 Good evening. This is Ronald Coleman inviting you to join Mrs. Coleman and myself for the next half hour When our sponsor the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Presents the Halls of Ivy Ivy colleagues that is in the town of Ivy USA It's morning in the household of the William Todd Hunter Halls The doctor is sitting in his desk. His wife Victoria enters to over here the mutterings that invariably seemed to accompany the president's Perusal of the morning male Ridiculous preposterous sounds as if the male is up to its usual standard party, or is it worse? Oh, no, no worse a little duller perhaps mostly advertisements I just think of the appalling waste the expenditure of paper and energy The hours of secretarial work the wear and tear on the throats of house dogs barking at thousands of mailmen Yes, but think of the profits of the paper and the dog food people And the taxes they pay on the profits they make from the sales of the articles They sell to the people who don't need them and the big dividend They send to the stockholders were thus able to send their sons and daughters to Ivy You will grow up to make better shoes and find a paper and finally being bigger taxes You can breathe now okay I must say I admire the way in which you tortured the subject of a dull morning's male into a Promotional plan for increasing our student enrollment. Oh, thank you. It was nothing really I mean anyone with my knowledge of Technological processes could have done it you see a win examined closely Inflation and its effect on our capitalistic structure Vicki Vicki, please Well, you don't care to hear about the economic fabric of an industrial society. No Well, it's a good thing. I couldn't have gone on much longer May I ask where you acquired this Roger Babson babble. Yes The Wall Street Journal you left it lying about and you know me. Oh Snoopy. Yeah I'm a quick study too. I can leaf through an old copy of the medical journal and know exactly how to treat a case of the Waldorf syndrome. I Feel that this discourse is getting away from me. But what is the Waldorf syndrome? Well, it's a neurotic compulsion to peek into other people's newspapers And I got it bad Go on with the mail darling. It was the one you got there. Oh some long-winded thing While you may not be a connoisseur such nonsense within the purely academic field, etc. Such a master's spirit of his age wasting my time Color and style unmatched flawless technique. This is awful for the benefit of IVA without any Encumbering but this is wonderful And conceivably worth a hundred thousand dollars a hundred grand a hundred would be grand Vicky, but this is a hundred thousand Grand is a thousand. Oh, I thought you said a hundred was grand Well, never never mind. Todd. He forget about my bad early training and tell me what it's all about I mean, is it awful or is it wonderful? Well, it's certainly better than I thought it's from a lawyer Homer Benson of the firm of Benson Benson Benson Willoughby and Benson Oh, will it be I wonder if he spent Christmas alone Benson is executive of the estate of the late Mrs. Charlotte Peters her husband was an Ivy graduate And she was a French woman of some wealth during the last war He died while fighting with the French resistance and she fled to this country She's occupied her last few years in an effort to recover some of her family art treasures And where does Ivy and the hundred grand at her any thousand come in? Well in her will she leaves what mr. Benson describes in his letter as a superb and fully authenticated Goya painting to Ivy College Mr. Benson himself is on his way here now to complete the necessary formalities. How exciting we couldn't hang it in here. Could we? To begin with Vicky the painting is seven feet by five and we cannot raise the roof At least not any more than we did on Christmas Eve Secondly mr. Wellman and the board of governors would hardly approve No, mr. W and the BOG will have to decide whether it hangs in in Emerson Hall or the new Ivy Art Center Or whether it's put on the market to be sold. Yes the proceeds to go towards Well towards building the new Ivy Art Center How about putting the Goya up and then building the new art center around it and then start classes? Or would that be putting the art before the course? Then we wouldn't have the money to start building the Vicky. I'm a very busy man You are darling, but when is mr. Benson coming? Well, it should be here now Now I just heard a car pull up look out of the window darling. Will you is it an attorney with the mother of the airport? Still on his shoes and a bulging briefcase which probably holds an extra shirt and a seal Seal in that little briefcase a notary public seal dear. Oh Oh Well, can you see him our visitor? I mean yes, I think it's mr. Willoughby if it isn't mr. Benson mr. Benson or mr Benson on the other hand, of course, it could be mr. Benson Remarkable woman my wife How can a hundred be grand and then be a thousand very odd Yes, mr. Benson. This is my husband dr. Hall. Good morning dr. Benson. I'm glad to see you I was very interested in your letter and on behalf of I just a moment doctor Since my letter was mailed a disturbing complication is arisen mr. Basil Willingdon the eminent art critic It declares the painting to be a fraud and not an original Goya at all Well, there goes the nucleus of our art center before we even got it is mr. Willingdon's decision final Not at all mrs. Hall in fact mr. Willingdon has not seen the painting His opinion is based on a communication. He has just received from the Bernheimer gallery in Bordeaux They claim it is a work of no importance. That seems to settle it I'm not enough of a critic myself to argue with an established art gallery However on the manifest it was declared by mrs. Peters to be an old master therefore free of duty and Mrs. Peters was herself a connoisseur and an authority in the world of art Furthermore her declaration has the endorsement of the best art critic in Paris what things are looking up again Where is this painting at the moment mr. Benson still in its crate at the New York docks awaiting claim and clearance Mrs. Peters died a few days after its arrival Why can't they open it up and let the experts appraise it and not without the authority of the owner and According to the will it is now if accepted by you the property of Ivy College Well, I don't see how we can accept it until the mystery is cleared up Emerson would turn in his grave if we hung a fraud in Emerson Hall Party wouldn't it be just perfect for the Clarence Wellman Hall That's just where mr. Wellman wants it what I'm acquainted with mr. Wellman dr. Hall and knowing he was a chairman of your board I telephoned him yesterday and informed him of my coming here this morning Oh, I assume he is unaware of this dispute among the critics as to the authenticity of the painting He is that complication was only brought to my attention after I'd spoken to him Our friend Clarence is going to have a ruled awakening well unless mrs. Peters is right and Willingdon and company are wrong There is one more factor to be considered dr. Hall. Well, if this gets any more involved, I'll paint a Goya myself Mrs. Peters and her will stipulates that the painting must either hang in Ivy College be disposed of for Ivy's benefit or Ivy may accept the sum of five thousand dollars as an alternative the picture then to be sold for other charities What is Ivy to lose in the latter alternative a great deal should the painting turn out to be genuine? Yes 5,000 against the possible hundred thousand dollars That seems we must just wait on mr. Wellman and the board I am to call on mr. Wellman on my way to the airport with the papers for his signature. Oh, uh one last formality With the will there was a letter addressed to you as president of Ivy College as you see on the envelope Mrs. Peters stipulated that it must be opened only after the acceptance of the request as I see. Thank you. Goodbye, Mrs. Hall I'm sorry if I'm late and a message is yes the president of the Royal Academy phone. Oh, what did he have? who What on earth can he be well then the vice president mr. Wellman, you know Wellman the art lover the man who stole the Mona Lisa Leonardo da Vinci's unauthenticated grandson He wants you to call him after your description of him anything I can call him will be anti-climactic Let him wait a minute Let me put my feet up and enjoy these peaceful surroundings May I make a suggestion that by all means downing what do you suggest before you put your feet up? You'd better sit down. You might have a nasty fall Very sound idea and I'll do it Now what about wellman? Yes, and what about the Goya? Is it true or false? Now that wellman knows it's in question. Will he take the picture and the gamble or the five thousand? That's my guess. He'll take the cash. No gambler he And what about the mysterious letter from the late mrs. Peters? There's not to be open till Christmas I mean until the until the request has been accepted What can the envelope contain that reminds me toddy? We'll have to be ordering some more stationery soon and your envelopes are much too transparent You can read almost anything through them particularly if you dampen it with alcohol. Well, um Don't I order some more will you darling and tell him this time to be sure Vicki, what do you mean dampening the alcohol? You you've been beeping. Oh, how could you say such a thing? I couldn't find any alcohol in the house and holding it up to the window Edison peeping A bit an angel darling and see who that is well I get a quick wash angel on the wing toddy, and if this angel knows her hunch is its whistler's father James McNeill wellman Mr. Wellman my husband just came in come in and sit down. I've only a few minutes mrs. Hall Yeah, well, you can tell me mrs. Hall you know something of art Well painting one's face over and over again night and matinees is odd Yes, you were an actress. I believe it is possible You are better acquainted with art painting that is in the man of business like myself for a man like dr. Hall Who has limited his activities his scope to college affairs tell me mrs. Hall? What you know the painter named that is the state of a foreign artist of French I believe he went by the name of at least he was called his pen name. I think a big painting seven feet high Goya of course I mean Goya. Who else should I mean? Well, I know a little about Goya most of his work hangs in the Prado at famous art gallery Madrid He was probably Spain's greatest painter. Oh, there you are. Sorry. Mr. Wellman has just been telling me all about Goya Oh, yes, yes, the black Goyas, of course, Dr. Hall I'm afraid I have too little time for your class in art appreciation You've heard of this imposter. I understand if it is an imposter this this Goya painting that either is one or isn't And the terms of the will are most on business like a slip shot. I might say well at least it was very kind and thoughtful of mrs. Peter I am quite aware of that mrs. Hall. I am not without my share my fair share of human feelings Quality of mercy is not strained. That is of gratitude. I mean mr. Wellman. What is it? We do not question for one moment your good heart and warm feelings. Yes. Oh No, Mr. Benson gave me most of the facts I think before he left here to call on you and I must tell you dr. Hall that I have just left the board meeting half the Board were in favor of accepting this this painting so called the other half including me is in favor of taking the 5,000 cash and ending the whole matter the picture is very probably a fake in which case Ivy would get nothing Let us be practical dr. Hall. Let us be businessmen. We must take the 5,000 very well But why come to me the meeting agreed that you should cast the deciding vote Mr. Wellman, I understood from mr. Benson that you wanted to accept this painting to hang in Clarence Wellman Hall That was when there was no question of fraud and it was a large painting and Clarence Wellman Hall is a large wall doctor and there is a bare space on the east wall It needs filling that's enough of a myself and having always admired the work of it. What's his name? I Don't blame you but I find myself in a difficult position having to cast the deciding vote If we take the picture and it is finally judged to be a genuine Goya Ivy College will be the proud possessor of one of the great works of one of the great painters and If the board should decide to dispose of it to some public trust or art collection It should bring a very substantial sum of money on the other hand. We have the option to hall. What is it? My time is valuable and this matter must be settled I am quite willing that mrs. Hall with her knowledge of art as a theater That is I I've already discussed the matter with her doctor all her undoubted acquaintance With the work of this so-called of this of Van Goya Goya. I said Goya this man Goya. I said I'm willing I say to accept mrs. Hall's decision Well Vicky well What my personal opinion has to do with our criticism. I really fail to see but I vote for taking the big charts Take the gift in the spirit in which it was offered forget the small potatoes and the chicken feed to heck with the consequences On the devil take the high most When there's beer on your mind Your best thought is Schlitz the beer that made Milwaukee famous More people like the taste of Schlitz than any other beer. That's why Schlitz is the largest selling beer in America It's late the following morning and mrs. Hall is expecting a doctor home for lunch Vicky yeah, Toddy lunch will be ready in a few minutes. Oh, no hurry my dear faculty meeting isn't until 2 30 That'll give me a full hour after lunch all to myself And I will wager you dollars to your aunt Emily's donuts that I won't be permitted to get away with it There's a little gremlin that sits up a loft whose one malicious objective is to disturb the inter-curricular catnapses of W. T. Hall This is just as well perhaps story helps you keep to slim swan yay and svelte Coming from you. That's nice Vicky last week mrs. Cuncan and referred to me as suave Coming from anyone that's nauseating Professors wife it's treason But um Something is on your mind my dear the faintest of shadows flickers across your face So treat me as an old family friend and tell me all about no it's nothing tori But I'll give you just one guess who called well man. He flicks as gruesome a shadow as anyone He says you'll see you later and he sounded quite upset. I'm afraid I didn't use my vote discreetly yesterday No, you chose to vote honestly Well, what I mean perhaps is that I'm beginning to believe I was wrong. No I think that your instinct was right you chose the the bigger way How much better to lose the gamble than to be in the ignominious position later of learning that the Boston Fine Arts Museum has acquired a masterpiece While Ivy has spent $5,000 on a station wagon and a new lawnmower When you think what my Vicky, thank you darling darling, Tony I just had to hug you you don't know how relieved I am them's the nicest words I've heard since well since you said happy new year I only only said that and I beg you not to move my darling I only said that your instinct will probably prove to be right again In fact, whenever an issue arises that is outside the logical reasoning of of an underpaid though quite brilliant college president I I have been content to leave it to you ever since Fanny Blair as a matter of fact Fanny Blair, is she the redhead who won the home economics award? Has she been sending you apples? Now Vicky, I'm shocked Not that the occasional apple may not agreeably lubricate the relations between master and pupil Sometimes referred to as esprit de corps But I am shocked Have you forgotten your English folklore and I'll walk across the meadows from Bumbledon ferry to tipperton town Oh, yes, of course. Yes, and our problem at the crossroads. It was it was just before we were married There must have been late spring because the LeBronum and the lilacs were putting on a tremendous show Admission-free in my anxiety to impress you with the English countryside. I was a little afraid. They were overacting Was a rainstorm coming up? I remember And we packed up the picnic basket and and we were walking back to the station. Remember Vicky I think William is quite a walk back to the station and it looks like rain. I Hope we're on the right path. I can see a style ahead of the signpost What a wonderful day Isn't it even when it rains as beautiful at this time of the year? I wasn't thinking only of the countryside Victoria. I meant the day with you Wonderful day beautiful you Fortunate me Thank You William dear I've loved every minute of it too. It's been a picnic in every sense after a week of grease paint a day like This is better than any beauty treatment heaven only knows what I shall do when I return to America Unless you unless I I promise not to put any more pressure on didn't I you ought to take as long as you want it's only that Only what? It's only that I I can't help an occasional reminder, but tiny little nudge now and then With it in a nice warm little nudges, though Look look we're here at the crossroads. Oh very symbolic Crossroads call for either dirty work or momentous decision Now what does the sign say? Well it says to the village all right, but look what it's pointing Two paths in two different directions and the sign points right between them Good honest British compromise I Wish what we take how you decide the left it looks nicer good quick decisions gather no moss Yeah, we've got no time to dilly-dally here comes the rain. Yes. We may have to run for it. You'll get wet I'm all right. I've got my raincoat, but what about you? Oh, nothing could worry me less Trotting beside you you see a happy man There isn't a raindrop born today that would have the heart to touch Look over there Oh, yes, I can in at the end of this field by the big spreading chest not Fascinating if the black village blacksmith isn't standing under that tree with large and sinewy hands. I shall be disappointed We better take shelter for a moment. Here we are the doors open What's this place called? There's the name up there on the sideboard. Oh, yes, I see oh One It's called the rose revived now. What could be fairer? There's a bench on the side Look at those odd characters in the corner 18th century What's the lad singing Hello valid Fanny Blair. I think hail of a village maiden and some unrighted wrong Till the judge cried there's someone The day that young he can die The people rose up with what lovely things happen with you Victoria Or is it because I'm in love? William dear William The rain stopped we must run the bar made tells me we're only ten minutes from the station It seems I chose the right path. You certainly did my dear you certainly did Ever since then I've always had the greatest respect for your instinct Well, I hope it lasts because this time I may turn out to be the girl who took the wrong turning Nonsense my dear what you did was perfectly right. I know but you see there's something else Besides mr. Wellman there was a phone call from mr. Benson and he said that this morning the Treasury Department or the Customs or either something claim that there will be a duty to pay in the event of the goya turning out to be a fraud In which case it will be valueless and there can hardly be any duty on a work Yeah, but mr. Wellman though, Toddy if there are any charges or complications at all Charm boy is really going to flip his lid to use a handy little undergraduate expression Next Christmas, let's give him a top that he can blow whenever he Dr. Hall speaking Well, no, but mrs. Hall spoke to him and I haven't yet had a chance to Oh, I don't think that we just did you don't think calm for a moment if you remember in mr. Benson's letter He said that me. Oh, oh wait a minute Mr. Wellman, I'm sorry, but I'll have to call you back. I left the bathwater running I Water this time of the day would hunch my dear instinct, of course the letter. Where's the letter what letter mrs. Peter's we can open it now top drawer of my desk. I Couldn't think of a good answer to mr. Wellman and the letter may give me one. Yes. Yes, Toddy But it's only a hunch, of course Yeah, yeah and And in memory of my husband to give to ivy one of the finest examples of this great master's work that exists outside of Madrid the The overpainting That was applied to conceal the masterpiece from the invading Nazi vandals and which has served its purpose Can of course be easily removed the real Goya is underneath it The beauty and greatness of this classic work Vicky vicky get mr. Wellman on the phone immediately tell him to come over and pour his troubled waters on our oil The other actors in our play tonight were Herbert Butterfield is mr. Wellman and Ken Peters is mr. Benson Our music was composed and conducted by Henry Russell tonight's script was written by And oh dear wait a minute. Um tonight's script was written by Ronald Coleman. Well, thank you, my Love doing it shows. I have more than one string to my bow. Well, as long as I only have one bow to my string I'm gonna let him take me home. Good night, everybody We'll be seeing you next week at this same time at the halls of ivy starring mr. Mrs. Ronald Coleman the halls of ivy was created by Don Quinn Directed by Nat Wolfe and presented with the Jaws of Schlitz Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin We invite you to enjoy the Pulitzer Prize Playhouse on television on Friday night Yesterday by the way the Pulitzer Prize Playhouse won the Emmy for the best dramatic program on television By the vote of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This is Ken Carpenter speaking Oh That's