 suspense and the producer of radios outstanding theater of thrills the master of mystery and adventure William M. Robeson it is now 50 years since the first motion picture was made amidst the orange groves of a sleepy little California village called Hollywood and a latter-day gold rush began Hollywood quickly became a sprawling brawling boomtown true to the tradition of the western frontier a tradition it helped to create and has fondly fostered Hollywood lived violently and not a few of its citizens died violently with and sometimes without their boots on the stakes were high worldwide fame and undreamed of fortune and the passions that poured onto the silver screen sometimes spilled over into private lives with lethal results of such passions and such results you were about to hear and who better to tell this story than a man who was there a man who was starred in more motion pictures than any other actor living or dead Francis X Bushman listen listen then as mr. Bushman tells about the city that was in exactly one minute memo on medals interesting information about our military awards and decorations campaign medals were authorized by Congress in 1905 for all officers and men engaged in specified wars and military action including such widely divergent battles as the Civil War in the United States and the Voxer rebellion in China the Navy and Marine Corps have a special Manila Bay Medal for members of the United States Asiatic Squadron under command of Commodore George Dewey in May of 1898 the Haitian campaign of 1915 is commemorated with a medal as is the Santo Domingo expedition which suppressed a revolt in that country and preserved order during elections in 1916 the Army has its Mexican service medal for those involved in any of several expeditions or engagements from April 12th 1911 through June 16th 1919 there is also the Army of Cuban pacification medal for United States troops who from October of 1906 to April of 1909 helped establish a stable government in that island nation the victory medal was initially awarded to all United States service personnel in World War one expeditionary forces including for the first time women serving in the military units there is a story behind every American medal a proud story of devotion to country and unselfish service to keep it strong and free and now Francis X Bushman starring in the city that was a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense remember yes I remember the 35 years ago there was a town for you it flamed with color it bubbled with intrigue and it frequently simmered with sin gods and goddesses stole the boulevard in those days and rode to the studio their $20,000 custom-built rolls rices it was the era of Valentino and Mabel Norman and Wallace Reed a Barbara Lamar and William Desmond Taylor and William S. Hart and the great Vance Neaton all the Pullen Agri and Cedar Barra it was the era to a Vance and he Kendall matinee idol turned movie king and his leading lady greener shelf on to used to be called the golden flame of the silver screen you must remember them and how they were tied up with that Corsac off killing well all the facts of that cause the lever were not told at the time but they can be told now and this is what really happened that rainy night in November 35 years ago Tony and Rena had finished long day shooting it was nearly seven o'clock when Tony tooled his big white Cunningham Roadster into the driveway of his Whitley Heights estate he stopped the car under the heart of the entrance gate it was reaching for the electric control button when a mass figure with a gun stepped out from the dark all right hold it right there what is this has he ended the line for you big shot no oh yes is where your boyfriend gets what's coming to him Tony it's Bart Malloy wasn't very smart to recognize me Rena now you go with him all right Bart cut the melodrama you're drunk go on home and sleep it off I'll see you at the studio tomorrow there isn't gonna be any tomorrow for you too I'm gonna blast you out behind you Tony, be careful let go of that gun Bart, let go of it let go of it there that's better I'll just unload it so nobody can get hurt here you can have it back now now go home and get some shut-eye I'll see you in the morning so you can fire me in front of the whole crew and how did you know that we oh not we you I heard all about it an hour ago Alec Benson didn't want to let me out you're the one who cut my throat well why don't you call the cops and do a complete job on me I have no intention of calling the cops why not that'll make your day perfect Bart look now I suppose we forget all about this all three of us right Rena? of course yeah that's big of you both of you maybe someday I can pay you back now go on home Bart you need sleep sure sure that's all I need just a little sleep thanks Tony thanks for everything Tony yes Tony would you mind driving me straight on home well what about dinner I don't feel much like eating now I just want to go home all right honey why did you ever put Bart on the picture in the first place well he was on the skids there wasn't a casting director in time that would hide oh you and your big heart don't you know the surest way to make a man hate you is to do him a kindness perhaps but he promised me he'd go on the wagon so the first day he showed up pink eyed as a rabbit and chewing cloves to camouflage the smell of whiskey he's always chewed cloves as long as I'd known him well sure he has it's the trademark of an alcoholic Tony he scares me well now don't be silly honey Bart maybe a lush but he is not a murderer we continue with the second act of another visit with Joe and Daphne Forsythe ooh ouch ooh what's wrong Joe Daphne have you been using my razor again just a little I was peeling peaches oh fine why didn't you change the blade it feels like you've been sharpening pencils with this thing now just a minute buddy it was you who said we could use more economy around here and I've been saving wherever I can and by shaving the skin off the peaches but look at my face think how the Red Cross could have used all his blood it's your own fault you and your economy well being penny conscious isn't such a bad idea not if you use common sense take savings bonds for instance uh-uh here it comes go right ahead and scoff but I got 8 million Americans who agree with me we all buy savings bonds on a payroll saving plan because we know that investing in bonds is the best way to use our money we could use some of that money around here well maybe or maybe we just think we can when we buy bonds we guarantee we'll have the money in the future when we'll certainly need it more stop waving that razor you're splattering me with soap well I don't mean to get excited but who wouldn't where else can a man make an investment that's guaranteed to pay off $4 for every 3 and guaranteed by the credit of the whole US of A so there bravo bravo alright alright now let me change the blade and get back to shaving I think I'll stay and watch god you're so cute when you cut yourself oh fine and now back to love the city that was starring Francis X Bushman a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense of course Bart Malloy didn't take Tony's advice and go home the evening was still young and in his misery he needed company so he headed for Henry's on Hollywood Boulevard everybody went to Henry's in those days it was packed every night with actors, directors, writers, producers come to see and be seen and to partake of Henry's wonderful turkey sandwiches his fabulous German pancakes and his fragrant coffee Malloy is downing cup after cup of it now each one generously laced with whiskey from his hip flask also is airing his grievances to Fritz the friendly waiter who knows him well so I'll take a drink one measly drink and he tosses me off a picture ah he's a louse that's why he's his star-spangled louse I'm Mr. Malloy, darkness though Mr. Kendall is a fine gentleman a real fine gentleman I'll tell you something Fritz I'm gonna fix your fine gentleman's wagon for him if it's the last thing I ever do you shouldn't say such things Mr. Malloy especially at such a time as this now just as soon as he's finished his picture he and Mr. Alphonse will be married yeah yeah I know say maybe I ought to figure out a nice present for him oh that sounds better Mr. Malloy you know something always I think that Mr. Alphonse would marry that Russian director what was his name? Kosikov yeah sure crazy about each other until Tony come along Fritz you may not know it but you have just given me a terrific idea Bart Malloy lost no time in putting his terrific idea into action firstly he telephoned the director, Sergey Kosikov made a date to drop by his apartment later that evening he called me Mr. Alphonse and employed his not inconsiderable talent as a mimic this is Hollywood 2749 yes it is may I speak please with Mr. Alphonse I am Dr. Von Kesselring Dr. Friedrich Von Kesselring this is Mr. Alphonse doctor oh I am Mr. Kosikov's physician Mr. Alphonse I have I'll get to say some unhappy news for you something the matter with Sergey he has suffered a coronary occlusion oh no yes Mr. Alphonse there is Mr. Kosikov wished to see you before he goes to the hospital I think it would make him very happy of course I'll come right over Malloy counted on the rainy streets and the fact that Rena had to come all the way in from Beverly Hills to give him the time he needed with Kosikov five minutes later he pulled up in front of the Russian director's house high in the Hollywood Hills well not exactly in front of the house where it perched 60 feet above the street and was reached by a private elevator which opened on the side wall very futuristic a Hollywood show place of the time this hideaway of the mad Russian Malloy pushed the bell the elevator door clicked open and a moment later he stepped out of the cage into Sergey Kosikov's living room hello Sergey how are you my friend it's good to see you good to see you for me it's perfect I sit before fire and try to solve chess problems you'll have tea over there some of our tea also brandy whiskey vodka choose for yourself well maybe just a little one you know just cut the fog good now sit down and tell me why you call me well I need some advice and I'll be glad to give you any kind of advice it's like this see I'm gonna come out of this picture with a great deal of dough and you told me you've been buying real estate remember? I have bought quite a bit of property in Santa Monica Santa Monica that's too far out like the San Fernando Valley now you can't tell me people are ever going all the way out there I thought you said you were gonna be alone tonight I expect no one maybe a luck's changing that boy no don't get up I'll send the elevator back down and then I'll slip out the servants entrance but I assure you that I know I know it's probably a maiden air just in from Vladivostok just the same I'll go out the back way so it's not to embarrass the lady you have dirty mind my friend I would suggest that you Bert what does it mean the gun I guess you might say it means goodbye sir game the law moved fast now he wiped his fingerprints from the smoking gun and from the whiskey glass then he'd drop the gun to the floor and headed for the service entrance he was gone when the elevator stopped and Rita walked into the living room to discover Sergei's little brittle body sprawled on the floor when the police arrived summoned by a neighbor who heard the shooting they pounded their gun in hand kneeling over the body sobbing over and over who did Sergei who did in just a moment we continue with the third act of suspense we have together ample capacity and freedom to defend freedom this is NATO the North Atlantic Treaty Organization while the Soviets seek to weaken and disrupt the free world through worldwide military political and economic activities the free world has organized its resources, moral, military political and economic and is ready to deploy them wherever the situation demands this is the basic reasoning behind the North Atlantic Treaty Organization the United States of America is a part of NATO, you should be aware of and alert to the objectives and programs of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and now at three of the city that was starring Francis X Bushman a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense they allowed Reno Chalfont one phone call naturally she called Tony Kendall but there wasn't much here his attorney could do for her since there's no bail on a murder charge so Tony went to the scene of the crime and there he found that an old friend of his was in charge of the investigation Sergeant Kay of Homicide I'm sorry Tony but it just don't look good for your girlfriend but Reno's no killer that's not for me to say I can only go by the evidence I find and it all points to her but where's the motive Reno had no motive she might have what do you mean this is just a theory of course well let's have it you may not like it Tony I told you go ahead well she and Korskow were we're pretty good friends before you came along right yes so maybe he's still in love with her maybe he doesn't want her to marry you maybe he threatens to do something to stop the wedding and maybe she shoots him right wrong Reno is not a killer Marty maybe but it looks like she did it you've been all over the place I suppose stem to stem everything strictly copacetic except for a whiskey glass with no fingerprint so what this one right here somebody had a shot of bourbon out of it then wiped off the Prince Sergei and drink no and maybe your girlfriend was here we go with that maybe routine again no for your information Marty Reno isn't a drinker either that's some of our over there is more in her line so that's what you call that thing what's it for making tea Russian style what's all this stuff in these little saucers lemon peel cinnamon rose petals clothes they put it in the tea all at once no no one at a time in Korskow must have been a clove boy we found a lot of them on the floor clothes eh and a whiskey glass you got a theory maybe I have what is it I'll let you know when I've proved it Tony Kendall was in makeup and on the set the day to clock the next morning the cameras were in place and the lights were all set up for the climax scene of passion lost the big fight scene Alec Benson the director agreed to Tony with the long face usually the reserve of funeral Tony I just heard about greener what a terrible save your sympathy she's innocent of course but what's it going to do to our shooting schedule you're just chock full of compassion aren't you well I mean how's a great man this morning good morning Bart who's going to lower the boom you were around well but you see I told you last night we'd forget all about it but I thought you meant you're still on the picture but Tony I've already hired me Alec Tony I don't know what to say and save it and let's get on with this fight now this has got to top any fight scene that's ever been photographed Sam I can't hear myself think now we've got to make the brawl in the spoilers look like a chorus boys picnic I want will you please knock it off Sam you make more noise in the hammers sorry Mr. Benson now let's get the suspense of the fight in tolerable David the brutality of norberry in the sea wolf the cruel look Alec why don't you let Barton me sort of work it out by ourselves then we'll tell you how we see it and then if it's okay with you we'll try a take well alright just call me when you're ready alright come on Bart let's block out the action let's see we begin here on the balcony when I find you coming out of Helena's room you go for your gun but before you can get it Tony I I want to thank you for keeping me on the picture well that's all right Bart now as I was saying and I want you to know how sorry I am about Rena are you really are you really sorry oh I sure am Rena is one of them but then you'll be happy to know that she didn't kill Korsakov no well then who did you Maloy what you killed him well you must be out of your mind what I want to do a thing like that for him and then you framed Rena you did it for revenge to get back at me you're talking like a maniac am I what about the clothes that dropped out of your pocket under the floor what Korsakov had clothes too they were right there by that you were there Maloy and you killed him well you try and prove it I won't have to prove it you're going to admit it oh yeah man that's right I'm gonna beat the truth out of you right away from the kettle well I'm gonna fix that pretty face of yours wait a minute Tony hold it boys until we can it ain't holding Mr. Benson wow what a water oh that sure look real didn't huh what are we standing there for let's get it on film lights Larry Paul start playing those cameras all right you guys you're having dementia come on lights that's fine that's fine Bob slam his head against the pillar good now bring it up Tony bring it up from your heels that's the idea real hay maker you killed him you killed him you're playing through right now you tell me the truth Maloy you give it to me straight or I'll kill you here and now go at least you have that strangle Tony come on Maloy this is your last yes yes I did it I did it I did it all right now look Tony I realize I'm only the director around here but even so would you mind letting me in now you tell him Maloy you tell him I killed Kosikov call Marty K will you tell him we've got his killer for him and you you better have a couple of the boys keep an eye on Maloy until he gets it what are you going to do me I'm going over and get my girl out of the jailhouse and there you have it ladies and gentlemen a story out of the Hollywood of the 20s the city that was as you know Rena and Tony Kendall are still one of the film capitals happiest couples as a matter of fact I had tea with them last week Rena served from a great brass samobar I had my choice of sugar and cream and rum of course and then there were small china bowls filled with slivers of lemon peel and dried rose petals and sticks of cinnamon but you know something strange that weren't any clothes suspense in which Francis X Bushman starred in William and Robeson's production of The City That Was by Richard Weill supporting Mr. Bushman in The City That Was were Norma Eberhardt Chester Stratton Ben Wright, Jack Krushen, Joe DeSantis and Norm Alden listen again next week when we return with the star of Thessaly starring Ray Noble another tale well calculated to keep you in suspense suspense has been brought to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States armed forces radio and television service