 Dedicated to the strength of the nation, proudly we hail a United States Army and United States Air Force presentation. And now here is our producer, the well-known Hollywood showman, C.P. McGregor. Thank you, thank you, and greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our Theatre of Stars. Where top-most motion picture personalities join us in plays we know you'll enjoy. Our star is that well-known and highly popular actor, Preston Foster, and the title of our bright comedy from Buffalo. In our story, Preston Foster portrays the patient father of a teenage girl with a hero worship complex. He unfolds an elaborate plan to end all complexes. Fate deals a hand and a plan of its own just to make things more confusing. We'll have the curtain for act one of our comedy from Buffalo in just a moment. But first, here is our announcer, Wendell Niles, with a message of importance. Young man, here is your opportunity for an interesting job with a great future. Your opportunity to qualify for aviation cadet training with the U.S. Air Force. If you are between the ages of 20 and 26 and one half, with at least two years of college or the ability to pass an equivalent examination, make an appointment now for an interview. See if you can become an officer and a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Get details today at the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Recruiting Station, and all once again our producer. It's curtain time and here's act one of from Buffalo starring Preston Foster as Bob Livingston. He is in the living room of an American home just after dinner. It's quite a bit like many other American homes. The same nearly paid for furniture, the same fireplace, the same husband with the same evening paper. He's engrossed in the sports page and doesn't even bother to glance up as his slightly irritated wife strides in fiercely from the kitchen. I'll dry the dishes for you now, dear. I'd rather you didn't. Why not? Because I've already done the darn things. You should have called me, Carol. You know I always like to help. Oh, I know. Sit down, dear. Take a big load off your feet. Thanks. You're much too kind to me. Well, you needn't glare at me so. I'm not hurting anything. Oh, I'm not worried about the furniture. It's just that I don't think you should go throwing yourself around like like a young girl. Look, don't go getting sore at me just because I didn't get out of the kitchen in time to help with those broken down dishes. If it'll make any happier, I'll go out there now and do them all over for you. Don't talk nonsense. We could avoid all this hassle every night if you only do what I told you. You mean that silly idea of getting paper plates and then erasing them? I didn't say anything about erasing them. I still think paper plates would be a simple answer to- It's ridiculous. Oh, Carol. Oh, well, you shouldn't have to worry about housework anyway. If anyone ought to help at all, it should be your daughter. I believe she's your daughter, too. How nice of you to share the blame. Somehow it's hard to picture that kid with an apron on, isn't it? She'd be a lot more at home on the range where seldom is heard a discouraging word. Oh, now, now, please, don't get it. Well, it worked up about that again. After all, Sue's just going through a phase. That's all. A phase yet. I admit she spends too much of her time in her room, but it's nothing to worry about. She's just a nice, normal schoolgirl. With a nice, normal crush on Daniel Boone. Really, dear? I wish you wouldn't play so much stress on Sue's fixation. It's only temporary. Temporary. That's what they all said when the Moustache Cup sale started falling off back in the 90s. Sue will get over this. After all, she's just a nice, impressionable kid. Oh, sure, sure, sure. But why does she have to go get impressed with Daniel Boone? I'm sure I don't know, dear. It's just one of those things. Well, I don't like any part of it. She even goes around trying to dress like the guy. Take that fine episode when she cut all those fringes and her good gabardine slacks just so they'd look like buckskin. She only did that once. You bet you're darn right she only did it once. After the talking to I gave her, she knew what sight of her head was battered on. Oh, you were great, all right. Hey, wait a minute. Just whose side are you on, anyway, Mrs. Livingston? Yours, dear, of course. Sometimes I wonder. Anyway, why can't she pick out some nice, normal sort of dream man? Most kids her age go for people like Frank Sinatra, Harold Flynn, or Preston Foster. Who? Preston Foster. Who's he? The motion picture actor. Oh. But no, she has to go chase some far-going old pioneer scout for her idol. Well, what's so terrible about that? I'll tell you what's so terrible. Well, the guy probably, probably smelled from Buffalo. Buffalo do. You can say that again, sister. I don't like that evil glint in your eye. You're up to something. Right. Give that woman $20 silver dollars. Yes, Mrs. L, I finally decided to take steps. What kind of steps? Now, it might interest you to know that I've already started the wheels in motion to end this phobia of our daughters. Oh, no, no, no, not that. Now, please, I've no more harebrained schemes, huh? Harebrained, huh? Don't you fret your pretty little head. This is one plan that's like money in a bank. Can't miss. Oh, I only wish I was sure of that. You can be. Now, where is Sue now? She's in her room studying. Studying? Studying what? History, maybe? Say, about the era of Daniel Boone? Oh, don't look so sly. You remind me of a part-time Humphrey Bogart. Well, don't worry about her anymore. Better have her last fling. Tonight, we'll put an end to that baloney once and for all. Now, wait a minute. Now, just what is this all about, huh? Oh, just a little harebrained scheme I cooked up. You see, I've gotten plenty fed up with this fixation the kids adopted and I figured it wasn't any good for her or for us. Get to the point. Don't rush me. Anyway, I got to thinking it over and finally I figured out a way to beat the game. What's the solution? Well, you've heard me mention Johnny McCartney. Many times. Okay. Johnny's a swell act, you see. So I talked to him about Sue and he agreed to put on a costume just like Daniel Boone wore and drop in unexpectedly tonight. What? Are you out of your mind? Not any more so than usual. You just keep the shirt on, will you? I know what I'm doing, you bet. Oh, I'll take that bet. Now, don't interrupt. Just listen. Now, Johnny can... The phone, dear. I hear it, I hear it. Livingston residence? Who? Oh, Mrs. Lowry. Just fine, thank you. I suppose you want to talk to my wife, so I'll... Huh? Oh, sure, sure. Welcome over some Saturday night and open a keg of nails or something. Now, my wife's hovering over me, so I'll just turn you over to her. Carol, for crying out loud, take this darn phone. Good night, Mrs. Lowry. Thanks, dear. Hello, Mrs. Lowry, how are you tonight? How are you tonight? Stop that. What? Oh, I would just say something to Bob. He's such a tease. That's right. Oh, oh, we really must get together soon. After all, you're very close to us. So close as anybody knows. Yes, we did plan to drop in on you last week, as a matter of fact, but what with all the work to be done around the house, you know... Oh, what? Oh, you've been gardening? Oh, yes, it's just wonderful. And the way things grow at this time of year. I'll say, only last week. I planted a tiny little tree and already it's dead. What's that? You'll have to speak louder, dear. I've got a little competition here. Oh, oh, I see. Oh, that sounds fine. I'd love to hear more about it. Sometimes I wish Donna Michi's never invented that dog. Oh, look, dear, I think someone's at our door. I'll have to cut this short. But why don't you come over sometime and tell me all about it in detail? Yes, that's right. Good. Yeah. Yes. And now good. Oh, really? Well, how nice. Well, good. Oh, no fooling. Well, good. Good. What's that goo goo stuff? Baby talk? Goodbye. Oh, she's a wonderful woman, but she certainly does like to talk. What does she want? Oh, she had a pamphlet on child guidance. Pamphlets be darned. But getting back to you, Mr. Livingston, I'm still not sold on that fly-by-night scheme you're going to pull on our daughter. Look, please don't worry about it. Johnny can do that Western dialogue better than Boone himself could. So what? What are you trying to prove anyway? That people are human. Oh, it's got to be mighty tough to do. I know, I know. But you've got to fight fire with water. We've tried arguing with the kid about this stuff and got nowhere fast. But tonight we'll reason with her on her own childish level. Johnny will pop in and announce to her that he's good old Daniel Boone. I never heard of anything so crazy in all my life. Crazy, huh? Well, they laughed at Fulton too when he invented the fairy. He invented steam. All right, steam. I tell you, this can't miss. Anybody on cloud eight like our little Susie will believe anything she wants to. Oh, why do these things have to happen to me? Quiet, quiet. So when Johnny, or rather, I should say, Mr. Boone explains in his own picturesque backwood speech, just why our little girl should get herself another dream man, she'll fall right in line. See? No. Look, you just trusted me, will you? It's a lead pipe sense. Johnny and I went over to the public library this afternoon and dug up some pictures of Danny Boy to use as our makeup guide. I don't like it. I just don't think that this is going to... Believe me, this is going to be a whole lot better than having our kid run around the neighborhood making a darn fool of herself, playing cowboys and Indians and Roy Rogers. Oh, I only hope you know what you're doing. That's all. I do. Now listen, Carol. I told Johnny to be here by seven sharp, see? That's exactly one minute of now. Oh, call Sue now, will you? For the best effect, she really ought to be on the spot when he arrives. Now, really, I don't think... Go ahead, call her. But, Bob, I... Oh, well, all right. Oh, Sue. Yes, Mom? Will you please come down here, Mama? Okay, Mom. Are you absolutely sure this is going to work out all right? Sure, I'm sure. What do you think? I'm not sure. Don't worry, will you? I never saw anybody. Here she comes. Hey, Mom, did you want me for something real important? You see, I promised Joe and Paby and I'd go next door for a tiny little while. Nope, nope, nope. Can't tonight. But why not, Daddy? Why not? I go next door loads of times. I know, but, well, tonight's sort of something special, you see, your Mommy and I... No, no, not your Mommy, dear. Just your Daddy. That's a nice gal. Okay, Sue, just me. I planned a little surprise for you. Golly, Ned, what is the surprise, Daddy? What is it, huh? Guess, dear. Okay, now let me see. I'll bet it's a swell hunting knife. No, no, it's not a hunting knife. Is it a genuine hand-plated leather lariat? Keep guessing, keep guessing. Okay, uh, I know. It's a fire by friction set. No, it isn't a fire by friction set, Sue, but you're getting warm. Oh, gee, this is keen. Let me guess some more, huh, Daddy? Show by all means. I know. It's a black-and-white pindalpony. Not with those at their present price. Okay. Golly, I just can't imagine what... It's him. Oh. Danny, well, you'll see. Now, don't go away, nobody, and don't get nervous, anyone. Everything's going to be just that... Come in. Evening, folks. Thank you for my story from Butler. A starring Preston Foster to bring you an important message from our government. Ladies and gentlemen, our army and our Air Force are critically short of physicians and dentists. Over 2,000 volunteers from these two professions are urgently needed today to safeguard and care for the health of the men and women who, as members of the United States Army and United States Air Force, are serving you and me at home and overseas. Young physicians and dentists, particularly those who did not serve in the armed services during World War II, have been asked by their government to act now to volunteer for duty at once. If you are one of these young physicians or dentists, please write or wire either the Surgeon General of the United States Army or the Air Surgeon of the United States Air Force at once and volunteer your services. If you know one of these young physicians or dentists, please call his attention to this urgent message. Thank you. Our curtain rises on Act II of From Buffalo, starring Preston Foster as Bob Livingston. Bob and his wife, Carol, are faced with a rather unusual situation. Their teenage daughter, Sue, has adopted Daniel Boone for her idol, much to the discompensure of Bob. It prays on his mind to such an extent that he finally coaxes a friend to put on a costume, all out Daniel Boone and try to talk the girl out of her strange phobia. Now, the make-believe Boone has just entered the Livingston house. Evening, good evening. Evening, Mr. Boone. Daniel Boone. Yes, sir. Oh, brother. Boone's what they call me. And daddy, Mr. Boone. Ah, glad to know you. Same here, Mr. Boone. Thank you. May I take your Coonskin cap? No, ma'am, no, ma'am. Thank you, just the same. Well, have a chair, a nice hard seat and everything. No, thanks, no thanks. I can't stay with just a minute. Mr. Boone, please. Just call me Daniel. That's better. Love us an all, but... I'm too honored to stay put-belonged. Would you mind telling us one thing, Mr. Boone? We... Hold it, hold it there. Oh, this goes any further. Let's put the stop to this Mr. Boone business right now. But I told the little gal there, it goes for all of you. Okay, Danny Boy. That's more like it, sir. Yes, sir. You know, out in the open forest, a fellow shorty gets away from them little bitty formalities. Oh, yes, yes. I can see how that'd be. Did somebody say something funny? Oh, Mr.... I mean, Daniel, you'll have to excuse my daddy. Sometimes he's sort of well corny. Susie. I think I know what you mean, daughter. Susie, remember your manners. You really mustn't stare at our guests like that. It's embarrassing. Don't bother me, nun. I'm sorry, Daniel. Is that so unnatural? I must admit, you do look unusually remarkable. Remarkable, nothing. Well, that's a terrific makeup. I mean, you really look exactly like the rule you're playing. Bob. Yes, dear. Daniel, we don't want to pry into your private affairs or anything like that, of course. But tell us, how come you happen to honor us with this visit tonight? Question, son. And deserves a fair answer. Sure, I'll tell you why I'm here. It's because of this year, little girl. Me? Yep. Oh, I've been planning this move for a long time now. And finally, I figured it was just about right for me to step in and clear up a few odds and ends once and for all. You mean like this farce of Sue setting you up as her dream man and making a laughing stock of herself and us? Is that what you mean, Daniel? I'll get to it, son. I'll get to it. Sorry. Sorry. Yeah. You should be. Now, Sue, girl, I guess I was what some folks might call an old, well, a colorful character, I guess. You certainly are. Was. You mean were. Don't make no difference how you say it. And it's easy to see how maybe some young people might sort of set me up on a pedestal. I'll say. Especially boys. But whether they're boys or girls, they shouldn't. They shouldn't. No, sir, Lisa, they shouldn't. You see, I was just another fellow doing his work. If any dangers happen to come along, well, that was all part of it, see? I guess so. A lot of other folks face dangers in other ways than mine. And they were bigger men than me, too. Oh, but I don't think. Oh, not in size, maybe. But bigger just the same. There was one fellow in particular. I remember a letter he wrote me. I tore it out of a book. I got a tear. Some bless. Like, yeah, here she is. Yes, son. My eyes ain't so good no more. You read it out loud. Oh, but I read it. Look, I really don't. Oh, all right. Gentlemen, we are facing a time of peril so grave in our history, that there is now only the choice of serving the country a little longer or having tomorrow no country to serve. Under the favor of Almighty, that time is not distant when we choose between war or peace. In the words of Tom Payne, these are times that try men's souls. Tyranny is not easily conquered. Yet we have this consolation with us at the heart of the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. It is dearness alone that gives everything its value. It would be strange, indeed, if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated. It's signed by George Washington. Give it back to me, son. Thank you. Then there was another man, Abe Lincoln. And if you want to come right on up to date, general Eisenhower. Now, Sue, if you want a real hero, you pick somebody like that. Put an old codgy like me clean out of your mind. But, but, Daniel, I just couldn't. Now, see here, gal, you just listened to your parents, will you? Oh, but, gee, I... Forget all about old Donald Boone, will you? Come on now, promise. If you say so. I say so. Well, I reckon I just about from where I'm welcome here, gathering away like that. Oh, not at all, not at all. Perfectly welcome. In kind, best be mosey long. Well, then I'll show you to the door. What for? I ain't blind, you know. Oh, well, it's no bother. It's right this way. Goodbye, Daniel. Goodbye. Thanks for dropping in. Nice going, Johnny. Nice going. You're strange when you are. Well, so are you. Well, so long, everybody. Sue's asleep now. She is good. Well, that was sure. Might have found he'd just worked now. Wasn't it, Mrs. Hill? Yes, it was. And, Bob, you can stop talking like Daniel Boone. He's gone, you know. Well, it's kind of catchy that homespun stuff. Say, now, aren't you sorry you doubted your little old husband's plan? Stop gloating for heaven's sakes. The law of averages gives you at least one hit out of a dozen tries, you know. You can't get me mad tonight, sugar. No, sir, admit this was one great scheme. Come on, now. Well, frankly, I'm surprised at the way Sue absorbed the whole business. You bet. I can't take all I could, I did. Oh, who can that be at this hour? It's probably Danny Boy again. Don't be silly. Come in. Mrs. Lowry. Good evening, folks. I'm so sorry to drop in on you like this. Oh, it's perfectly all right, dear. I just had to let you know what I was talking about on the phone before. I won't stay a moment, but here's a pamphlet that explains everything. Oh, let me see it. Child guidance and the dangers of parental interference. Oh, sounds very interesting. Look, Mrs. Lowry, I just interfered in my child's life tonight, and it worked out swell. I beg your pardon? Oh, don't pay any attention to Bob. He's such a joker. I'll be happy to read this over, Miss Lowry. Thanks for dropping by. Yes, well, good night anyway. Good night. Why didn't you let me tell her how I straighten that kid out? Silly pamphlets aren't the way to bring up kids. Practical knowledge. That's what does it? Well, it did seem... You got a hand at old Johnny McCartney, too. He sure did a swell job. He even surprised me the way he followed through. You know, somehow, I sort of pictured him as a younger man. Well, he is a younger man. It's just that his makeup was so perfect. Well, he's only a year older than I am. Well, you're not exactly in the Margaret O'Vine class, you know. Quiet, please. It wasn't all the skies that made him so convincing, either. A couple of times there, I forgot he was just acting out a part. Especially near the end when he... Especially near the end when he... The phone, dear. I hear it. It's probably for you, anyhow. One of your stale club members. Will you answer it, please? Yes, my darling. Livingston Residence? Oh, you know, that's funny. We were just... we were just discussed. Huh? What's that? Who is it? Oh, no, no, no, no. Not you. I was just telling Carol to keep quiet, yeah. Oh, uh-huh. Well, all I gotta say is you're a pal to the fine job. Huh? Wait a minute. Say that. Say that again, will ya? I see. Okay. Okay, so long. Well, who was it? Johnny McCartney. Oh? A cop picked him up in his Daniel Boone costume on his way over here. Johnny just called to apologize for not getting over. Oh, but the man he sent was simply perfect. That's just it. Johnny didn't send anybody. He didn't? Then who was that man? I don't know. Do you smell buffalo? The curtain falls in the final act of From Buffalo. Our star, Preston Foster, will return from her curtain call after this timely message from Wendell Niles. This is important. This is urgent. Over 2,000 young physicians and dentists are needed as volunteers at once for service in the United States Army or United States Air Force. These physicians and dentists are required to safeguard the health of the men and women who are serving our country in the armed services. If you are a physician or a dentist, you are needed now. Write or wire the Surgeon General of the United States Army or the Air Surgeon of the United States Air Force at once, volunteering for active duty. Let me repeat that. Write or wire the Surgeon General of the United States Army or the Air Surgeon of the United States Air Force today or see your local U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Recruiting Station. Now back at the microphone, our star, Preston Foster, and our producer. Preston, you've got me at a loss. How come, C.P.? Well, you have too many activities to pin any one thing down for an interview. How about your latest pictures? And I mentioned both. Sure, why not? We've got Jesse James. That was with Barbara Britton. And the other one in Technicolor is the Big Cat. This one is an Eagle Lion production. With Lon McAllister and Peggy M. Garner, I saw them both and they were very good. You know, I was going to talk to you about that 500-acre ranch of yours, but I've changed my mind since I heard about that sensational act of you and your wife, Sheila, put on at the Orpheum in San Francisco. Well, thanks, C.P., but don't forget my guitar. It's in the act, too. Sheila tells me as soon as I learn how to play the chords, I can go into politics. Or hire yourself out to play square dances. With your knowledge of folk songs, you could be a big hit around Hollywood. Oh, that's what I'm afraid of, but you can believe it or not, we did our first square dancing just the other night. Have they roped you in yet, C.P.? No, I guess I'm the only one around here that doesn't go in for square dancing. But we've got some real experts who are old-timers at it. Well, it's certainly a lot of fun. We went to this party and everybody had on costumes. I got real enthused. I was doing the calls. Oh, they got you off the dance floor. Say, I wondered why all of a sudden I was elected caller. I didn't last very long at that job either, the neighbors, you know. You got a little loud, huh? Well, I'm not exactly a blushing violet, you know. Then they asked me to play my guitar. That should have been safe, and you just happened to have it alone. You know how it is. Sure. Anyway, we had a lot of fun, and Sheila and I are both very enthusiastic. Press, here's something for your enthusiasm. A couple of square dance albums called Music and Instructions. Next time you'll be an expert. Well, thank you. Thanks very much, CP, and I can sure stand a little expert instruction. Now, before I leave, who's your star next week? Next week, Press, and ladies and gentlemen, we have another comedy in store for you. A bright romance comedy starring popular Edmund O'Brien in a play titled Take a Letter, Miss Devlin. In our story, O'Brien becomes a confidential consultant of the big boss of a department store for which he is general manager. Rival department stores buy in business and expansion, and Eddie's boss has a stratagem for a building coop in a new location which he tells Eddie about in confidence. There's a secretary who tries to save Eddie for herself and from himself, and a charmer who tries to charm his secret for herself. So all around, Eddie becomes quite a man with the ladies. Well, she'll be listening, and thanks again for those albums. Thanks very much. So long, CP. Goodbye, Press. You should have joined us next week, ladies and gentlemen, and we bring you Edmund O'Brien and Take a Letter, Miss Devlin. Till then, thanks for listening, and cheerio from Hollywood. It arranges for the appearance of all stars in this program. The script was by Bill Danche with music under the direction of Eddie Dunstetter. This program is transcribed in Hollywood for release at this time. Wendell Niles speaking.