 Remember a hallmark card when you care enough to send the very best Tonight from Hollywood the makers of hallmark greeting cards bring you George Brent in Hartzell Spence's one foot in heaven on the hallmark playhouse Each week hallmark will bring you Hollywood's greatest stars in outstanding stories chosen by one of the world's best-known authors They distinguish novelist mr. James Hilton Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is James Hilton tonight on our hallmark playhouse We present a dramatization of one foot in heaven by Hartzell Spence This is a warm and human story about a good man You know stories about good people are very often good stories Because goodness is really an exciting thing as we on the playhouse have often found in our dramatizations of such men as The doctor and the schoolmaster Tonight we give you the story of a clergyman a methodist preacher who lived and worked in Iowa Actually in this book mr. Spence is telling the true story of his own father So it isn't surprising that there's a warm affection in the way He depicts this truly Christian gentleman who as mr. Spence says had one foot in heaven and one foot on God's green earth We have been fortunate in securing for the starting role that fine actor mr. George Brent And now Frank gas have you a word about hallmark? There are hallmark cards for every memorable occasion on your calendar for birthdays anniversaries holidays Yes for every occasion that calls for remembrance for a friendly greeting a word of good cheer an expression of sympathy There is a hallmark card that says just what you want to say the way you want to say it and that identifying Hallmark on the back that says you cared enough to send the very best Now hallmark playhouse presenting Hartzell Spence's one foot in heaven and starring George Brent Riverton is a Midwestern town and big city dwellers might call it a small town But it is listed on any fair-sized map as our story opens the morning train from Chicago has just pulled away from the station Leaving a young man and woman alone on the platform The man looks exactly what he is a Protestant minister of the Methodist denomination Well, hope What do you think of our new home town? Well? Do you think it'll be as bad as Bishop Simmons said the bishop? My dear is a mastered understatement. I am sure it will be considerably worse than he said Good morning brother is this vehicle for hire only one town that is You the new preacher. Yes, I'm the Reverend Spence and this is Mrs. Spence. How do you do? How do well climb board? I'll take you over to Parsonage, then I'll take you to the hotel Well, we weren't planning on going to the hotel. That's the plan you'll make up. You see the Parsonage step up Now throw your bags and back here. Thank you. Get along telly. I Um, I Understand there's been quite a turnover in Parsons here Yeah, the Lord sends them and the congregation drives them away But why don't they like the pastors can't say I'm a Presbyterian myself Never could figure out what the Methodist like Well, but surely there must be some reason for their attitude ever since preacher Jones passed on the congregation's been split But the Cooper's been running things suit himself since then brother Cooper. I I'll remember that Better not cross for the Cooper. He'll be the one that pays most your salary. You're being very helpful brother folks Just call me Samson brother Samson Any other members of the congregation who the Lord might keep a special eye on well as Mrs. McClintock she runs the bakery over there She and Mrs. Cooper always fighting about who's gonna be head of ladies aid Mrs. McClintock and Mrs. Cooper and the ladies aid make a note of that my dear. That'll be your department I've been through that kind of battle before Over yonder is her jealous and he sells them new fangled or T mobiles. No good will come of it Is brother jealous and one of the ones who engages a great deal in the work of the Lord? That's a question. You'll have to ask yourself preacher. He sings in the choir Memberships been falling off ever since started I guess most of your flock are good people at hat even if they are Methodist. Well, thank you, brother Samson You seem to be well-informed even if you are a Presbyterian Couldn't do this to us. Well, it is a little depressing, isn't it? Well, you have to see if yourself You're ready to go to the hotel. No No, brother Samson The church seems to be just as old and if God can live there, I guess we can live here. Thank you my dear It won't be for long Remember why the bishop sent me here. We'll get them to build a new church and a new parsonage You may you're young picture Jones tried it for 11 years before he got so tired he died. Good luck Thank you, brother Samson, I'm sorry hope I'll try to make you happy here. I'll be happy dear As soon as I've recovered my balance Will you never seem to lose yours my balance. Yes dear your balance I guess a pastor needs balance more than anything else standing with one foot in heaven and the other on God's greener and Unable to plant both feet firmly in either place Disturb you will but here are brother Cooper and brother Jellison and they would like to speak to you Good evening Reverend. Good evening pastor. Please be seated brothers. What can I do for you? I think you've been a little hasty in some of your decisions pastor like to straighten you out on a few things And I'm in the market for constructive suggestions Understand you've been organized in a singing group from the children in Sunday school. That's right And they're coming along very nicely. They'll be ready in a few weeks brother Cooper ready for what? To take their places in the choir loft. We already have a choir pastor I've been the choir master for five years. I know you have brother Jellison and like all good servants of the Lord You are due for a reward. I've arranged for the regular choir to take a nice long rest The children will take care of the singing. I don't think that would be wise Reverend You're new here only five months now, isn't it people in this congregation don't go in much for changes Well, I've already sounded out the congregation brother Cooper. They're all in favor of retiring the present choir I'd like to have some of them tell me that they have told your brother Jellison for their absence from church Understand you have some ideas about building a new church pastor. Yes, I find that God is rather poorly housed here Last treasurer of the church. I don't think the idea is sound. However, I might support it Although it's a big change Providing that there aren't any other changes herbs a friend of mine, and I think he's doing a good job This treasurer of the church. I'm making you a deal take it or leave it rather Cooper we're talking about a new church a new place of worship a house of God It will be a gift to God. I do not have the power to make a deal on his behalf. Come on Cooper We don't have to take this even if he is a pastor You better think it over Reverend as treasurer I'd like to see the choir left as it is you may not be treasurer for much longer brother Cooper The trustees hold an election next month. I've ordered a closed ballot. I don't think you'll be reelected I'm the biggest contributor to this church. God is the biggest contributor in this church. Good day brothers Good brothers seem quite angry. Yes. What do you think they'll do? I don't know And rather not think about it anymore at the moment. It's been a trying day, and I'm glad it's over Will it isn't over not quite One more river. Oh Heavenly father not the ladies aid again They're meeting in the parlor right now. Mrs. McClendon and Mrs. Cooper are still at it They both want to be president is Mrs. Brooks in there with them Yes sitting there like the sweet old angel. She is Why do maybe with the help of divine providence we can get this thing settled once and for all Lead me to the foe and I will slay him or her whatever the case may be You've been president long enough the nominating committee has decided that I am the sole candidate Mrs. McClendon two terms was enough for even George Washington Good evening sisters You ladies seem to be having some difficulties we want a new president. She means she wants to be president I was nominated. Yes, you picked your own nominating committee now now now sisters Well, I I know you've been fighting and I came over because I enjoy your display of spirit The Bible is full of battles But the wars that they were successful were the ones the children of God fought together against a common foe Now you ladies are doing a great work for this church. I would hate to see that work interrupted. I Suggest that we change procedure a trifle and accept open nominations from the floor So that both of you ladies can prove you haven't your personal interests at heart Any objections? I would like to put in nomination the name of Mrs. Hazel Brooke. Will you second that Mrs. Cooper? Second and now I move that nominations be closed and I'm sure mrs. McClendon will second that Second well now since since mrs. Brooks is the only candidate. I I guess she is elected by acclamation. I Won't keep you ladies any longer Something's wrong. What is it? Oh the district conference is being held in Detroit at the end of the month and Bishop Simmons has invited me to deliver the sermon he picked you out of the 300 pastors who'll attend Why will that's a great honor? It's more than that. I think it's been engineered What do you mean Cooper and jealous and the others? They're going to the conference as lay delegates They'll bring charges against me and attempt to have me moved, but they have nothing to charge you Oh, they'll attack my sermon any sermon is open to attack They can take some isolated line twist the meaning give it a different interpretation and try to influence the bishop But the bishop is very fond of you. Yes, but I haven't succeeded in getting the new church started I I like it here hope and I hope the bishop is in agreement with my sermon I I wouldn't want to be moved without completing the job. I wouldn't want to move either just now You like them too, don't you the parishioners very much, but it's more than that You see will We're going to have a baby in a moment James Hilton will return to present act two of Hartzell Spence's one foot in heaven Starring George Brent There's a new way to bring joy to children this Easter this year you can give hallmark little women dolls You know how much children love the book little women by Louisa may all cut you know How youngsters love the movie stars and you know what dolls mean to children? 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It costs only one dollar It will bring you joy this Easter to see the rapture on a child's face when the portfolio is opened an outcome Meg Amy Joe and Beth the lovable hallmark little women dolls Now back to our play starring George Brent who appears through the courtesy of RKO pictures RKO's current picture is the set up starring Robert Ryan and Audrey taught her Now here is James Hilton in the second act of one foot in heaven starring George Brent As we open the second act of the hallmark playhouse The Reverend William Spence has just stepped from the pulpit After delivering a sermon before the district conference of the Methodist Church held in Detroit under the supervision of Bishop Simmons As the pastor takes his seat brother Cooper a lay delegate opens the attack If it please Bishop Simmons I asked at a business meeting be convened at once to deliberate a matter that cannot wait I am brother Cooper a lay delegate from the Riverton Parish. I will hear the matter. You may continue Thank you, Bishop Simmons for some time we in Riverton have felt that our pastor the Reverend Spence is not competent I would hesitate to make such a charge under normal circumstances But I do so now because of the sermon you have just heard with your own ears Are you ready to defend your sermon brother Spence my sermon needs no defense Bishop Bishop Simmons I want to add my protest to that of brother Cooper. I am brother Jenison also of the Riverton Parish You have just heard our pastor say that his sermon needs no defense. That is his attitude He thinks himself Infallible I did not say that I'm infallible brother Jellison. We were not discussing me. We were discussing the sermon All right sit down Jellison. I can handle this. We'll stick to the sermon. Please do. It's such a beautiful sermon a Beautiful sermon Bishop Simmons the ego of this man is incredible Your conduct is rather unbecoming brother Spence But Bishop the sermon is a heavenly work of art it is it it's full of holes like a sieve I can rip it apart every word of it How could a man of God write such a song I can't answer that brother Cooper you'd better address that question to bit of British Simmons Can't answer my question. Can you know I can't You see a great occasion like this calls for a great sermon. I Would not have been content with my own humble efforts So I borrowed my sermon from this book word for word That's why I think the sermon was so wonderful It was written many years ago by a missionary Emissionary who rose to be a bishop our own Bishop Bishop Simmons was talking about it to the Bishop's own sermon Well, I didn't think brother Cooper would let the story get around Oh him and that that all T-Mobile maniac Jellison some of your flock knew you was in trouble and they thank you Don't thank me You're a good man. That's what counts. I'm going to need my good people for what I want to do Still got that new church in the craw. Yes, I'm going to hold a revival meeting Takes a lot of folks to contribute to building a church I know but when we get started, maybe Cooper and Jellison will see the light. I'm going to need them They're the wealthiest people in my congregation don't know how to break this to you pastor But they ain't in your congregation no more. They're too mad. They came over to my church. They're Presbyterians now like me. Oh I say Well, Samson's how long as they haven't left God's family Here's the passionate whoa Kelly. Here's the usual 25 cents Samson Thanks preacher and There's a dollar change But I I only gave you a quarter Put that dollar toward the new Methodist church pastor only remember that it was a Presbyterian who started it Revival in my church my field workers have visited every home within an area of 10 miles And they have compiled these lists Include the names of all people who do not attend church regularly Not all of them are Methodists So I want each of you to have the list of people of your own denomination for the Flannery this list is yours Thank you pastor. Thank you. Have I find these are your people. Thank you I should have done this myself. You would have if you'd had the problems my church has had Don't feel embarrassed. I'm embarrassed that I was forced to make the move You have a list left over. I take it that is mine. Not you are ever in war and thank you for your time Reverend spends one of my profiled school children tells me you bought a chance on my Saint Bernard dog The one that's being raffled off you raffle them off every month, and I buy a ticket every month I'd love to win them for the Flannery. No, you know the cost and pastor Whenever one of my parishioners win them they feed them bathe them and give them back to me Pastor there's something I want to give back to you What is that Reverend Moore a couple of misplaced Methodists who are trying to convince themselves at their Presbyterians Oh Brother Cooper and brother Jellison they belong on your list. Thank you, Reverend Have a church never thought should be able to do it without the help of Cooper and Jellison Well, I got the help I needed from a somewhat higher level sense and yeah, but you're a practical man, too Would have been mighty handy if they'd have kicked in with contributions. I can't deny that The church will be completed, but I'm afraid the organ and the bells will have to wait When they're going to get this work finished at a wonderful time Samson our first services will be held here on Easter Sunday Bishop Simmons is coming down for the dedication. You've done a wonderful job, brother Spence I had the feeling that you were the man to do it But now I I have a difficult task Difficult task Yes, you see You're a builder a builder of churches and a builder of faith You were the spiritual conductor between God and man And so I have to take you away from here Because your work here is done and others can now take it over. I Need you in another place There is a parish much like this one was in Nebraska Will you go? Yes Only my wife Well, we're expecting the baby shortly Hardly know how to tell her I didn't want to leave you that task. I Told sister Spence myself What did she say? She is of the opinion that babies have been born in Nebraska before Sister Spence is a fine woman the best Bishop the very best Bishop come quickly wrong idea a truck from Chicago. It has bells and a new organ Where did they come from the truckman didn't know but they're paid for the Lord be praised for that Oh, I will I will and thank you Thank you and God bless you God bless all of you. I'm glad they're all gone. We'll I think I I think I'm going to cry All of them aren't gone. Here come a couple of brothers who stayed to do a little overtime praying Hello pastor. I'd like to sermon Reverend Spence brother Cooper and brother jealous and I I'm so glad to see you pastor I've been sort of a Well, it's a word. I shouldn't use in church me too same word The organ and the bells and you gave them didn't you the organ for me the bells from herb Pastor why do you have to leave us the being that counts in this church never leaves it brother? He'll welcome you anytime. I think brother jealous and has something on his mind Pastor brother Cooper and I Well, we want you to have this a key. What is it for? Hey, it's out here There Ain't it a beauty? I Will It's an automobile. Yes from me and brother Cooper. I Brothers Before we drop over the hill I I just wanted to take one look back Yes, well beautiful isn't it? There's the steeple in the church Birds have already started nesting there And there's old Samson's rig down by the station Waiting for the morning train Mrs. McClintock's bakery Jealouson's garage And the flowers and Mrs. Brooks garden There's somebody bringing father Flannery's dog back to I wish every man in the world could see this town from here as I see it now People are forever asking your preacher. What heaven is like? I Guess maybe it's just like a town Because a town is like the people in it. That's why I can leave them now Because we'll see these good people again We'll see them again and James Hilton and George Brent will return But now here's what I promise to tell you about Hallmark little women dolls the newest addition to the famous Hallmark doll Collection little women dolls are in full color costume with real feather plumes in their hats They're eight inches high and stand up all by themselves Each doll has a clever verse that tells all about her and is autographed by the star who played her part in the popular movie Little Women Hallmark little women dolls are only 25 cents each or it's a dollar for the entire set of four in a colorful Permanent portfolio by Hallmark little women dolls at the friendly store where you find Hallmark greeting cards Some little friend will love you for them here again is James Hilton Thank You George Brent for a performance both spirited and inspiring It has certainly come with timeliness this week and I'd like you to know how happy we've been to have you here with It's been a pleasure for me too. Mr. Hilton I can see there's a very friendly feeling about your Hallmark playhouse And that doesn't really surprise me because I know how your Hallmark card seek to spread that feeling wherever they go and Thank you again for having me. I hope we shall have you again By the way, you might listen to us next Thursday when we present Christopher Morley's Kitty Foil starring June Allison and The following week Betty Smith's famous novel a tree grows in Brooklyn starring Dan Daly and After that James Thurber's great baseball story called you could look it up starring William Frawley Our Hallmark playhouse is every Thursday our director producer is D Engelbach Our music is composed and conducted by Lynn Murray and our script tonight was written by Joel Murcott So until next Thursday then this is James Hilton saying good night. May I add a word? Mr. Hilton and a message to all of our listeners There's no better Easter gift than the new Hallmark little women dolls see them while you are choosing your Hallmark Easter cards Now on display at the friendly store where you buy your Hallmark cards Look for Hallmark cards that are sold only in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service Remember Hallmark cards when you carry enough to send the very best This is Frank Goss saying good night to you all and inviting you next Thursday and every Thursday to tune in one Half hour earlier and listen to the adventures of Casey crime photographer followed by the Hallmark Playhouse This program came to you from the Hallmark Playhouse