 Remember a hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best Sanding stories chosen by one of the world's best-known authors a distinguished novelist Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This is James Hilton tonight on our hallmark playhouse We dramatize one of America's earliest classics the legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving You can see Sleepy Hollow today. It's a beauty spot near Tarretown in the state of New York Washington Irving loved it and after his long and distinguished lifetime. He chose to be buried there The legend of Sleepy Hollow like so many good legends is a fine thing to hear on a dark night over a warm fire with the wind howling outside and Among its strongest admirers when it was first published 130 years ago was the great and legendary sir Walter Scott himself Closer we are to Halloween tonight We find it especially appropriate to tell this celebrated story and to star in it We are fortunate to have that equally celebrated actor Lionel Barrymore And now a word about hallmark cards from Frank gas before we begin the first act of the legend of Sleepy Hollow May we remind you once again that for every occasion important to your friends and loved ones There are hallmark cards to carry your thoughts across the miles across the years or merely across the way a Hallmark card says what you want to say just the way you want to say it and that identifying hallmark on the back says that you Cared enough to send the very best Our star Lionel Barrymore is appearing tonight by arrangement with Metro Golden mayor producers of to please a lady Starring Clark Gable Barbara Stanwick and Adolf Manjoo and now hallmark playhouse Presenting Washington Irving's the legend of Sleepy Hollow starring Lionel Barrymore burns down to embers on all Saints Eve and the cold October moon bears a thin chill smile at the dark countryside Then the living huddle closer to the fire and listen to tales of witchcraft and goblins and ghosts Such a tale is told every Halloween by the good Tarotown people who live close to a sequestered Glenn known as Sleepy Hollow I'm telling you true And you'd best pay close heed to what I say Never venture into Sleepy Hollow after dark You can tell he's new in this part of the country no need for a Tarotown boy to ask a question like that Because Sleepy Hollow is haunted Haunted by a spirit that rides there rides forth each night at midnight and search of his head Anybody ever seen oh Lots of people have seen him all right But none that I know of have ever lived to talk about it Unless and I say unless because there are grave doubts about even that This is the zikabot crane. Who is he? Zikabot crane? Well, he was a school teacher Came here must have been over a hundred years ago He lived with my grandfather here in this very house quite a spell strange order fellow My grandfather said he was the closest thing to a scarecrow. He'd ever looked about It was all Saint's Eve the first time anyone ever saw a kabot They were all sitting around the fire same as we are tonight and all of a sudden there was a knock on the door And father got up and walked over to the door He opened it There was a good The new school teacher. I was told I could find lodging here new school teacher come in come in quickly We have to keep the door posted No mortal man is safe on all Saints Eve over by the fire. You look chilled the bone We can certainly give you lodgings. When did you arrive in the village? I just arrived I rode up through the hollow a little while ago. The hollow. Did you say you rode up through the hollows? Sleepy hollow. I don't know the name of it. It was pointed out to me as the shortest way to the village But the hollow is a haunted region There's a figure on horseback a headless figure. He ride at night. I Hope he didn't see you They say you know They say that if he sees you and all Saints Eve and doesn't capture you then He'd wait. Oh your death is set From that time never venture into sleepy hollow at night again Hickabod Crane thanked him and said he wouldn't If he kept his word we go, but I'm getting ahead of my story Hickabod started teaching the following week by the end of the week everyone in the surrounding countryside and met him After school hours he'd hunt for books that would tell him about sleepy hollow Then when he'd read what the books had to say he went about and talked to people in the village Time and time again. I've seen the headless horsemen riding by They say that if he's after you the only thing to do is to ride like the wind for the churchyard One shift cross the bridge into the church yard. He vanishes in a puff of brimstone and fire Oh, I wouldn't want to meet him and I particularly wouldn't want to meet him if I'm a huge and so Hickabod began to absorb the facts in the fancies of the region each night He sat before this fire with the doors and windows bolted as long as you did that all remained well with him but then one day Met a girl Katrina Vantassel the wealthiest girl in the region Her father's farm was on top of a hill some distance from sleepy hollow They could but went every afternoon. He could be not kept your name is like music School master pays very pretty compliment, but I've heard that he pays them everywhere in the village Katrina Don't play games with me. I must play games with you far. We used to take you seriously. I might laugh Katrina I'm in love with you How can you laugh at a man who says he's in love with you so many men have said they were in love with me But they were really in love with was my father's land my father's house and my father's money. How you insult me Perhaps but I also insult myself. Don't forget that What must the man have What must he be to win you? I don't know Many have ruled me and none has won me yet But I'll tell you this school master to me deeds are far more appealing than words The man who wins me will not be afraid of the headless horseman or of sleepy hollow. That may be me Katrina Hello, Brahms. Yes, that well may be you Katrina. If I ride forth at night, will you be waiting? I will be waiting Ichabod. I am the headless horseman Katrina if I ride forth at night Will you be waiting? Yes Ichabod? I'll be waiting then I will be at your door come tonight If you will we're having a party if you come you'll have me to reckon with Ichabod Crane I'll reckon with you from You may be bigger. You may be stronger. You may be as everyone says the strongest man in the valley But I'll reckon with you. I have no fear of the living. I will be at your door Sooner than you think birds of Katrina kept running through his mind now and then as he hurried on his way So beautiful that his heart ate from the memory and so scornful that his face reddened from the memory And beyond her beauty and a scorn he could see the dark threatening shadow of the headless horseman He was spent with anxiety and fatigue when he opened the door of my grandfather's house that buried all there And closed it. Did you see the horseman? No, he couldn't have not at this time of day The horseman rides only after dirt Get your breath back to get to the Vantassel house except through sleepy hollow no way in the world Well, then I'm afraid I shall have to chance meeting the headless horseman Think what it would be to meet him on the road I love Katrina more than I fear the headless horseman. I must chance it. I shall go Tonight too that night after supper Igga bud crane rusty black walked out through the shadows to the old barn and saddled one of Hans van Ripper's plow There was a rising wind mounted his steed and started down into sleepy hollow We'll return to the second act of the legend of sleepy hollow starring Lionel Barrymore If you plan to have at least a part of your Christmas cards personally imprinted with your name this year And I'm sure many of you do. I hope you'll look for the fine stores that feature hallmark cards There you'll find the three new hallmark albums awaiting you this year each with its own distinctive collection of Christmas greetings There's the hallmark gallery artist album open it at any page and what a treasury of fine art lies before you Cards from paintings by the right honorable Winston Churchill that seem to have a magic quality of greatness The same greatness that has made mr. Churchill belong to all the world in all he undertakes There's a special hallmark album for men a collection, especially tailored to a man's taste and there's the hallmark bluebook Here you'll find a glorious array of cards expressing all the charm and delight of Christmas as you know and love it Winter seems as enchanting as the sight of falling snow on Christmas Eve lovable cherubs Jolly Santas Cards with spiritual themes conveying the deeper meaning of Christmas Yes, whatever you desire whatever your budget You'll find a hallmark card that you'll feel was created especially for you And it will be one that you'll send with special pride for you know Your cards will have the hallmark on the back the hallmark that all will quickly recognize and know you cared enough to send the very best Now back to James Hilton and the second act of the legend of sleepy hollows starring Lionel Barrymore When the fire burns down to embers on all Saints Eve and the wind rises to a thin melancholy whale Then the living huddle closer to the fire and listen to the yarns of witchcraft and goblins Such a tale is told every Halloween by the good Tarrytown people who live close to a sequestered Glen known as sleepy hollow Knees nearly up to the pommel of the saddle the sharp elbows stuck out like Like a grasshopper and they carried his whip in his hand like a sapta a small wool hat rested on the top of his head And the skirts of his coat flooded out almost to the horse's tail As he rolled up to the van tassel residence the party was in full progress, and he dismounted join the guests School master that's no way to talk. Yes. I came to the party from say here, mr. School master I intend to marry Katrina. So why don't you go somewhere else and pedal your school books? I am not interested in your intentions from only in Katrina's because I hope to marry her myself Look at you for a minute. Oh, yes, I would too look at him for a minute From you're not welcome here after the way you just and I'd appreciate it if you'd leave at once Katrina You've got a stand for this ridiculous fool Take a good look at my set. I'd appreciate it if you'd leave and if you don't I'm going to call my father Very well Katrina If you want me to go naturally I will go I'll settle with you later school master Come on in kabad. Let's dance right you are It was a wonderful party My grandfather always said no one in the country side gave parties like the van tassels Take a bot Katrina and the others dance until midnight and then they sat down by the fire with their refreshments It was then that the old people of the town began to tell stories of the early days It's a brave man that ventures into sleepy hollow at night You know the great tree where major Andre was taken prisoner They say that every night he returns and waits Ways for the poor fool will venture into sleepy hollow after midnight Woman in white who haunts the book at Raven Rock in sleepy. How? She died there in a snowstorm by the bridge to stop anyone who tries to It is the headless horseman that is most dreaded Party just before two in the morning and a kabad lingered alone for a moment on the port saying good night to Katrina Good night. I shall remember this evening as long as I live. Good night Katrina Thank you for the most Wonderful night of my life. You come tomorrow. I'll come tomorrow Good night in tusk disperse to his horse and started down the road now. He was alone Heading down into the dark fastness of sleepy hollow Stars spread out above him a loop There was no sound except the pounding of his horses feet and the pounding of his heart Which blended together like thunder in his ears? vaguely indistinctly he could hear the occasional Melancholy chirp of a cricket or the guttural twang of the bullfrog Moon shrouded herself in clouds and gave him little light And now he's at the edge of the forests of sleepy hollow Now load his pace as they entered the hollow the neck a bud whipped at him as panic leaped into his throat A head in the center of the road stood the tree where Andre had been taken prisoner The kabad approached it. He began to whistle Whistle dried in his throat. He thought he heard an answering whistle come from the tree Was that something right swinging in the branches? In the name of the saints, what was it? Would he pass under the tree alive? The forest seemed alive with voices and spirits The trees reached out bony fingers for him as he passed The wind sighed and moaned The dead were more alive than the one living man riding through sleepy hollow Possibly as he rode toward the stream where legend said the lady in white waited by the bridge There was the bridge just ahead He cladded toward it, there just ahead in the shadows He closed his eyes and kicked compulsively at his mouth But as he came to the bridge his horse stopped with a suddenness that almost sent him flying into the rear And in the dark shadow of the grove he beheld something something huge Mishapen black towering It seemed gathered up in the gloom like some gigantic monster ready to spring upon the traveler Iqabat tried to call out but his parts throat could make no sound. He flailed desperately Now now the opposite can to move and with a scramble in the bound came up into the road toward Iqabat He appeared to be a horseman of huge dimension On the back of a horse of powerful frame and now Iqabat's own horse let out a snort of terror And behind him Iqabat put here the hook beats of the other rider Down the hill as he raced down the road Iqabat turned to look back and there at the top of the hill Gigantic in height was his follower and Iqabat saw it to his horror But he was headless and he carried his head before him on the pommel of his saddle And the school master and his steed straight gone through the night with the sound of the horse behind him growing closer and closer Now with an upsurge of terror he felt the girth of the saddle give way beneath him and skippin from under him He's just had time to save himself by clasping his horse around the neck as the saddle fell to the ground On the high ridge of the horse's back bone and the hook beats of his pursuer Closer behind He saw the church bridge He knew once he was across that he'd be safe. He could hear the dark steed panting and bellowing close behind him Even fancy he felt his hot breath Another convulsive kick in the ribs and his own animal sprang upon the bridge He thundered over the resounding planks He came the opposite side and now Iqabat cast a look behind to see if his pursuer would vanish in the flash of fire and brimstone Just then he saw the goblin rise in his stirrups Saw him raise his head high above his shoulders and hurl his head at him Splot that Iqabat He was tumbled headlong into the dust and the black horse His own animal and the goblin rider passed by him like a whirlwind His way home without his looking for any trace of the school master They found the trampled saddle and then they crossed the bridge into the church As I see, the devil's own business was afoot last night Hans, Hans come quickly That is his hat But what is this on the ground all around the hat? It looks like... Hans, it looks like... It is! That's a shattered pumpkin But what would a pumpkin... That's the school master's hat To this day no one has ever seen Iqabat Crane in these parts Someone even claimed to have seen him in another part of the country Teaching school, but of course rather new What would happen to any man who was... What happened to Katrina Vantas? Oh, she married Brahms short time later After all, he was the strongest and most powerful man in the countryside, you know Do you believe all that story, Uncle John? Do you believe Iqabat Crane was really chased by the headless horseman? Well, I mean how much of it I believe I'm accustomed to tell that story in these parts on Halloween And whether it's true or not, you'll have to make up your old mind All is what you have just heard is The legend of Sleepy Hall Tilton will return in a moment Mark Christmas cards that you can select in special boxes of assorted designs For only one dollar, you can buy a box of Christmas cards Featuring twelve different paintings by Grandma Moses So appealing, so heartwarming, you'll want to keep one of each for yourself Then too, there is a box of twelve assorted cards Especially painted by Norman Rockwell Colorful cards that capture the very spirit of Christmas That display the same kindness, gaiety, and warm understanding For which Norman Rockwell has long been famous Perhaps you'd like a box of old time prints by Currier and Ives Or verses written especially for Hallmark cards by Edgar Guest You'll find these and many outstanding boxed collections of Hallmark cards this year And just because they are Hallmark cards doesn't mean they need be expensive There are boxes of twelve cards for as little as fifty cents So look for the fine stores that feature Hallmark cards And then look for the Hallmark on the cover of the boxes you select To be sure your cards will have the Hallmark on the back The Hallmark that says you cared enough to send the very best Here again is James Hilton Well, I think we can all agree that the spirit of Halloween is now with us after your splendid performance, Lionel Barrymore Oh, thank you, Mr. Hilton, thank you very much The legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of my favorite stories Halloween is the most delightful time of the year Goblins, witches, bobbing for apples, and tricks or treats, fearsome masks, pretty costumes A boy dresses Pinocchio, a girl dresses Cinderella Laughing pumpkins It's a wealth of expression for any artist to capture And your own reputation as an artist is well known, Mr. Barrymore Oh, well, I enjoy painting very much, you know And speaking about amateur painters I was interested to hear Frank Gus say that Hallmark cards will feature Winston Churchill's work in their Christmas card selection I shall certainly look forward to seeing them You know, you fellas ought to be proud of having Churchill on your Hallmark card Proud is just exactly what we are And besides Winston Churchill, there are Grandma Moses, Norman Rockwell, and many others Hallmark will have its finest selection of Christmas cards And now, Mr. Hilton, what about next week's show? Next week our play will be Helen L. Morgan's charming love story about Dolly Madison Entitled, Mistress of the White House And to play the role of Dolly, we are happy to welcome that enchanting young star to raise a right Our hallmark playhouses every Thursday, our director-producer is Bill Gay Our music is composed and conducted by Lynn Murray And our script tonight was adapted by Jean Holloway Until next Thursday then, this is James Hilton saying, good night Our tonight was played by Ted Osburn This is Frank Gus saying, good night to you all until next week at the same time When James Hilton returns to present Teresa Wright in Helen L. Morgan's The Mistress of the White House And the week following, Charles Dickens' great expectations starring Richard Todd On the Hallmark Playhouse