 Transcribe. Ladies and gentlemen, the railroad out. And here comes our star-studded show train. Tonight the Association of American Railroads presents Victor Herbert stirring musical success, Rose of Algeria, starring Gordon MacRae and his two singing guests for this evening, Lucille Norman and Jane Stewart-Smith. A choir is out of the direction of Norman Luboff and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. Yes, tonight another memorable musical evening is recreated for you by the American Railroads, the same railroads that bring you most of the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the fuel you burn, and all the other things you use in your daily life. And now here is our star, Gordon MacRae. Thank you, Mama Miller. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight's story takes us across the troubled sands of North Africa where Victor Herbert has set to music the glitter of moonlight and the tower of the minaret, the endless stretches of the Sahara. Crimson, the minaret, rose in the western blow, twilight in barricades, for marketplace, stealing the throng below, clear there the silver-present wings on where's the blade of my scimitar key? Stonest as the steel of the shield that I wear, I love old Gulner, the enemy's ring, he's my shield, swift as arrow he wings, may they death through me bear, could I fall to the sea? Who at the blade of my scimitar key? Stonest as the steel of the shield that I wear, the love that I give me from there, and my sword on the end, gets my shield, swift as arrow he wings, could I fall to the sea? Gulner! You're a traitor, Captain Delone. Who calls me traitor? I do. You're a traitor to the uniform of a French colonial. The way you sing the music of the desert, I think you should be one of us. You think I sing like a member of the Barraquese tribe? You sing like a man who would die for the Sultanizoradi. That barbarian. Why do you call her that? She's a savage, inciting the Barraquese against the flag of France. Perhaps the Barraquese consider you the savage, Captain Delone. Our tribe roamed free across these sands long before you came with your forts and gun. Well, it's a matter of viewpoint. Viewpoint and ammunition? Well, a philosopher. A little philosopher in the desert. What is your name? I'm called Miriam. Miriam? No. You should be named for a flower. A rose. Yes. You shall be my rose of the world. There's a song by that name. Of course. Good by the famous Elmo Croney. He astonished me, Captain. I never thought a Frenchman would admire the words of our desert poet. Sweet and well. And the summer proud and royal. And the summer soft and fair. In all the solace gardens no rose is blooming as sweet and fair. Captain Delone, I have a message for you to take to your command of the Governor-General of Algeria. And what do you want me to tell him? That the sword is not the only way to strengthen. It is possible sometimes to win battles with a kiss. Is that the way you plan to conquer me? We shall see, Captain Delone. Decorated, decorated, none more. Braided, imitated, emulated, elevated scar. Really stated in me. Concentrated, concentrated. Ha! Braided, Caesar, Plato, Cyrus, Cato. That's my station. Ha! Really stated in me. Concentrated, concentrated. Ha! Caesar, Plato, Cyrus, Cato. That's my station. Ha! That's what... Decorated? Indeed. For what reason I'd like to know. Oh, no reason, General. And I'm not referring to a military decoration, sir. I have just received the highest honor a man can receive from a beautiful woman. A kiss. You're falling in love again. I think so. What a nephew. I bring you from the Paris boulevards to the wastes of North Africa to keep you from throwing your heart away on a worthless girl. And what happens? I throw my heart away on a worthless girl. Who is it this time? Ah, a rose. Ah, from the tribe of the Barakish. We're practically at war with them. The Barakish are enemies of France. My heart never asks a girl her politics. I forbid you to say her. What? You are a soldier now. Forget your schoolboy rhymes. Make songs to the moon if you must, but not to the Barakish. To the moon? Now that's been done. I know. I'll make a love song to a cigarette. My cigarettes eat solid springs to me. My mystic mists are filled with fantasy. In the eye hole, a net romance is won from lead and care. Twirls sever every bond. My incense mounts in swirling curves above. And as I dream, my fanciness... Night, please. What? May I have a light? Oh, oh. Yes, yes. Of course. Thank you. I, uh... I don't believe we've met. We haven't. But I know a great deal about you, Captain. You're a Paris poet. A renegade rhymes to run off to the foreign wars. Well, I see you don't think much of me by reputation. I'm impressed by your opinions on love. Love, my dear lady, is as durable as an orchid, as constant as a gadfly, and as profitable as bankruptcy. In fact... Love is like a cigarette. A cigarette may last as long. Light it at the heart of flame. For a time, its fire is strong. Fragrant clouds then promise veil. Every sorrow or cigarette is hard. I agree with you, Captain. Magic key unto the light. Tell me, ma'am Zell, what brings you to this dreary outpost? I am a doctor. A doctor? If it comes to war with a better quiche, I'd be glad I'm here. Well, I'm glad you're here already, doctor. Captain, come inside at once. Excuse me, my uncle is calling. Yes, Governor? Sit down, my boy. An astonishing development in our relations with the barricades' pifemen. Well, does it concern me? Oh, does it concern you? The sultana of the barricades has taken a vow that she will marry the poet who wrote that absurd song, The Rose of the World, what's his name? El Mokrani. How did you know this? A letter from the sultana. She will sign a treaty of friendship with us if we will deliver El Mokrani to be her husband. But no one knows who El Mokrani is. But you are a poet, my boy. You will pose as the author of Rose of the World. And marry the sultana? For the glory of France. Clever, huh? Uncle, I have a confession to make. I am El Mokrani. You wrote Rose of the World? Yes. But it is intended for a lovely daughter of the tribe named Miriam. This is an affair of state. Captain Deloam, I command you to marry the sultana Zorati. And I refuse, sir. I have never even seen the sultana. You'll be a traitor then? If I do as you command me, Governor, I would be a traitor to my heart. Ah, dreary oars that pass and leave me sad and grown While the eye waits, my dearest one my own When I thy song at morning moon or night hear In the skies the stars shall follow song We'll return for act two of Rose of Algeria. Same, Arvin. I've been thinking about that wonderful railroad safety record you've been talking about on the railroad hour. You know, when you told how there was only one passenger fatality last year for each 2 billion, 400 million miles traveled by rail. Oh, I sure, Gordon. That was an important story, because that railroad achievement in 1952 set an all-time record for passenger safety by any form of transportation. Yes, but here's something I've been wondering about. We were talking about that record at home the other night, and we couldn't remember hearing or reading about a single railroad train accident last year that caused a fatality. You're right, Gordon. Not a single passenger fatality resulted from train accidents during 1952. The figure we've mentioned on this program took account of the regrettable fact that there were 14 passenger fatalities, due to such unfortunate mishaps as passengers falling while attempting to board or alight from moving trains or jumping or falling from moving trains. Oh, I see. But there wasn't one single fatality from a train accident. That's right. And you know, Gordon, that is truly a remarkable record, especially when you stop to think that last year passengers traveled approximately 34 billion miles on America's railroad trains. Wow, that's a lot of traveling. How many times do you suppose I could go back and forth from, say, Hollywood to New York on that kind of mileage? I knew you could make about six million round trips on that basis. Yes, and on that basis, I guess I know all I need to know about the safest way to travel, Marvin. Right, Gordon. Safety is the first rule of railroading. Now, here is act two of the Lawrence and Lee dramatization of Victor Herbert's Rose of Algeria, starring Gordon MacRae and his guests, Lucille Norman and Jane Stewart Smith. My life, I love thee. I love thee till the day When from the night the stars shall pass on. Miriam, my beloved. I am writing you this letter from Military Pritz. The governor has confined me here because I refused to marry Zora thee, the sultana of the Barakish. Do you want to know why I refused? Because I love you, Miriam. You are my rose of the world and some day, some day I'll take you across the seat of Paris to the Paris of my youth where there'll be no more political intrigues but only laughter and good times. Through the quarter, Latin and Paris runs the boulevard known as Michel. No at once, no at well from a spell, you will struggle in vain to be free. My thoughts ever back to it fly and it's idle to hold them in each for the dearest street under the sky here's the old bonzoo come dine with me. Henri and Georges and Antoinette through the cafe pantheon for just one pretty bear of Anacet was thus it went in ours long spare be those days forever. Henri and Georges and Antoinette was thus it went in ours long spare. You find it easy to sing even in a prison cell. Doctor, you can do me a favor. See that this letter reaches the Barakish girl called Miriam. A love letter? You might call it that. You told me that love is fleeting as a cigarette gone in a moment of smoke on the desert wind. True doctor, of all loves but one. Where am I to find your Miriam? Do you know the back country? For two years I was a doctor in the palace of the Barakish. Wonderful. Then find my Miriam and deliver my letter. Your Highness, Doctor Madison, we meet again. But I asked to see the girl called Miriam. Miriam and the Sultan Azor Adi are one and the same. Oh, then I have a letter for you, Sultana. Let me see it. From a man who does not even guess your high station among the Barakish. Would he have written this letter if he knew I was a Sultan Azor Adi? She said... In prison. Yes, Your Highness. I called him a traitor once in jest. Now he may die as a traitor because he loves me. Doctor Madison, take me to the Governor General. Your treachery means war, Governor. What treachery? You have found the poet El Mokrani. You have him in your prison. And yet you refuse to bring him to me. I regret to tell you, Your Highness, the man who wrote Rose of the World is my nephew. But he is in love with the girl of the Barakish tribe and swears he would rather die than marry the Sultan Azor Adi. Such impudence, such insolence. Summon your nephew and see if he dares to repeat these words to the Sultana face to face. Sergeant, go to the guard house and bring Captain Deloam here immediately. It's no use, Governor. You didn't try to plead with me. I won't take the Sultan Azor Adi as my bride. Perhaps you will change your mind when you meet her. Miriam, what are you doing here? How dare you address the Sultana on such familiar terms. You are the Sultana? The Sultana is Miriam? Uncle, I've changed my mind. Cable the Paranovis. Advise the diplomatic corps. The marriage has been arranged. But which one are you marrying, Captain Deloam, the Sultana or Miriam? Neither and both. My bride is the Rose of the World. A dreary hour's that personally be sad and lone While the eye awaits my dearest on my own When I thy song at morning moon or night here For the eye lo- Gentlemen, Lucile Norman and Jane Stuart Smith will be back in just a moment. And meanwhile, our thanks to Herb Butterfield and our entire company. Rose of Algeria with music by Victor Herbert and book in lyrics by Glenn McDonough was dramatized for the railroad hour by Lawrence and Lee. The railroad hour is brought to you each week at the same time by the American Railroads. Marvin? For weeks now, thousands of railroad hour listeners have been writing in for their free copies of Quizz on Railroads and Railroading, published by the Association of American Railroads. Filled with photographs and interesting facts of America's railroads, this attractive and unusual booklet is one you'll want to get and keep. So if you haven't as yet written for your free copy, be sure to do so right away. Simply write to the railroad hour Transportation Building, Washington, 6 D.C. That address again, the railroad hour Transportation Building, Washington, 6 D.C. Thank you, Marvin. And now folks here again are our two charming guest stars, Lucille Norman and Jane Stewart-Smith. Well, that was great fun, wasn't it, Gordie? I love these operas, Lucille, where everybody is really somebody else, like I was Captain Delomi and L. McCroney. And I was Miriam and the Sultan is already. And the Governor General was also my uncle. I got shortchanged. I was only one character. Well, one character or not, Janey, it was good to have you swing aboard the show train. And next time, we promise you five names and ten wardrobe changes. What's on the show train next Monday night, Gordon? Well, we'll be up in Central Park, Lucille. Neve Menzel and I will be singing some of those wonderful Sigmund Romberg songs. And by the way, we're expecting you back two weeks from tonight for a special St. Patrick's Day frolic, Eileen. And in weeks ahead, we have scheduled some really lovely operas and musical plays. For instance, Lute Song, Sally, Chocolate Soldier, and many, many others. We'll be listening. Good night. Good night, Gordon. Good night, Lucille and Jane. You are both wonderful. All aboard. Well, dear friends, it looks as though we're ready to pull out and so until next Monday night, and Sigmund Romberg's up in Central Park. This is your friend Gordon McRae saying, good night. Rose of Algeria was presented by special arrangement with the Tams Whitmark Music Library. Gordon McRae can be seen starring in the Technicolor production, The Desert Song. Our choir was under the direction of Norman Luboff, and our music was prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. Until next week, this is Marvin Miller saying good night for the American Railroads. Now stay tuned for your Monday night of music on NBC.