But we can't break out the pair. Here, take the money. Just a minute, Miss Brown. You're awfully nice, Joe. Goodbye. Hey, hey, come back with that shoe! You know what you are, Lucinda? You're a thief. Oh, no, you're not, Lucinda. You paid for what you took. The shoes were $6.40 a pair. You gave the man $3.20 for one. Besides, you left your old shoe. That's honest. Well, sort of honest. No, it's not, Lucinda. That nice young man in the shoe store is going to get into terrible trouble on account of you. You stole from him. The same as you've stolen from Cinderella. Nonsense! How can I steal from a story I've never read? Until now. Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Cinderella. And she lived with her stepmother and two stepsisters who made her fetch and carry and do all the drudgery about the house. I know exactly how she must have felt. Could you bring in the wood and sweep the mat? Yes. Polish the floor and feed the cat? Yes. And sew the plume on your sister's hat? I'm sorry, I didn't have time for that. Lazy girl. And what have you been doing with your time? Well, I cleaned the garret and swept the hall, washed the dishes, wound the clock and beat the carpets from wall to wall and stitched the hemp in your Sunday frock. What neglected the plume for your sister's hat? I guess I just couldn't find time for that. Cinderella! Oh, sister calls. What do you do? Cinderella! Now go to her. I can't go to both of them. What shall I do? Don't stand there as if you were nailed to the floor. I wish someone's knocking. Go answer the door. It was a messenger from the king. Can I? And perhaps if we friend you with ruffles and lace, his highness won't bother to look at your face. There isn't a doubt you both were in hiding when looks were passed out. But we'll deck you with diamonds and sapphires and such and none of the ball will... Much. Stepmother? Well, what is it, Cinderella? What should I wear to the ball? As you are. We cannot be bothered by poor Cinderella's who think they're entitled to dress just as well as their sisters who never do housework at all. Now hurry up, girls. We'll be late for the ball. I wish that I really could go and I wish I could wish it were honestly so. I could give you three guesses and give you another, but you never would guess. I'm your fairy garden fooled me. I guess you were that from the shape of your comical, conical hat. You don't think I look like a witch? Oh, not at all. The witches and I are always getting each other's mail, you know. They're but bothers to tell witches' witches from fairy godmothers. Oh, but enough of this chit-chat and sociable ginning. Tell me, why do you cry when you ought to be grinning? Well, fairy godmother, I wanted so much to go to this ball at the Royal Palace, but my stepmother says I'm nothing but a scurry maid to be kept in the kitchen. This, this, gonna double poo-poo. I know positively a plan that will do. Now stand there, your toes. We'll see what my magic can do for your clothes. I'll flourish my wand with a fiddle-ding-dee, african dabra and a E.T.C. Physical, what have you done? Look in the looking glass, that would be fun. The girl dressed for the ball. Just as Zele and Bella won't know me to get to the Royal Palace, good fairy godmother. Oh, oh, I forgot all about that. Do you have a pumpkin handy? Well, here's a plump pumpkin I've saved for a pie. I'll make it into a coach in a blink of an eye. I believe it just climb in and round. Who will draw the carriage? My wand will invite a few magical forces to alter these mice into six, kind of you a coachman or two with livery and wings. Oh, these lizards will do. They're the fishmen that lean. You'll arrive in a stout... Uh, one thing, fairy godmother, is it discreet to dance at a ball with no shoes on my feet? What? Dear, dear, dear, dear, how careless of me. Give you some footwear that none can surpass. To extremely come true, fairy godmother, the magic will last until midnight and then your galma horses and coachmaness carries my deer. It will stroke of midnight when all disappears. I promise you, fairy godmother, I'll leave the palace before midnight. And thank you for all of your kindness. Thank you from the very bottom. We're in the second act of Cinderella starring Judy Garland. You'll agree there are a great many letters and even just notes that you'd like to write but just never get around to writing. It's because it isn't easy to express many of the thoughts we would like to convey. Cards have made it easy for us to carry out our friendly impulses. Easy to say the gracious word to send a kindly message. For they have created personal greetings. They have put into words the thoughts and feelings that are often so difficult to express. For each friend, each loved one, for each occasion, there is a hallmark card to say just what you want to say, the way you want to say it. And the makers of hallmark cards realize that we buy greeting cards only to send to others. For ourselves we might be content with less, but for our friends only the best will do. So all hallmark cards are created to one standard, only the finest of paper and craftsmanship, only the most beautiful colors, only the perfect words. And people know this. Just ask your friends as I've asked mine what name they think of in greeting cards when they want to send the very best. See if they don't answer immediately, hallmark cards. They look for that hallmark on the back of every card because they carry enough to send the very best. Now back to James Hilton in the second act of Cinderella starring Judy Garland. Down outside the window of her little walk-up flat, Lucinda Brown is curled up on her bed wearing one old shoe and one new. She is reading with deep attention, not one of her own stories which nobody ever buys, but an adventure that will delight the world as long as there are children in it. The story of Cinderella. At the Royal Palace, Cinderella climbed up the great spiral staircase. Her little glass slippers seemed to tinkle a tune against the marvel steps. At the top of the staircase, she heard the swell of music from the ball. But when Cinderella entered the ballroom, everything stopped. All of the guests in the ballroom were speechless with awe at the lovely and delicate princess they saw. Cinderella, for her part, was just as impressed, for she'd never seen people so fancily dressed. There were elegant earls and debonair dukes sporting the latest in powdered parukes, baronettes, coronettes, princesses' crowns, the marquis's smiles and the dowager's frowns. She caught just that glimpse of Gisella and Bella who never suspected their maid Cinderella had blossomed so bravely from cinders and shyness. Oh, look, that must be the young prince. It's his highness. Cinderella was quite terrified, for she'd never met a prince and had even the slightest idea of what to do. So she sank to her knees in a curtsy of loyalty, exactly what young girls should do before royalty. Good evening, Your Highness. May I have the pleasure of this dance with you? I shall be deeply honored, Your Highness. Let the music commence. I'll tell you quite frankly, I'm glad that you came. Though I'm sorry to say that I don't... For this evening, I think I must pass the princess whose slippers are made out of glass. Your party, I cannot describe how sublime it is. But tell me, I beg you, exactly what time it is. Only ten after ten, and time for another dance. It's scarcely eleven. Come dance in romance with me, lovable lass. Little princess whose slippers are made out of glass. Why so frightened of midnight? You present at the ball, lass. This little glass slipper was dropped on the stairs. The princess who wore it delighted my eyes, but she's quite disappeared. Would you try it for size? For the girl who can wear it will dance at my side, my beautiful, beautiful princess and bride. Bella, pull your toes together and make the shoe fit. Fizz, gizella, and squeeze. My dear ladies, this squeezing won't do. If the shoe fits the foot, then the foot fits the shoe. Oh, how sad that my daughters should both be denied a seat on a throne. They cost their feet not too wide. I take it there are no other young ladies in this household. There's Cinderella. Who? Our kitchen maid. She'd cover you over with Cinderdust. Even so, my dear lady, I think I should try the shoe on her foot. Not a chance must slip by. She sleeps in a room at the top of the stairs. With your kindest permission, I'll look for her there. And so the prince climbed the steep stairs to the garret room where Cinderella slept. And he knocked on the door. But I've got something for you. Let me come in. Excuse me, Joe. You know the funniest thing? I was reading Cinderella where the prince comes to try the glass slipper on her foot, you know? And he knocks on the door, and just then you knock. Well, I don't have a glass slipper. But I do have a shoe that you can see straight through. How'd you find me? Just like the prince in your story from your shoe. Look. Oh, the rejection slip from Real Romances magazine. I stopped that inside my shoe to keep my stocking off the sidewalk. It's lucky the editor had your address on the rejection slip. You see, I wanted to give you the other new shoe. Oh, you can't. You're getting trouble. What will Mr. McCloskey say? Miss Brown, I've got some news for you. I'm Mr. McCloskey. No. A junior. And it seems to me you ought to stop writing Cinderella stories. It's a lot more fun living them. How can I? First of all, let me call you Cindy. Instead of Miss Lucinda Brown. All right. Then, appoint me your private and personal Prince Charming. With the exclusive right to take you dancing on Thursday nights. Which this just happens to be. Oh, I'd love to, Your Highness. You know, I was beginning to think that stories like Cinderella were strictly once upon a time. But I guess a girl can still find a Prince Charming nowadays, even in the shoe store. And you never can tell how a thing like this will wind up. Oh, yes. Yes, you can. These stories always end the same way. And they live happily ever after. The story of Cinderella. We can read it or hear it. Then go back to our work at a world with renewed spirits. Not outwardly changed, but with a little softer expression around our eyes, a little warmer glow in our hearts. It's the same with greeting cards. They bring a lift to the heart and spirit that's as refreshing as a child's flight into fairyland. Because they show that someone cares, we can face whatever lies before us with renewed faith and courage. That's why greeting cards have come to mean so much to Americans. We're a busy people and impulsive people and a friendly people. And so we find greeting cards to our liking. For many years now, the American people have singled out hallmark cards for a special liking. Perhaps because they do say what we want to say, the way we want to say it. And that's why so many folks recognize that hallmark on a back of a card means you cared enough to send the very best. Here again is James Hilton. Judy, what an enchanting Cinderella you were tonight. Thank you. You're very nice to say so, Mr. Hilton. I was thrilled when I was asked to play Cinderella on the hallmark playhouse tonight. You know, I've always felt I got my first big break in the Wizard of Oz, and ever since then I've loved playing in fantasy. And how well I remember you're singing that wonderful song over the rainbow. You were just a little girl then, Judy. Well, I guess I still feel like that sometimes. For instance, whenever I buy one of your hallmark cards, I always pick out the ones that are whimsical and gay. I just think they're more fun. Oh, that reminds me. Tomorrow I must get a card of congratulations to send to one Mr. James Hilton. To me, Judy? Yes, sir. I just heard your new book, Morning Journey, will be off the press February 20th. So congratulations are certainly in order. Well, thank you, and you'll make sure it's a hallmark card, won't you, Judy? You can bet on that, Mr. Hilton. Now, tell us, what have you planned for the hallmark playhouse next week? Next week on Washington's Birthday, we shall present Maxwell Anderson's celebrated play, Valley Forge, which so aptly portrays the courage and vision of the father of our country. And to South Star, we are happy indeed to welcome back to the hallmark playhouse that very fine actor, Van Heflin. Our hallmark playhouse is every Thursday. Our director producer is Bill Gay. Our music is composed and conducted by Lynn Murray, and our story tonight was dramatized by Lawrence and Lee. Until next Thursday then, this is James Hilton saying, good night. Look for hallmark cards that are sold only in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service. Remember hallmark cards when you carry them up to send the very best. Joe, our Prince Charming tonight was played by Whitfield Conner, the very godmother who was Vernon Felton. Eleanor Oddly was the stepmother, and our stepdaughters were Sarah Burner and Mary Jane Groft. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you all until next week at the same time. When hallmark playhouse returns to present Van Heflin in Maxwell Anderson's Valley Forge, in the week following, Booth Talkingsons must share both care, starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. And in the weeks to follow, Laura Ingalls Wilder is the long winter on the hallmark playhouse. This is CBS Big Love, the broadcasting system. This is KMBC, Kansas City, Missouri.