 DuPont, makers of better things for better living through chemistry, presents the Cavalcade of America, starring Dorothy McGuire. Good evening. This is Dorothy McGuire. I don't know anyone, man or woman, who doesn't enjoy looking at a pretty dress. Tonight, I think you'll enjoy listening to the story of a woman who's got a million of them. Nellie Donnelly. Nellie Donnelly, who took a needle and a piece of gingham and built a great American enterprise. Thus proving, as the song says, that everything's up to date in Kansas City. The Golden Neville, starring Dorothy McGuire as Nell Donnelly. When I was very young, we lived in Parsons, Kansas. That is, the rest of the family lived in Parsons, Kansas. Most of the time, I was in Paris. I dreamt I was on the left bank, scintillating with continental whip as famous artists fought to paint my portraits. No. I was really at Buckingham Palace, sweeping a graceful curtsy and murmuring, Your Majesty? No, wait. Actually, I was out in the African belt. My beaters had taken to the bush, and there I was, face to face, with a man-eating rhinoceros. Nellie? They're piling up, and we have company coming to supper. Yes, Mother, in a minute. Mercy on us. You're not still turning that seam, child. Well, you started two hours ago. But the cloth's so old. It keeps ravelling, look. Oh, I know, dear. It's been a lot of the youngest since the beginning of time to have to make over all the hand-me-down. By the time they get to me, they're nothing but patches on patches. You sew very well for such a young girl. But you shouldn't stop today, Dream. Well... Now, now, come on. I was only thinking, Mother, if someone had the right clothes to put on, there might be someplace someone could go and sing. Oh, is that it? Well, one of these days, I'll take someone up to Kansas City. No, I mean places like New York, and Paris, and Rome. You'll see them in time. You might charge money to ride on trains. You know, child, we used to have an old saying, if you stitch with a golden needle, your garment will be magic. Magic? Like a magic carpet? Oh, I could go wherever I wanted. Mother, is it true? In certain ways, I think it may be. Oh, but where would I ever find a golden needle around here? Well, that I can't say now. I'm too old to be looking myself, but you have a way with a needle. I think you might find one almost anywhere. And looked for that wonderful meter, but it never turned up. And as I grew older and thought I was wise, the whole idea became something to laugh at. Then, one day in 1916, after we'd moved to Kansas City, I invited some of my Lindenwood school friends over for lunch. We were all very serious young ladies, determined to improve our minds by being able to discuss important current events. Well, you should have seen me last night, Elizabeth, dancing the new tango. Oh, had you ever learned how? From Irene Castle herself. You didn't really meet Irene Castle? Well, not exactly to speak to. She was up on the stage and I was in the audience. Oh, Martha. Oh, but she's honestly the most stylish thing. Oh, I wish I could look stylish like the actresses. Well, you do, Liz. We certainly do today anyway in that darling dress. Oh, do you really like it? Well, Nell made it for me for Christmas. Honestly? Well, she made mine, too. And you must have made your own, Nell. I wear a regular fashion show of your creation. You know, Nell, instead of giving dresses away like you do, I think you ought to make them to sale. That's wonderful. Oh, why, they're only cotton house dresses. But you could make a fortune, honestly. Now, we're serious. You can't find anything like them in the store. And the way women go around the house looking like perfect fries. Well, I just think of the husbands you'd be doing a favor, too. Yes. I am thinking. That night, I thought and thought. It was all right. I told myself for a girl to be a wife. But did she always have to look like one? Why? I might become emancipator of American womanhood. Next day, I took two of my own cotton dresses to a store in downtown Kansas City. And the manager said. Sorry, miss. Not interested. At the second store? Uh-uh. Besides, we just got a yearly shipment of regulation house garments. Our customers are used to them. Now, you're starring them off, making them dissatisfied, right? My good shoes were giving me blisters by the time I reached the sixth store. Say, are you touched? Why did it cost you at least six bits to make up one like this sample? But if a woman had something that was in style and really fit her, she might be willing to pay, say, up to a dollar. A dollar? Listen, are you touched? You asked me that before. I don't believe I am. Look, Mr. Ballinger, what is your wife's way to cook and clean in? Hmm? Oh, I don't know. Every year, I usually take her home a couple of mother-hubbered, size large. Never gave it much thought. Well, how would you like to see her in something real pretty for a change, something she could, well, say, answer the doorbell in two? Yes. I see what you mean. No, no use trying to high-pressure me. Our customers aren't millionaires, you know. Oh, please. It wouldn't cost you anything to try and sell them. Dollar for a house desk. No, I couldn't take the chance. Look, I'm the one who's taking the chance. What if I made up, let's see, 18 dozens? Well... Oh, thank you. Oh, you won't regret it. I know you won't. Miss, you've got plenty of gumption. I'll say that for you. But gumption, don't sell merchandise. And if yours don't sell, you're going to be sorry you ever saw the inside of this store. I think I float at home. I wasn't dreaming of London or Paris now. I was in business with 18 dozen dresses due at the store in exactly a month. Oh, golly. How was I going to do it? I needed help. I went to the phone and rang up my neighbors. First, Katie Schleicher. I thought your dresses, and I thought if you want to help me do some sewing and model, we could fit the smaller sizes on you. Oh, shh, you're a pretty good size, 12. Both sizes, Mrs. Herbert. Of course. Current events, meetings, we were at your house, and I thought maybe the faster news. Oh, I'm afraid I can't make it, Elizabeth. I'm on my way downtown to, uh, the sewing machine dealers. And you really are going into this machine. Oh, just that old treadle. Professionals use electrical equipment. Oh, my gracious. Well, won't a new one be fratfully expensive? Not one, two. And I've hired two helpers. Oh, dear. I never dreamed you were going to take it so seriously when I suggested it that day. I mean, get in so deep. Well, maybe it runs in the family. Mother told me that when she and Dad came to Kansas and started their farm, they gave up everything for what they wanted to do, and it turned out just fine. Now, I never knew you to talk that way. I thought you always said Parsons was so boring. Oh, it wasn't that. It was just that I wanted something else, something I'd accomplished for myself. You know, now, I feel kind of sorry for you. And yet at the same time, I'm jealous. Why, dear? Well, you're going to lose your shirt on this enterprise, but if I know you, you're sure going to have a darn good time doing it. We sat in the spare room, Katie, and Mrs. Herbert and I. We stitched yard after yard of pink ruffles by day and dreamed about them at night. We cut and we tucked. We fitted, we stitched and we pressed, and we kept drinking coffee from a bottomless pot. But we weren't going fast enough. So, I worked out a system where each of us made a share of each drink. And somehow, suddenly, the month was up. Well, Miss, you did pretty good getting them here when you said you were. Oh, well, thanks. Now, I got an idea. You and how extravagant brides are when they're buying their trussoes. Yes. Well, I figured they'd spend a dollar on the house dress. So, I decided to put an ad in the store. I'm real generous of you. Could I see it? Oh, sure. Let's see now. I saw that ad this morning. I know they put it in. It's funny I could swear. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Here it is. Where? Way down here, see? Oh. Well, I suppose it wouldn't have been in good taste to take anything big and splashy, say, like a two-inch ad? See, how many brides do you think there are in this town? Young lady, I don't know why I ever let you talk me into taking a risk like this, anyway. Risk? Mr. Ballinger, you think you're in deep in this, but you haven't even got your toes wet. I've bought two electric machines, all that cloth, paid helpers, and I've got exactly $3.69 left. Now, do you want to back out? No, no, no. Since you put it that way, may as well leave the stuff here. And you might ring me up one of these days. I'll let you know if the ad pulled any customers. When I got home, Katie and Mrs. Herbert were there waiting. We sat in the kitchen, not saying anything. Just rocking, drinking coffee. I don't know what we expected, but there certainly wasn't any use of our just sitting there. Now the dresses were finished. Oh, it looks like this rain's going to keep up, don't it, dear? Yes. Sure does. I wish I knew how to thank you both. You've been so wonderful on here. I'll fill up your cup. Oh, thanks. Mrs. Herbert, more coffee. Well, yes, thanks. There's a full meal. Yes, it is, isn't it? Two tons. Isn't that your ring? It's our ring, all right. A golden needle. You are listening to the Golden Needle, starring Dorothy McGuire on the Cavalcade of America, sponsored by the DuPont Company, makers of better things for better living through chemistry. In 1916, Nell Donnelly, a young Kansas City girl, managed to talk a local merchandise manager into ordering some attractive cotton dresses she made. Until this time, the only thing available to women for wear around the house were shapeless, ugly mother-hubbers. Her dresses caught on. She rolled up her sleeves and set to work. Now, girlish dreams of far-off places were gone. Nell was in a world of reality. We cut and we stitched. We added designs. We began making dresses to wear on the street, to church and to work as well as at home. And we always reflected the mode of the day when the high-fashion hem began climbing meward, Oz climbed. And when that waistline dropped down, down to the hips, didn't you wear them? I traveled. I went to New York. I saw woolens in England. New trends in Paris. Oh, I lived my dream of the golden meter. Then, all at once, with no warning, the whole world seemed to be out of a job. The depression. Some of us women set to work, ladling out soup to a long line of hungry men at the county soup kitchen. Hello. Hello, ma'am. They told me there was this place I could get something to eat. Yes, that's right. I don't like doing this. I've never asked for anything. Here you are, sir. Your soup. You may find that a ghost of a chicken has strolled through it. Thank you. Gosh, ma'am, that's the first time I've thought anything was funny, and I don't know how. Well, I believe in facing the unvarnished truth. What did you do before? Shipping cart. Oh? Then I got to be head of the department. Look, you go over to the Donnelly Garment Company and tell them a tall Irish-looking gal at the soup kitchen suggested that you drop by. Hey, ma'am, you're kidding. No, I'm not kidding. Believe it or not, we have vacancies in our shipping department. Now, go on. Before somebody else gets that job. Yes, ma'am. Pardon my curiosity, Miss Donnelly, but I've been watching you. Oh, why, Senator Reid, I didn't see you standing there. Good evening. Good evening. I hope you don't mind my paying your kitchen a visit. I've been out walking, and I've heard about what you ladies are accomplishing here. Mind why I'm glad you did. Don't know anybody with a lot of nice, fat, stewing hands they'd like to donate. I'll see what I can do. Tell me, Miss Donnelly, just how many jobs at your dress factory have you handed out today along with a soup? Why, I didn't hand any out, Senator. We're short of help at the plant. Oh, you're joking, of course. Why, is there any law against needing more employees? No, but in these times, it's certainly unique. Senator, I owe a great deal of happiness to the people who've bought my clothes through the years. I see your point, but you can hardly keep a factory going on gratitude. In other words, I'm sentimental, and I don't really belong in business. Oh, I didn't mean that precisely, but I think a woman may be inclined to let emotion cloud her better judgment. I'm making good clothes, Senator. Clothes people can still afford to buy, and we're thriving. Now, doesn't that suggest that a woman and her sentiment may have some place in business? After that, I expected to see the Honorable James A. Reed former senator from Missouri, because his law firm was retained by our company. But what I hadn't dared to expect during the times we met to discuss very general topics was that we would fall in love. And then, one evening, as we drove through the snowy streets of Kansas City... Well, look, the skaters are all out on the duck pond. Oh, let's stop. All right. You know, as long as I've lived in this city, I've never found out what happens to ducks in the winter. I'll see if I can't launch an investigation. Now... Yes, Jim. You want a big wedding? Certainly not. You told me that surroundings, the trappings, as it were, mean a great deal to you. Well, they used to. I used to think the most important things in the world were to travel and, well, to be somebody. And now that I have traveled and grown up with my business... If only fulfillment could equal the dream. I'm afraid I know. But, Jim, it has equaled the dream. But that sounds strange, to be so pleased and proud about a factory. No, no. I only hope you won't mind too much giving it up. Giving it up? Well, now we're going to be married. You do intend to close the plant, don't you? I ought to be on the bias. Oh, this will never do. No. Oh, hello, Katie. You work too hard on that design now. Well, I wanted it in the new collection. You snip when you ought to, um, snap. I know, I know. You're right. Katie, tell me something. More than half the women in this plot are married and they're raising families. And yet they do their job here successfully. Now, why shouldn't I do the same? It's Senator Reid. Yes. You don't approve? Sure, why shouldn't I? I just don't see why you look so worried, phone all the time. Well, you'd ask me to marry him. But, Katie, he expects me to give up my work. Now, you mustn't blame him. It's part of the tradition he was raised in. A woman is a wife or she works outside the home, never both at once. And I can see his point of view. He knows how much time I spend here at the plant. He knows he practically never see me. But what's going to become of the company? I don't know, Katie. I don't know what to do. Nellie, you can't stop now. These are hard times. Banks close. People ought to work. Every business that closes down, never mind the reason, there's one more drop in the bucket. I mean, I know. During wars, they talk about morale. I say these times are war times too. A different enemy, that's all. Morale. Katie? You've done it. If he could see what it's like at the plant, if I could show him how it practically runs itself, maybe, oh, maybe, Katie, he might change his mind. A little on the noisy side, isn't it? Good body? I said it reminds me of the Senate during a budget session. You're not as wrong as you think. This is the cutting room. Good Lord, how do any of them know what they're doing? Oh, you'd be surprised at the number of experts we have. Actually, the plant practically runs itself. Excuse me, Miss Donnelly. Just got a call from the design room. They've got an idea. They want to talk over with you. Okay, call them back for me, will you? I'll be over as soon as I can. Sure thing. Who was that fellow? I remember seeing his face before. Well, you were too. He used to be chairman of the county board of supervisors. Was? What's he doing here? Supervising. We have lots of people like that who never expected to see the inside of a dress factory, but it's just fine. And as I say, the place practically runs itself. I hate interrupts you right now, but... What is it, Katie? The new buttons haven't come in yet. We can't finish the blue and white fork it out till they do. Well, put Elizabeth to work on it. She'll get them to come through. Elizabeth, not your old school friend. Sure, she's very valuable. The jobbers can't get a word in edgewise when she gets started. They have to deliver the goods. Now, let's see. I was about to show you... Good morning, Charlie. What's troubling you? We've got a problem with that new material. The needles keep breaking. Well, let's have a look. I had an idea. It sounds crazy, but... Most good ideas do. What is it? Well, the reason the needles break is they get too hot. I think if we install little electric fans here, they'll sort of cool them. Well, it sounds crazy all right, but go ahead and try it. Thanks, Miss Donnelly. Miss Donnelly? Yes, Clara. I was doing this scene with a lingerie tape, the way they sent instructions from the design room. Yes. But I think I know a way. I can maybe do it so it's double stitched. Oh, do you really think so? I want to see. Could a mere man look too? Oh, Jim, good heavens. I forgot all about you. I know. It's quite obviously an absorbing business. And here, I brought you here to the plant just so I could convince you it practically runs itself. Well, doesn't it? From what I've seen so far, everybody in the place is trying something, some crazy idea. My mother had a crazy idea once, Jim, when she told me about the golden needle knowing very well I'd believe her. And you still believe her, even now? More than ever. Oh, Jim, I'm sorry, but even for us, I could never give it up. My dear, I don't want you to give it up. Why, you've got me believing in it too. We've come successfully through difficult times. As for the Nellie Dawn dress, it even survived something called a new look. Today, in our plant in Kansas City, hundreds of machines are busy stitching. Stitching on the dresses which go out every day to help make American women more attractive. And as far as I'm concerned, every single one of those sewing machines is equipped with a golden needle. Dorothy Maguire will return in a moment. Now, our star, Dorothy Maguire. Thank you. Last year's polio epidemic was the worst in our history. Not a single state escaped. This year, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis will again devote all its efforts to fighting this terrible disease and aiding its victims. It needs your help as much as you can give. Join the March of Dimes, won't you? Thank you. Good night. Next week, Cavalcade will present another popular Hollywood star, Robert Taylor. Our play, The Interchangeable Mr. Whitney. Be sure to listen. This is Ted Pearson speaking. Tonight's original Cavalcade play, The Golden Needle, was based on the career of Nell Donnelly and was written especially for radio by Virginia Radcliffe. Music was composed by Arden Cornwell and conducted by Donald Voorhees. The program was directed by John Zoller. Dorothy Maguire may soon be seen in the 20th Century Fox Picture Mother Didn't Tell Me. Cavalcade of America comes to you from the stage of the Belasco Theater in New York and is presented by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware. Makers of better things for better living through chemistry. Stay tuned for The Baby Snook Show followed by Bob Hope on NBC.