 You are about to be entertained by some of the biggest names in show business for the next hour and 30 minutes This program will present in person such bright stars as Vivian Blaine, Jose Ferrer Sam Levine Ken Murray Magado Brian Gloria Swanson Fran Warren Meredith Wilson and my name darlings is to Lula Bankhead The National Broadcasting Company presents the big show The Big show 90 minutes with the most scintillating personalities in the entertainment world Brought to you this Sunday and every Sunday at this same time as the Sunday feature of NBC's all-star festival And here is your hostess the glamorous unpredictable to Lula Bankhead Well darlings, how did Santa Claus treat you? I must tell you about one beautiful present. I received a new mink coat My best friend sent it to me. I bought it myself I saw it in the window. I liked it. I decided I simply must have it I wrote out a check for ten thousand dollars and took the coat with me When I got home, I decided I'd been a little too extravagant. So I sent it back And what an odd coincidence the coat got back to the store just as my check came back from the bank But Christmas is behind us now and we have a show to do last week on our Christmas program One of our guest stars was Margaret O'Brien of the movies. She did so well Too well to suit me That she's with us again this week a sort of Christmas hangover for me. I Wish I could take an Anderson and make her disappear But she's been held over by popular demand not mine you understand the child is too talented much too talented After all a job is a job. I'm not trying to take your job miss Bankhead. Well darling little Margaret O'Brien I want to thank you miss Bankhead for your lovely Christmas present. Oh, do you like it darling? Oh, yes, it was sweet of you to send me a one-way railroad ticket to California. I Thought I wrapped it nicely Super it was what there it was super a chief of course But I'm not going back to California miss Bankhead. You're not I'm going to stick right close to you. You are not Because I've decided I want to be a great actress just like you are There's so much I can learn from you miss Bankhead. Oh Margaret you may call me Tallulah. Oh, may I thank you So you want to be an actress little Margaret? Yes, I do big Tallulah You see I think a person should have an ambition a goal in life But 13 years now. I've been drifting aimlessly Of course for the last seven years. I made a niche for myself in the movies. Yes a seven-year niche And what did you do the first six years of your life with just a bomb? I suppose Yes, those were bad years. I was disorganized confused tortured I couldn't decide whether I should be in the theater or the movies why I became so nervous I was eating two packs of chocolate cigarettes a day Yes, I I see you still have the chocolate stains on your index finger And I'll bet you used to hit that pablum bottle pretty hard too But now I know that the theater is my real love and you're the one I want to pattern myself after Sweet to be an actress like you Acclaimed by the critics applauded by the public a magnetic dynamic electric personality Soul it up. What's your language child? Way you walk out on the stage without any assistance Tallulah That's black coffee child That's my ambition to be a big star like you are And then after I've had my success and if I had to retire and wind up on radio like you did Well, those are the chances a person has to take Darling, how would you like a shot in the head? Besides Margaret actresses never retire. They are always between plays between plays. Yes, remember that and besides Margaret I must warn you the theater is an exacting task master to become a fine actress. It will take you years Oh, I don't care. I want to become a fine actress like you Even it takes me years and years and years and years and years now just a minute just a minute I wonder where this child is getting her material Margaret here's lesson number two an actress is very sensitive about her age But then I wouldn't expect you to understand that at the tender age of 13 12 and a half I want to be just as sensitive as you are Oh Margaret you're just a child now. Why are we standing here talking about the theater such grown-up talk for a little girl And let's talk about the holiday season. Now. Let me tell you all about new year's eve No, don't tell me all about new year's eve Why don't you just tell me all about eve? So that's where she's been getting her material Well, I'll put a stop to this Meredith Meredith Wilson. Yes, miss bankhead I uh, I want to thank you Margaret for that christmas present. You're welcome. Of course. I have no plans to go to california right away What? Margaret sent me a one-way ticket to california and it was very nicely wrapped too By the way, miss bankhead. Thank you for your presence. It was just what I needed a box of fragile Meredith that was a five-piece set of cut gloss There's more pieces than that when I got it And well, I want to thank you Meredith for that darling scarf you sent me and that delightfully warm christmas card you enclosed 60 percent rayon 40 percent wool How warm can you get? Well now darling, how about some music Meredith? Well, sir miss bankhead I This is the big week in football the bowl games, you know So I wrote a song from a home state university Iowa. Oh, is our one of the bowl games? Well, not exactly They might have had a chance though. See Iowa was just nosed out in a game with Ohio State 83 to 21 That's quite a nose Well, Iowa just couldn't get going in that game Every time we started setting up a play somebody fumbled the ball and we couldn't get to our next play Always got caught between plays. I'm between plays too, Meredith Never mind Meredith. Let's hear the hour fight song you wrote for hour But which is dedicated to all the teams who didn't get into any of the bowl games tomorrow But who are going to by golly make it next year our bust Well, you've got quite a band there Tallulah, I was just listening to that Iowa fight song that wilson wrote kind of brings back old memories Oh, really darling you went to college an hour too. Oh, no no as a matter of fact I didn't go to college at all I I don't believe a man has to go to college to get an education and acquire a polish I'm proud to say that I learned all I know in the school of h. N School of h. N hard knocks. Well, they wouldn't have hurt you to have a short spell in college Oh No, not me Tallulah You see I started in showbiz when I was a kid never had a chance to go to school But I used to read books all the time right now I've settled down here in New York and I've got dr. Elliott's five foot bookshelf in my home But do you read the books in the five foot bookshelf? Oh sure. I read about three inches every night My you read quick Yeah, I read that too We uh, we all read in my family. I read my dog reads even my my wife and even my dog reads your dog reads Yes, yes for Christmas. I got him a copy of bulldog drumming Of course, he's just starting to read books now when he was a puppy we broke him in on newspapers But Tallulah I came over here to your program for a very special reason. I'm not here to be entertaining What makes you think you have been darling? I Do a television program. How would you like to be a guest on my tv show? I would rather die What makes you think you won't darling Now look here crude cut I'm quite satisfied to be doing the show. I'm doing here But Tallulah radio is old hat, but can television is old movies I'm not on my show. I'd certainly like to have you on my television show with me though Oh, stop talking about it. Darling. Whenever anyone mentions television to me. I see red. I'll pay you $5,000 All of a sudden I see green Tell me more about it darling Well, there are a few things you'll have to change for instance if if you want to wear a black dress like you're wearing now You'd have to wear a red dress because you see red photographs black. You see Oh, I have a red dress But what about my hair darling? I'd wear that too Oh, oh, I'm sorry you mean the color of your hair. I'm so sorry. Well, we had a girl on the show with hair just those same colors But uh to make it photograph better we had to give her a blue rinse Boy was she saw Blue or top, huh? What about What about makeup? I suppose makeup is a big factor. Oh, yes max a big difference Because Because otherwise you see you don't photograph with the right coloring You see and then of course I'll have to give you some jokes to tell I suppose the jokes will photograph blue Okay, I'm sorry. I forgot I want to introduce you to my protege my new protege She decided she wants to become a great actress in the theater and she's trying to pattern herself after me come here Margaret sweetie Margaret O'Brien. This is mr. Murray. Hello author Shall we dance? She sure is patterning herself after you Tallulah So, uh, you want to act in the theater Margaret. Uh, how old are you? 12 That's my girl who said that's Ken, why don't you put Margaret on your show? Well, I'd like to but uh, don't you think that she's a little y u n g I'd rather have y o u on my t e l o. I mean my to l i How do you spell television? Darling when I go on television, it'll be spelled t a l l u v i s i o n Oh Tallulah vision, huh? I've made up my mind to be in the theater like Tallulah. Oh, what are you doing now Margaret? I'm between plays Oh, you've already been in some place. No, no, she's between her first play Well, have you seen any of the plays since you've been in town Margaret? Oh, yes, I went to sing King Lear by Shakespeare. That's a lot of laughs And I saw the the cocktail party by T. S. Elliott. Good man. T. S. I've I've got his five foot bookshelf, you know And I saw enemy of the people starring Milton burl I suppose Look Margaret, didn't you go to see any of the lighter things some musical comedies, maybe? Oh, no, I wouldn't go to musical comedies. They're so cheap and the prices are so high and besides I couldn't get any tickets You're right Margaret. I wanted to see one of the musicals this week I know the star of the show very well. She happened to be a personal enemy of mine So I went to the producer and I asked him for a pair of tickets and you know that I couldn't get them for love Our money Janula, I've got a ticket broke who gets all the tickets to the theaters for me. He got me a couple for guys and dolls Guys and dolls. I think that is of course. I had to send him a nice Christmas present No, well speaking of guys and dolls We happen to have two of the stars of that show with us today Vivian Blaine and Sam Levine And after Vivian sings our song Margaret you ask her for a couple of tickets I'm sure she has them Meredith darling darling Meredith. Are you ready for Vivian Blaine's song? Oh sure all set. Hi you Meredith Hello, Ken Murray. Well as I always say long time no see Yes, you do always say that and that's why no long time no see Meredith I want to thank you for your Christmas present. Oh, you're welcome Ken. I wrapped it up pretty nicely didn't think Yes, I'm very sorry. I can't use it. I don't sleep well on trains You don't mind. I'm sure I gave it to somebody for a Christmas present that one-way ticket is making a round trip Meredith what is Vivian Blaine gonna sing, huh? Well, uh, Vivian has a wonderful arrangement of what is this thing called love? Oh, that's wonderful. I love it Ladies and gentlemen Vivian Blaine with Meredith Wilson's orchestra and chorus in what is this thing called love? What is this thing? Oh This funny thing This This is not only for your song, but for the enormous success you've made in guys and dogs. Thank you very much You're very kind to Lula. Yes, I know Yeah, look Vivian little Margaret here is interested in the story of your musical comedy Why don't you tell her what it's all about? Oh, I'm sorry, but I can't do that We're not allowed to give away the plot. Oh, you can't even give it away You're so wrong to Lula. We're selling out every performance. I got in on a couple of passes Yes, that's what I heard the manager made one and the box office man made one You're just jealous because you can't get any tickets and you are in the show It just so happens to Lula darling that I have two very good seats with me. Yes, you have done And it might interest you to know that when I saw your show, I was sitting in the very front row I'm sure you must have seen me. Oh, no. I never look way up there And now just a moment. Why is it that everyone who comes on the show starts speaking of me? I try to be less What is it Margaret? Let me please Hello Vivian Hey, I haven't seen you in years Remember when I met you out in Hollywood when I was making pictures? Well, you remember you must have seen me in states there. Oh, yes, darling You won a blue ribbon for that, didn't you? That's my girl who said that Well, that's a new twist hiring a little girl to insult your guests. Oh, no, Vivian Margaret didn't really mean it She's just trying to help me out Very very interested in seeing your play now. You said you had a couple of tickets. Well, yes, indeed. I have I'll be glad to give them to her Wonderful, darling. I hope she'll be able to understand if the show is quite adult. I hear Uh, how old are you now Margaret? 11 Why she'll be able to understand it because by the time she can use these tickets she'll be 15 You have tickets four years in advance. Why not every night? There's a sign in front of the box office that says SRO standing room only so what when I was in private life. We had the sRO sign in the box office, too Yes, it was sRO Six rows only just a minute. Just a minute. If you two dolls will excuse me family being I've been standing here listening to you two brought you two Dolls beating each other's brains out This one says she's got two seats That one says why don't you try standing room? The other one says it's one of blue ribbons so enough already Now what does this kid want this little miss mackerel brian? All she wants darling is to buy two tickets to your show. That's all For this we went through this who ha and mishmash would there be him? Stop tumbling Two tickets to guys and dolls can be arranged. Oh, do you mean you have two tickets? Well, not with me Who carries that much cash? What do you mean, you know who you can get a pair of tickets? What a question to ask sam levine Now I'd like to ask you a question for your own information Who has been on Broadway longer than I have? Oh, I'm sorry. That's an unfair question to ask you And mr. Levine, but what is the point besides the one your hat is on? Oh, you're gonna start again with the two seats, huh? Look to lula what I'm trying to point out to one and all is that I happen to have connections with a certain highly placed gentleman Who can put a put their dukes on a pair of duckets for a friend anytime and I happen to be that friend All that it takes is a telephone call. I know the right people I happen to be the star of the biggest hit on Broadway and I have plenty influence So show me the telephone and give me a slug Don't tempt me Sammy you won't need a slug just pick up any phone here and make your call. This is nbc. They have thousands of telephones Thousands of phones. What a location for a booking Oh when you stop to think how unfair life can be I got a friend benny the book has one lousy telephone They came and they tore it out by the roots and besides they arrested him. Oh Did they send him up the river? No, it was his first offense. He's just up the creek Sam you were going to make a phone call here use this one. Okay Yeah, I'm sure he'll be in this is sunday. They don't run anywhere on sunday Sam you're not calling a horse player to get tickets to your show. Why not? He's a mutual friend of mine A two-dollar mutual friend of yours Well, I haven't seen him in months the last time I saw him was uh, let's see may june july saratoga september I Oh, hello marvin Oh or even or marvin ain't there or even this is sam Could you ask joey to run across the street to mani max and eddies and ask sal to send marvin to the phone? Yeah, tell him it's sam levine Sam levine the actor. All right sam levine the bum What just for going across the street Okay, I'll stand good for it go call him look sam if you're going to call every tom they can harry in town Who called tom dick and harry? I called for marvin and oi being said he would send joey to mani max and eddies. All right already Let's get the tickets Okay, so joey went to call marvin. It's a poison to poison call I would make the tickets cost five dollars extra. What's the five dollars for? Well, you can't expect joey to walk across the street for nothing He only makes 250 on it the other 250 is for the premium for the accident insurance in case while he's crossing the street He should get knocked down by an automobile What am I doing in radio? I could get myself a pair of track shoes and i'm in business Look to lulu i'm doing this for you out of the goodness of my heart plus a small fee for incidentals I wouldn't get tickets for anybody else in the world, but for you. I'm going through this trouble Well, if I'd known you had to put so many men on the job. I wouldn't have asked you How long was it going to take it'll take only long enough for joey to get marvin and then to come to the phone Well, joey should be back by now. Well, look figure it out First he's got a shave He's got to put on a shirt and a tie shave to go to manning max and eddies What is it one of those fancy restaurants where you can't eat unless you wear a tie at many max and eddies You cannot eat at any time. It's an auto supply store A formal auto supply store you have to dress. Well, they run a little handbook in the back And they could get great at any minute. So how would joey look in the lineup without a shave and a tie? Gossily, i'm sure By the way, I should mention in case they are rated. There'll be an extra 500 dollars added to the tickets bail Margaret dawning won't you reconsider that one-way ticket to california? Yes, maybe it would be cheaper Meredith, can you give me that railroad ticket back? Gee, I like to Margaret, but I gave it to ken Murray. Hey ken, if you're not going to use that railroad ticket I I'm sorry Meredith, but I gave the ticket away to somebody who did me a favor Maybe I could get it back for you if I can use the phone. Hello, Marvin Oh joey, so where's Marvin? Look, I want you should get me right away a couple of tickets to guys and dolls. All right guys and dolls So where's Marvin? He left town Somebody gave him a christmas present A one-way ticket to california Oh fine Well, Tallulah, I tried and I failed now. There's only one thing left to do here I'll give you these two tickets that I got in my pocket for tomorrow night Oh, Sam, do you mean that you had those tickets in your pocket all the time? Yeah, go ahead take them I'll let you have them for cost 40 dollars 40 dollars for a pair of fifth of tickets I'd rather wait till your scalper friend Marvin gets back And I can get them from him for less than that Tallulah, don't be a schlemiel Where do you think Marvin gets his tickets from? Ladies and gentlemen that was Meredith Wilson and his big show orchestra and chorus will be back in a moment darlings Just as soon as I ring my chimes. This is NBC the national broadcasting company The big show This is the national broadcasting company sunday extravaganza with the most scintillating personalities in show business The big show the sunday night feature of nbc's all-star festival is brought to you by rca victor world leader in radio First and recorded music first in television And by the makers of anison for fast relief from pain of headache neuritis and uralgia The big stars in this program are vivian plane hosé for air sam levine ken maré margaret o'brien gloria swanson Fran warren meredith wilson and the big show orchestra and chorus And every week your hostess the glamorous unpredictable Tallulah bankhead darlings in a few hours 1951 will be here I've devoted this entire day to thinking of the things i've done this past year that i shouldn't have And i've come up with the most darling resolutions I can hardly wait till midnight to start breaking them Meanwhile our show goes on and one of our guests little margaret o'brien keeps tagging after me because she's made up her mind She wants to be an actress in the theater just like i am I feel as if i'm her fairy grandmother That should be godmother That misprint was deliberate Oh tallulah Yes margaret darling I just saw glorious swanson and hosé for rare come into the studio. Yes margaret Yes darling they're going to do a scene later in the program From 20th century the play they're starring in on Broadway now. It's um, it's a drawing room comedy What's a drawing room comedy? Well, uh drawing room comedy is um Well, it's usually a play where a lot of rich people pay six sixty to see a lot of poor actors acting like a lot of rich people Gee it must be wonderful to be in a play on Broadway. I wish I was as great an actress as glorious swanson I beg your pardon child How about me? Oh, I mean you too. I wish we both were as great an actress as glorious swanson Darling, I love gloria. No one better. Why would we have very dear friends? But this is her very first play on Broadway. I've been in dozens of plays Oh, I know I know them all and what fun you must have had in private lives The little foxes skin of our teeth dark victory rain reflected glory Mr. Roberts I was never in mr. Roberts that's a play with all men in it. I know but but wouldn't it be fun? Why Missal, right But I was your age. I never Well, what were you saying darling? I was just thinking how wonderful it would be to be a big star in the theater And have your pictures and all the papers and the magazines I once saw your picture on the cover of life magazine How did you ever get them to put your picture on the cover of life? Well someday darling, I'll explain the facts of life Oh, I've been meaning to ask you can I have your autograph? Why of course dear child would you write it on these three pieces of paper? Well an autograph and triplicate. I am honored I need three because the kids outside the theater told me that for three Tallulah bank heads you can get one glorious swanson I was just stabbed Oh, I didn't mean what you think I meant what I said I mean I meant because everybody wants your autograph That's why I like three of them and very few people want glorious swansons You see Does that sound better? And darling have you ever thought of giving up the theater and becoming a surgeon? You put that knife in so gently Yes Ken Murray I just saw glorious swanson hosay for air committed the studio Yeah, so I've been told Gee that glorious swanson she she looks young for her age, doesn't she? I look younger for my age and she does for her age Gad I did it. I knew it would happen. I finally insulted myself Now wait a minute. Now wait a minute. Let me figure that thing out now If you say that you're younger for your age than she is for her age Then that makes you older age for age. Is that it? What I meant is that I'm younger for the age. I say I am Then she is the age. She really is And that's older than the age. She says she is or the age. I really am Would you mind repeating that question? And well what I'm trying to explain ken is you say she looks young for her age And I said that I'm younger for the age. I say I am Then she is for the age. She really is Which is older than the age. She says she is which is older than the age. I really am How many witches were in that sentence? Only two Ken may I ask you a question? Why yes Margaret. Why do you always hold that cigar when you're on stage? Oh, I don't know. It's an old habit sort of puts me at ease Here have one try Thank you Hello Tallulah. Well Fran Warren darling Say you know who I just saw backstage Gloria Swanson and Jose Pereira. She looks so young for her age. Doesn't she? He looks pretty young for her age too darling And Fran may I say that you look divine for your age? Whatever it is What are you gonna sing for sweetie pie? I've got the right to sing the blues at her age Look who's got a right to sing the blues. Go ahead darling sing it I see must be love say what you choose From rca victor As we look ahead to the gigantic tasks our country must perform in 1951 It's clear that every individual's working life is going to be busier and more complicated than ever before We're all going to need recreation in our home lives To erase the cares of each long day and recharge our batteries for the next one That's where television fits in perfectly And now is the time to see your rca victor dealer and choose from 18 beautiful models Each one seemingly more beautiful than the next You do well to choose a 19 inch set for pictures that are wonderfully clear and big Of course, they'll have that matchless quality which has made rca victor million proof television Far and away America's favorite Here's wishing you rca victor television And with it the high morale which will help so much to make 1951 a happier year for everyone You know darlings the holiday season is traditionally a time of extraordinary excitement in the theater But these holidays brought us a little more than the ordinary extraordinary Ante meaning American national theater and academy Marked a red letter day in its worthy history when it presented Gloria Swanson, Jose Ferrer and an all-star cast in mr. Ferrer's revival of that famous hit play of the 1931-32 season 20th century So tremendous has been the public response that the play is moving over to the photon theater for an extended run We'll give you a taste of the kind of evening you can look forward to at the photon by presenting now a scene from the play Starring miss swanson and mr. Ferrer Ladies and gentlemen the curtain is up on 20th century This is the story of an eccentric broadway producer named asker jaffe and his meal ticket a glamorous bundle of talent and temperament Lily garland This is the story of an overnight train trip on the 20th century limited from chicago to new york We are several hours east of the leader oh how as the scene opens Lily played by miss glorious swanson feigned sleep in her apartment Sadie the watchful maid is not at all surprised when the door opens and asker jaffe played by mr. Jose Ferrer who recognizes the situation Not a word Sadie we must not wake her Poor child nobody understands her She's very delicate If you don't mind i'll just sit here for a moment and breathe the air that surrounds her look at her little possessions and remember things Sadie who's in there? No, i'm sorry i woke you up So it's you you sneaked in while i was asleep What do you want scorpion? If it makes you any happier to call me names go right ahead asker you're complete You're the most horrible excuse for a human being that ever walked on two legs You've always misunderstood me lily you like the true intuitive gifts to appreciate great love Your philosophy of love doesn't interest me mr. Jaffe. I'm an oriental lily love blinded me That was always the trouble between us as producer and artist Oh, so that's what it was was it how about your name in electric lights bigger than everybody's Your grand illusions that you are a Shakespeare and Napoleon and the Grand Lama of Tibet all rolled into one You're absolutely right what i'm big enough to admit it I never appreciated your real greatness until i lost you why that last quibble We had about percentages gad how small how cheap i was What egotism not to know that it was lily garland and not oscar jaffe running all over town telling people That you had to put chalk marks on the stage so that i know where to stand That you had to teach me to talk like a parrot god it was despicable I could cut my throat but i've paid for it a thousand times since when i saw that last movie of yours I only blame myself. Oh, you've seen it. Well, you'll be glad to know that it's a tremendous success I'm marvelous in it super Here if you don't believe me look at this Now, where did you get this dreadful thing for bowling? Or read what it says The academy of motion picture Arts and sciences It's pathetic, isn't it? Don't fall for this sort of thing lily. There were moments in the film when you were marvelous Yes, they couldn't stop the real lily from coming through several times But that cheap story that clumsy unimaginative director where he must have been related to the bank Well, you're right there and you want to know why the director was an idiot. I couldn't get anything into his head I had to fight him all the time. It was sacrilege to throw you away on a man like that I wouldn't have him for my office boy And the lighting in that picture don't you remember how I always brought the lights up every time you stepped on the stage You became a radiant creature to the audience People left the theater feeling that they had gone through some great spiritual experience I left that movie house feeling that some magnificent ruby had been set in a platter of lard You put yourself back 10 years lily, but we can mend that you'll be greater than ever Listen oscar if all this adage is by any chance preliminary to a contract you can save your breath because i'm Who said anything about contract shame on you lily? What are you talking about you do anything to get my name on a contract This obscene led statue must be doing things to you. I didn't come in here with contracts I came with a dream we both had long ago the thing we planned as a climax to your career the last golden stare Look out the courtesan the great courtesan role. Oh look out. Oh, no So this is a big surprise you have for me Another part where i'm unworthy of the lieutenant's love and make the great sacrifice I wouldn't sneer if I were you all right What is it this time montezuma again or that big drama about hippie nanny the pride of the gas house? No lily, it's none of these things this happens to be the greatest woman of all times Just her memory has kept the world weeping for centuries the magdalene magdalene who Now you listen to me lily garland i'm going to put on the passion play in new york with lily garland as mary magdalene I've had it up my sleeve all this time waiting for the right moment the wickedest woman of her age sensual Heartless and beautiful Corrupting everything she touches running the gamut from the gutter to glory Can't you see her lily this little wanton reduced to helplessness standing in the street? Serving and wet through with her own tears I'm going to have paunches pilot ride by in a chariot and i'm going to splash mud all over her No, no, no wait a pilot sees me He does a take his horse his horse Bolts and paunches is thrown out on his feet with a broken neck. Oh, and I smile through my tears Lily that's an inspiration go on while you're in the creative mood Well, I'll tell you how I see the whole thing I can see the magdalene as a woman who was an aristocrat at the beginning and after being broken hearted by some man She loved madly and trusted she went down down down into the dead hating and despising all men laughing at them So cruel so terribly cruel. Yes, lily. I'm going to make it my greatest production gamble every penny on it I brought over an entire troop from europe smuggle them across the Alps right through four iron curtains It cost me my shirt, but I wanted them two of them are geniuses No, wait a minute asker lily if the play runs for five years. I won't make a dollar. You can have all the money I only want to stagger new york a desert scene with a hundred camels and real sand brought over from the holy land I'm going to have a Babylonian banquet that you give for your lover in the second act the governor of judia A punctious pilot with your slaves all around you. You're covered with emeralds in that scene from head to foot But that's nothing to the finish where you stand in rags in rags and the emperor nero himself offers you half his empire You answer him with a speech that is probably the greatest piece of literature ever written Transfigured with love and sacrifice and all the lights just pouring down on you Nero cringes And the last we see of you is this little pathetic figure Selling olives in the marketplace Lillian sublime tell me have I reached the artist in you? You're crazy. What do you mean? Egos listen to you oscar. You're a pure case of leaping paranoia lily. No, I am not angry You're too funny to make anybody angry. Don't be cheap lily coming in here with a lot of camels and real sand from the holy land You're a scream. You're going to put on the passion play. Oh, you having a hundred dollars to your name I can raise millions millions. Yes, and I know how you intend to raise them Get my name on a contract and go out peddling it shake down some new angel on the strength of my reputation Well, no, thank you. I'm through being your meal ticket You're at liberty to call up any one of my banks in the morning your banks You mean the ones that are taking your theaters away from you. That's a lie. You've been listening to my enemy I've been listening to mr Oliver web your so-called business manager who broke in here with a sob story about You were going to commit suicide unless I took pity on you Well, you go on and commit it. It would be a blessing to all concerned Lily what in heaven's name are you talking about mr Web is no longer with me. I fired him for stealing. Oh shut up. I've had enough of your lies I'm offering you your one last chance to become immortal. Thank you, but I've decided to stay mortal with a responsible management Max jacob I can't believe it. No, read the papers in the morning then. He's got paresis I had to fire him to protect the health of my office horse He's a thief besides Illiterate he can hardly write his name. He writes them on checks. All right and great big checks, too It's money you want. That's what you want. Just another Broadway hand. That's what you've become I suppose if I jingle the miserable 10 or 15 thousand dollars in front of your nose Your mouth would begin to water you'd start drooling squealing gimme gimme That's right. I'm gonna get out of here before I have the photo thrown off the train Look out who gets thrown off the train get out of here you fake you swindler you Hit me you cheap little shop girl get out before I call the conductor go on ring that bell I'll tell the world who's a fake you are I made you I taught you everything you know your voice your walk your cheap little talent They're mine. I gave them to you. I gave up everything to breathe them into you even your name lily garland I gave you that for a seedy conductor. Well, as sure as there's a god in heaven Mildred Plotka, you'll wind up where you belong in burlesque Bring them on out to the whole train out to the whole world Mildred Plotka Conductor throw this man out throw him off the train Come here darling come over here. That was a fun that excerpt from your brilliant production of 20th century Thanks to Lula. I find it a lot of fun working in the theater too. I bet you do and hosey You directed the play for broadway didn't you? Well as a matter of fact, uh Oh, I read the wonderful notices the critics gave you. Yes, they certainly were not only for your direction But for your acting well, they were and I understand the theater is selling out But should make you very happy. Well, of course darling. I know you'd like to go on I was telling you how wonderful your play is, but I simply must interrupt you Well, if you'd only give me a chance to say something then you could interrupt me Oh, of course darling go right ahead Well, all I wanted to say was that I'd like to go up to my dressing room and change my shirt I'll be back in a moment. Oh, I of course darling go right ahead You're ringing where that's it right through there darling. You gave a wonderful performance You were superb and so beautifully directed. See you later darling Bull Well, Gloria, Gloria, it's so nice to have a motion picture star on the program Who isn't here just to plug some picture she just made Your picture was such an enormous success darling that doesn't need any plug Well, what's the news from out in Hollywood? You mean what's new along Sunset Boulevard? You slip on in didn't you darling? Well, let's forget business and just just talk some old-fashioned girl talk Just between the two of us. Yes a girl talk just between the three of us Oh, Margaret. I forgot all about you. Oh, Gloria. You know Margaret O'Brien of course. Yes. Hello Margaret Hello, Gloria darling Margaret is going to become an actress in the theater. Isn't that sweet? Well, Gloria, I bet you must be exhausted from working in the theater. Oh, yes, we'd have a cigarette Uh, no, thank you Tullula. I don't care for one now Have a cigar darling And no, thank you Margaret darling cigar. Oh, I just carry it to put me at my ease Well, Gloria, I was in Hollywood, you know just a couple of weeks ago I saw everybody and everybody was talking about the I'll change Everybody was talking about you know who? Oh, yes. He's been behaving terribly. I hear Terribly. He had me a country to come to the studio with the What's her name with what's her name? Where was her husband? Oh, darling. He was driving that blonde. Who's it down to palm of what's your what's him a college? Tullula, no You don't say darling Margaret sweet. You don't know what we're talking about. Oh, yes. I do. I've heard this story before what? This is the first time I heard the details Well, may I ask did you hear this story? Oh from some of the kids on the lot Dean Stockwell Lionel Barramore That kid Lionel is incorrigible. I'm gonna tell his kids sister Ethel about it Oh Tullula, I almost forgot and I I don't know whether I should mention this or not But I just read in the paper where that certain friend of yours got that wonderful award for the best motion picture performance of the year for the critic circle Which proved what I've always suspected the critic circle is a bunch of squares Well, don't you agree darling? Well, I'd like to but I might want to make another picture in another 20 years Well, now what was the matter with the picture you made that that sunset street? I thought it was brilliant It's sunset boulevard Tullula. Oh, well, I saw it in the neighborhood Well, whatever it was called it certainly deserved the award because the same thing you know happened to me a few years ago When I made a magnificent picture. Oh, yes, I saw it lifesaver, wasn't it? You were superb life boat darling. Well, whatever flavor it was. I I thought you gave the outstanding performance of the year Ladies if I may say a word Oh, you back her day speaking of great pictures You're forgetting a picture that I made this year Cyrano de Bergerac Darling, don't stick your nose into this argument Well, I made a picture once called Journey for Margaret and I thought it would win the critics award And when it didn't did I write them a nasty letter This child will someday grow up to be the president of the united states If you would like to know a quick easy way to ease the pain of a headache neuritis or neuralgia Then by all means try anisin Your own dentist or physician may at one time or another have handed you an envelope containing anisin tablets Then you already know how incredibly fast and effectively anisin brings relief Anisin is like a doctor's prescription That is anisin contains not just one but a combination of medically proven active ingredients For your own sake try anisin Anisin is sold to you on this guarantee If the first few tablets do not give you all the relief you want as fast as you want it You may return the unused portion and your money will be refunded You can get anisin tablets at any drug counter Anisin comes in handy boxes of 12 and 30 tablets and economical family size bottles of 50 and 100 Jose, I want you to have a little talk with Margaret O'Brien She's so interested in becoming an actress in the theater And I really don't know of a more expert artist she can come to for advice Well, that's quite flattering Kalula. I'd appreciate any help you can give me mr. Ferrer I know the child is quite young Nonsense one of the greatest parts of a written was for a young girl Because the character was supposed to have been 14 years old I'm referring of course to Juliet of the immortal Romeo and Juliet Uh, how old are you child? Oh, I just turned 14 You know you might well play it at that. Oh this little girl played Juliet Jose Some of the greatest actresses of the theater played it Jane Carl Julia Marlowe Captain Cornel, Miss Ethel Barrymore I know to Lula, but I've always thought it would be interesting to have the 14-year-old Juliet Played by a 14-year-old actress I wonder if you would read a scene with me Margaret, the famous balcony scene Oh, may I? Jose, are you mad? Now how can a 14-year-old child run the gamut of emotion necessary to portray the exacting role of a girl Torn from the arms of the man she loves Frustrated every turn by parents who finally drive the lover to their destruction What could this child possibly know about love? Why, when I was 14 years old I never Margaret, maybe you'd better try to play it Oh, excuse me to Lula before Mr. Ferrer and Miss O'Brien appear as Romeo and Juliet I wish to say that this portion of the program was brought to you by RCA Victor World leader in radio, first in recorded music, first in television And by the makers of Anderson For fast relief from pain of headache, urinus and neuralgia Now to Lula, will you bring your chime? This is NBC, the national broadcasting company This is The Big Show And Margaret O'Brien, one of the guest stars, is about to realize her lifelong ambition To become an actress in the legitimate theater All right everybody on stage, a star is about to be born I want you all to watch this, Vivian Blaine What's going on? Josef Ferrer is going to act out a beautiful scene with Margaret O'Brien That guy is going to act with that little doll Vivian, what is this guy's and doll's talk? You mean that you don't know what a guy is and what a doll is From the play of the same name where I talk like this? No, I don't know what a guy is and a doll is From the play of the same name where you talk like that, darling Well listen to me, I'll be glad to explain you And darling, they've been trying to explain me for years Well to Lula darling, I'll explain you very simple Do you ever go to Lindy's for a bite? If I'm going to be bitten, I'd rather be bitten at the store club What I mean is, do you ever go to eat at Lindy's? No, I rarely dress for dinner Yes, from this a person can catch a cold Well what about Lindy's? Well, we'll say for instance Lindy is packed to the gills It is impossible physically, if you'll pardon the expression, to squeeze If you'll pardon the expression, another person But at one table for four are sitting two fellas And the other two seats are bare If you'll pardon the expression So the two girls walk over to the table Where the two fellas are sitting with the two bare seats And they ask the two fellas, politely, are the two bare seats occupied But the fellas go on eating and don't even answer Well those two girls are dolls And the two men are guys They're slobs But if they invited the girls to have dinner with them, would there be guys? Well if it's Dutch treat, they're guys But if the guys paid for the girls' dinners Oh, well those guys would be dolls So those are the kind of people that are in your show, guys and dolls Would I fit into your show? Well, if you were in our show, we'd have to call it guys and darling Well Vivian, although your explanation was confusing, I must admit it was quite dull Likewise, I'm sure And so let's get back to Margaret O'Brien and the part of Juliet Vivian, have you seen Juliet? Not since the show opened I've been meaning to call her, but I've been so busy Vivian dear, Juliet has been dead for years No kidding! Now I'm really sorry I didn't call her You know, a patient should never put off till tomorrow Yes, well we all have to go sometime Sammy, Sam Levine, come over here I want you to watch this too What's the pitch? Margaret O'Brien and Jose Ferreira are doing a scene from Romeo and Juliet And for this you broke up my pinnacle game That's Sam It's that wonderful scene where Romeo meets Juliet on the balcony A very good place to meet a doll I met more dolls in the balcony of Lois Pitkin Theatre This balcony happens to be Lois Verona And Ken Murray, wait a minute, now where are you sneaking off to? Aren't you interested in Romeo and Juliet? Oh sure, I'm smoking one now I'm talking about Jose Ferreira That's a good cigar too I mean Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Oh yes, Tallulah, I'm sorry, I know it very well Oh did you ever play Romeo and Juliet? Oh sure How did you do? Ran second, paid $16.80 to play Gloria Swanson, Fran Warren, let's listen to Jose Ferreira play Romeo to Margaret O'Brien's Juliet Go ahead, Jose Well Margaret, are you familiar with the lines of the scene? Oh yes, we kids on the lot used to play Romeo and Juliet all the time I'll bet that Lionel Balmore kid must have made a great Romeo Well now, why don't we try a few lines from the scene that begins But soft, what light through yonder window breaks Do you remember? Oh yes But soft, what light through yonder window breaks It is the east and Juliet is the sun Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon Who is already sick and pale with grief That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she Be not her maid, since she is envious Her best delivery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it Cast it off, is my lady Oh, it is my love, she speaks Oh, speak again, bright angel For thou art as glorious to this night being o'er my head As is a winged messenger of heaven unto the white, upturned, wandering eyes of mortals That fall back to gaze on him When he bestrides the lacy pacing clouds And sails upon the bosom of the air Romeo, Romeo Where for art thou, Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name O, if thou will not be but sworn my love And I'll no longer be a Capulet Shall I hear more, or shall I speak of this? Tis but thy name that is my enemy Thou art thyself, though not a Montague What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face Nor any other part belonging to a man Be some other name, what's in a name That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called Retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title And Romeo, doth thy name And for thy name which is no part of thee I take all myself I take thee at thy word Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized Henceforth I never will be Romeo But man art thou that thus be screened in night So stumblest on my counsel By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself Because it is an enemy to thee Had I had written, I would tear the word My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words of thy tongue's uttering Yet I know the sound Art thou not Romeo and a Montague Neither fair maid, if either thee dislike How came this thou hither? Tell me, and wherefore The orchard walls are high and hard to climb And the place death Considering who thou art If any of my kinsmen find thee here With love's light wings that I owe approach these walls For stony limits cannot hold love out And what love can do, that dares love attempt Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me It is almost morning I would have thee gone And yet no father than a wanton's bird Who lets it hop a little from her hand And with a silk thread plucks it back again So loving and jealous of his liberty I would I were thy bird Sweet, so would I Yet I could kill thee with much cherishing Good night, good night Harding is such sweet sorrow I shall say good night till it be morrow Thank you, darlings, and who say your little contribution Was as usual divine Isn't he sweet? Just a minute, kid I wouldn't bow that low if I were you Your rubber panties are showing Tallulah, I was only acknowledging the plaudits of the multitude I wish I had time to get to the famous death scene That might be a rainy start If you'll give me a moment to go out and get a little something I'd like to see you do the poison drinking scene But would you enjoy that, Tallulah? That's who the dregs did Wait a minute, wait a minute What are you picking on the kid for? I think she's done real good You think she's done real good? I think she did real good All right, did real good The little dolls got class But Sam, darling, the role of Juliet should be played by an actress Who's had much more experience than Margaret has had She's so young All right, I'll give you that She ain't no Irene did Well, make up your mind Juliet requires such a depth of perception Such inner fire Oh, Margaret did very well indeed But of course you can't... Well, you can't expect a child to have the third dimension that I have Well, it's as broad as it's long Personally, I think she made a fine Juliet I'd like to hear you do it better I was wondering when you'd stop ad-libbing and get to that line I'll show you a side of Juliet you never saw before From a balcony? Oh, Romeo, Romeo Wherefore art thou, darling? Right under the fire escape Deny thy father and refuse thy name Refuse my name? All right, so I'm Jessica Dragonette Don't you know the romantic story of Romeo and Juliet? Well, let me put it this way No You've never heard of Romeo and Juliet? So kill me, I never heard of it Sam, you're in the theater, where have you been all these years? Well, three men, a horse, room service, light up the sky, and now I'm in guys and dolls But this Shakespeare I don't dig already So don't dig it, let him lay there already And I'll tell you the story of Romeo and Juliet Or as you would call it, a guy and a doll And this guy, Romeo, comes from a wealthy family The Montague, they're in the woollen business Ice business? Legit Yeah And the doll's family is well-heeled too The Capulets, they operate a chain of flower stores And that's how she knows and arose by another name Still, if you'll pardon the expression, smell Well, that figures And from the flower shops, they make money? They're so all right They do a little book making him back at the store Well, that's So the guy and the doll, they got a yen for each other But the family's object Ah, before they married, they already got mother-in-law trouble No, it ain't the mother-in-law, it's the fathers You see, the old man in the Montague, he's in the woollen business And old man Capulet is in the flower business So where's the competition? The Montague's make suits without buttonholes and the lapels And it's ruining the Capulet flower business What a lousy trick So the guy and the doll want to get married, so they elope And later the doll's father don't know she's married So he wants her to marry another guy So the doll lays down on the bed and makes it look like she's dead And Romeo finds and thinks she is dead, so he kills himself And when the doll wakes up and she finds the guy has knocked himself off So the doll knocks herself off Well, that's the finish of the play That's the finish That is the finish Well, I don't know You don't know what? If they got some big hit songs, it's got a chance What's the name of that play again? Death of a Woollen Salesman What difference does it make? You wouldn't understand if I spent the rest of this year explaining it to you And there isn't much left of this year 1950 is almost over And in a few hours, it'll be 1951 A new year I don't know where the time goes It seems there should be another month in the year To do all the things we forgot to do A month to remember what we forgot October, November, December, remember Hit even rhymes, doesn't it, darling? A whole month of days To remember a kindly deed, we should have done it A soft word we could have spoken A friendly smile we should have restored Jose, what do you think? Well, I think that your month of remember should have at least 31 days We could all use 31 days of grace Devoted to undoing some of the unthinking things we did during the year Well said, Jose And I think we can carry the idea further And make it a month for the whole world to stop and remember What a wonderful place this could be to live in If man would really be brother to man You're so right, Gloria If the grown-ups would only take this month of remember Not to forget that the world they're making today Is a world the kids of my age are going to have to live in tomorrow Margaret, that's a beautiful pitch Every grift around Broadway Every crumb on every street corner Every tin horn on 42nd Street If we could only give them an extra month to remember They might have less to try to forget When they go to sleep at night Yes, Sam And with this extra month of remember What a chance it would be for the guys and dolls on Broadway and in Hollywood To remember that there's a real world outside the little dream world they live in You're so right, Vivian I sure could use that extra month Just to sit around and remember all the kind and unselfish people Who helped me up a few rungs of that long, rough ladder Fran, that's a beautiful sentiment You know, I didn't think too kindly about this extra month at first I got to thinking about the extra bills Would come in on the first to remember And the income tax on remember the 15 But believe me give me that extra month to remember some of the things I could have done better in the 12 months we've had And I'll pay those extra bills Can you're right But Tallulah, you know what I would do if We could make this a universal month I'd spend every one of the days talking to people everywhere in the world In the universal language Music Then tell the world, Meredith With some of the new and lovely words of that universal language Some of the great songs from some of the great shows of the year passed by It's the big show medley of the big shows of 1950 Opening with one of the newest and guest from the most recent of musical hits Meredith Wilson the big show orchestra and chorus in Guys and Dolls Music From South Pacific, Vivian Blaine sings I'm gonna wave that much that man Robertson Orchestra in Meredith's arrangement of Irving Berlin's smash hit from Call Me Madam A great 1950 hit Here's one of the best from Kiss Me Kate A big song of 1950 Oh Broadway and say that I'll be there Oh you darlings thank you darlings And now I think it would be very nice if the orchestra And all the cast and everybody would sing Old Lang Syne But Miss Bankhead we already did that You see nobody ever tells me anything on this program Blinks this winds up our new year show And we asked you to be with us at this time next week When our stars would be Fred Allen Marlene Dietrich Portland Huffer Edward G. Robinson Danny Thomas Fran Warren and others And of course Meredith Wilson And his big show orchestra and chorus Until then May the good Lord bless and keep you For the near or far away friend May you find that long In a time stand With sunlight shining And a bluebird in every tree Be yourself Fill your dreams with sweet tomorrows Never mind what might have been With a sunlight shot And a bluebird May there be a silver May the good Lord bless and keep you Until we meet again Frank Wilson The big show is directed and produced by D. Engelbach And written by Goodman Ace With George Foster and Mort Green And Alice later here at Theatre Guild State Fair on NBC