 The DuPont Company presents The Cavalcade of America. Speaking for The DuPont Company, is radio's distinguished news commentator, Gabriel Heater. Good evening, everyone. Tonight's The Cavalcade of America brings you the story of Will Rogers. And I can't recall any time when it seemed more appropriate. Up and down America, millions of us are better Americans because of what Will Rogers left behind. And so tonight, The Cavalcade of America journeys back down memory lane to reach out again for that friendly handshake, that quiet chuckle, Will Rogers. And now, down for his and The DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra, ring up the curtain. They're going to play, sing for your supper, from the latest Rogers and Heart Musical, The Boys from Syracuse. MUSIC Ladies and gentlemen, the narrator and chronicler of The Cavalcade of America, Thomas Chalmers. Tonight, we're going to tell you a story of a man who brought many moments of happiness to his fellow man. A man whose kindness and simple homespun philosophy is a story of all that's noble and permanent in the American character. Hello, folks. All I know is just water, reading the papers. Will Rogers. About the turn of the century on a sunny, dusty plain just outside of Johannesburg in South Africa, a little American one-ring circus and Wild West show is set up. Outside the tent is gathered a group of natives and white settlers, watching the proprietor of the show, Texas Jack, quelling hilarious. In the group stands a gangling young cowboy listening to Texas Jack's feel. Now, folks, you step right up close, little closer, please. That's right. Now, I won't cost you a thing. I have just seen me do this year now's Dupendus rope trick. And I'm making a bonafide and sensational offer of $100 American dollars. $100 good old USA Samoan to any man, woman, or child in the audience who can duplicate that trick. Now, if he thinks he can, just let him step right up here and try it. Just a minute there, brother. Yes, what is it, Father? You don't mind? Well, here's your chance to show off what you can do, Father. Step right this way. Don't be afraid of the crowd. They won't bite you. That's it now. Right down here. Get out of the way, sonny. Let him through, please. All right, Father. Now, here's your rope. Thanks, brother. Well, he must think he's good. All right now, pal. Let's see you do it. Easy does it, you know. Right-slick rope you got here. Sure is doing it pretty good. He's better than the other fellow. That's the ticket, cowboy. You're OK. He's a regular cowboy. I'm sorry, mister. That's just where you're wrong. I never laid eyes on him till this year, a minute. And to prove it, I'm going to take him inside and give him that $100. Now, step inside the tent with me. Yes, sir. I sure will. Right in here. Now, watch your head now. That's it. Yeah. Great little town, your hand is very good. Last time I was here, well, I won't tell you about that. See, it's sure handy with that rope, kid. What's your name? William Penn Adair Rogers. Well, for sure. Now, about that hunter. From the States, ain't ya? Well, sit down. Easy does it, I always say. Thanks, partner. I'm from the Indian Territory, the little old wide-placed road we call Claremont. What are you doing down here in South Africa? Got here sort of roundabout. So I'm a herd-up home and tried to head for South America with a friend. But first we had to go to London, spent two whole days talking for an outfit called Piccadilly Circus. We found out that it was the name of a street. Well, how come you landed down here in South Africa then? Well, from London we headed for South America. Dick, he's my friend, got home sick and went back on the boat. Then I come on over here at the Boer War. Guess it ended about the same day I landed here. I've been training some remounts for the Army. And that's all. So I was mighty glad to get that chance at that $100. Yes, sir, and you sure earned it, too. Now, can you handle a horse as well as you can rope? Oh, sure. Loaded the range ever since I could straddle a horse. Well, how'd you like to join my outfit here is right in Ropa. Going on to Australia. What do you say? Suits me. I started out to see the world and get a little fun on the side. Don't matter whether it's Australia or South Africa. Well, then it's all settled. Now, just you move around, get acquainted with the boys and the horses while I get back to the crowd. Just a minute, mister. How about that $100? I don't mean to, you know, like to mention it or bother you. But I sure do need it, plenty. I'm broke. That's so. Well, tell you the truth, pardon me. Kind of hard up myself. But I'll tell you, I'll put you in my show instead. And I'll bill you as the Cherokee kid. What do you say? Well, that'll amount to three squares a day, won't it? And a chance to see some more of the world. Why, I reckon so. Sure. So with Texas Jack's little one-ring circus, Will Rogers, the Cherokee kid, played South Africa or Australia in the Orient. Circus life was tiring, and Bill was glad when the show crossed the Pacific and set up in San Francisco. But the young cowboy was homesick, so he went back to Claremore, Oklahoma for a rest. Coming out of the Nickelodeon one night, he strolled down the main street. Well, thank you, God back. Well, if it ain't Zach Mollholley, you old new, new fellow there, feller. Yeah, been with some Wild West outfit in your end, won't you, Bill? Yeah, you should have caught me. I was a Cherokee kid. God. Yeah. Got back to Frisco, wearing my overalls for underwear. What you doing, Zach? Well, I'm getting together an outfit for the pike at the St. Louis Exposition. A lot of your old friends gone along. I'd like to have you with us, Bill. Thanks, Zach. I'll just, I'll think it over. Don't go on it. Kind of tame around here, roping horses out an audience. Well, what do you know about that? The fortune teller's booth over there. Claremore is getting to be a big town, all right? Tell your fortune for a dime, then. Step right this way into the Gypsy Tend on their dime. Say, Bill, get your fortune told? What say? Oh, it's just a lot of fake stuff, Zach. Haven't got anything you want to keep a secret, have you? Not that I know of. Well, go on in. You may get the surprise of your life. Say, I might at that. Wait here for me, Zach. Will you? All right, Bill. OK, Zuleki, here's your dime. Ah, oh, you have a very strange answer. It's amazing. I see here. I know you don't. That bump's where a mule bit me. But I, yes, I see great fortune ahead of you. You, yes, you will become very famous. You will be on the stage. You will talk everywhere. People will pay to hear you. Ah, that's enough. Never heard of such foolishness my whole life. Why, who'd ever pay to listen to a Cherokee cowhand like me? Leaving Claremont, Will Rogers joined Jack Mulholl's Wild West show. But after a while, Will grew tired of the circus business and teamed up with another cowboy in a rope and pony voter bill act. One night, he's standing in the wings of a feather. Another performer in the show walks up beside him, and they watch the act out on the stage. We ain't been doing so well this week, bud. Folks out there must be sitting on their hands. Ain't seem to get them worked up. You ought to give them a little talk in your act, Bill. When your partner rides on, as it is now, you throw your two ropes up quick. The audience don't get the trick of it. Go on out and explain it to them first. Oh, shucks, I ain't no talker. Well, give them the same line you do backstage here. Just kidding. What are you afraid of? I need a talk in that, that's all. But I might try it out on them once, maybe. Well, here's my cue. Go on now, I'll do it, I tell you. Give them a little spew. All right, might as well try anything once. Good luck, Bill. Stop that noise, you folks. That goes for you too, professor. Ladies and gentlemen, on the call, you're shown enough attention to this next little stunt I'm going to pull on you, as I'm going to throw about two of these ropes at once, catching the pony with one and the rider with the other. Don't have any idea, get it? Here goes. Good stuff. Don't try to kid me, brother. That gang out there is laughing at me. Why, sure they are. You're funny, you don't know it. It's the way you talk. Well, let me tell you something. I can talk as good as any of them, and a whole lot better than some. I ain't never going to open my trap on the stage again to make a fool out of myself. It took Will Rogers a long time to discover that what a forgotten performer had told him was true. That his witted geniality would make him famous. He soon dropped out of the Polian Rope Act and found that audiences enjoyed having him stand up on a stage and in his dry, drawing voice talked to them in the droll fashion that later made him famous. He got one of those characteristic telegrams from Franz Ziegfeld and joined the followings. When he came out on the stage with his inevitable chewing gum and rope, everybody set up to listen. Thank you. Thank you, folks. This is just sort of a little interlude, folks, to keep you in your seats and help Mr. Ziegfeld out while the girls are changing their outfits for you. You know, we sure had quite a lot of trouble keeping our girls together on tour. Every town we went to, some of them would marry millionaires, you know. Yeah, letting a few weeks I'd be divorced and catch up with the show again. You know, women are like elephants. I like to look at them, but I'd hate to own them. You know, folks, I tell you, if they just put a lot of these here followings puppets on that peace ship in the same sort of costumes they wear here, you know, they'd get the soldier boys out of the trenches, but Christmas. Not only that, but I'm telling you, they'd have cars or bills and Lloyd George and Clement Soak shooting craps to see which one had head the line to the stage door. Well, here they come and there I go. See you there, Mr. Rogers. Say, I almost forgot, here's another telegram from Mr. Ziegfeld. Huh? Can you beat that? He's sitting right out there in his front office and when he wants to tell her, fell her back stage, got something, just sends him a telegram. Hello, Mr. Rogers. Hi, hi. Good evening, Mr. Rogers. Hello. How's it going, Mr. Rogers? Oh, hey, you're there. Wait, I don't talk to you, sister. Just, yeah, just wait a second. You know, I see that that fellers is out there again in the second row. Yeah, eight nights straight now, ain't it? Yeah, cute, isn't it? Yeah, well, say that's a real sure enough pretty necklace I've seen you wearing when you come in tonight. Yes, it is nice, isn't it? And yeah, kinda like getting into limousine every night after the show, don't you? Well, it sure beats the subway. And he's a smart-looking young chap, too. What does he do for a living? Oh, he doesn't have to work. He has millions in his family. Huh? Well, let me tell you something, sister. Hope you won't mind my telling you this. But when it comes to a question of choosing a feller that can earn his own meal ticket and a guy that inherits his, you're safer choosing the first one. Because if the other feller loses his, where are you? Well, out in the cold, I guess. Darn toot me, your sister. I've seen a lot in... I know. Well, thanks. Thanks, Mr. Rogers. I'll remember what you say. This is Mr. Rogers, sir. Thank you. What can I do for you, mister? Just come on in the dressing room. Sit down. Well, get right down to business, Mr. Rogers. I represent a newspaper syndicate. We'd like to have you do a feature article for us using the same line and technique you do in your act. Just rambling along naturally. Speaking in the vernacular. The which? Don't believe I quite follow you. Well, we'd like to have you write articles for us the same way you talk. Just sort of talk in print, huh? That's right. Well, maybe I could. Never thought I'd ever get so I could talk to folks out front. But I'm still practicing. Don't fool you, though. I ain't a literary man. All I know is just water reading the papers. So the Cherokee kid became a columnist and soon an international character. He left the Follies in 1926 to travel in Europe as America's minister without portfolio and ambassador of goodwill. When he returned to the United States, President Coolidge invited him to the White House. Bill put on his best blue suit and went down to see the president in Washington. President Coolidge, Mr. Will Rogers. Glad to have you here, Mr. Rogers. Big pardon. I didn't quite catch the name. Coolidge, Vermont. Oh, thank you. Hello, Charlie. Hi, Joe. Hello, Nick. Step down, won't you? All right. I've been looking forward to hearing you tell me all about your trip abroad. I feel you've rendered a real service over there as a sort of beneficial ambassador of goodwill. Well, now, Mr. President, I don't want to pick no quarrel with you right off the bat. But, uh, confidentially, I can't bear being called any ambassador of goodwill. Makes me feel like a kind of a patent medicine, you know, good for man or beast. Still, you did us a lot of good over that this time. I've been so much worried. Oh, God. I never knew any Vermonter to do much worrying on $75,000 a year. Pardon me, Mr. President. Ambassador Morrow is here. Now, have him come in. Mr. Morrow. Oh, good evening, Ambassador. Mr. President. I want you to meet Will Rogers. Ambassador Morrow, Will. How did you do, Mr. Ambassador? Glad to meet you. I feel as if I knew you very well indeed, Mr. Rogers. We were just talking about Mr. Rogers' trip abroad. Well, a pretty near didn't get over there at all, as a matter of fact. Had some trouble getting the pass for it. You see, we don't have no birth certificate down where I come from in Oklahoma. They just take it for granted that if a man's alive, why, he must have been born. But your folks down here at the passport office, just looking at me, they just wasn't convinced one bit that I was really here. Had an awful time finding a man that could swear to him that I was really alive. Of course, if it had been one of your congressmen, I could have understood. How did you find the service on our American line? Well, I managed to get across with eight of a couple of lemons, but the line made money on me. I understand everybody in Europe enjoyed your visit. Well, I don't know, Mr. Ambassador. I saw about everybody, everything there was to see. And it's just awful, nice to me, every last one of them. You know, folks is folks when you get at the right side, no matter whether they're kings or cowboys. About the only thing I missed was in Cairo. Now, what was that? I guess it was the only tourist there who never went out to see the Spinks. I told him I didn't need to. I'd done seen Cal Cooley. Well, it's certainly good to hear you laugh, Mr. President. Call that a laugh? I think I have a good idea, Mauro. That's why I ask you to come here and meet Will. You'd better take him into Mexico with you, as Yuma might help to smooth things out down there. If you can make President Cai's laugh, it will help me at this particular time. That's a pretty solemn Indian we have to deal with. I don't say anything against Indians. Now, my papa, he is 1-8th Cherokee. Mama, she is 4th. Guess that makes me about 1-8th cigar store Indian. Indian is all right, though, boy. Yes, sir. My folks didn't come over on the Mayflower, but they met the bull. Ha-ha-ha-ha! Will Rogers continued serving his country in his fellow man. Relief causes, floods, earthquakes, and disaster brought his cheerful smile and kind charity to their age. After a few years, he was called to Hollywood, and the lovable whimsical characters he created on the screen are not likely to be forgotten. His old car was a familiar sight on the movie set. The bill in the front seat is typewriter on his knees, picking out his daily call. Hold on over here a minute. I want you to read something. Say, Bill, huh? Wiley Post just came in the lot. He's looking for you. Now, before you get tied up with him, I'd like to have you look over this new story. Oh, we got plenty of time for that. Wiley's flying on up to Seattle first. I'm going to join him as soon as he's ready, about a week. You know, I got an old car dropping point bare on one of this. I'll be back now. I'll be back in time to start with you boys. Just go, don't worry. Say, now, listen to this piece of road I won't try it out on you. All right, Bill. Huh? Remember me, don't you? Well, howdy, old timer. Where'd you hail from? Right. You and me used to ride together with Zach Mulhaugh's outfit. Yeah? That sure was a mighty big show, wasn't it? Hey, you look kind of like you'd been ridden instead of old. Here you go, boy. Yeah, hey, good luck. Say, thanks, Bill. This will sure help. Do you ever see him before? Not to say if all the fellers had come to me and say there's some Zach's old outfit. If this telling the truth, it'd fill the whole state Oklahoma. Now, listen to this piece here, old road, before I shoot it off to the paper. Wait a minute. Looks like Wiley's found you, coming this way. See if you can postpone that flight, will you, Bill? Ah, now I'm not postponing nothing. Hello, Wiley? Just sat there on the running board now, and just make yourself at home. I'll be done now, just to jiffle. And we'll slip on out the ramp. Oh, though we're looking at your bungalow, Bill. The anti-place they fixed for you. Yeah, they got the old cute, ain't they? Electric kitchen, lots of Indian trophies, fitted it up for moving picture stars instead of an old cowboy like me. I got all I need right here, Wiley, right in this old rumble seat. And it's sort of private, you know. At least I can see who's coming at me. OK, we'll take it. You ready, Bill? Yeah, coming right along. Wiley, now you just sprawl yourself out here in the car. Take a snooze, boy. Cover your face up with a newspaper. Nobody can tell whether you're awake or not. I'd do it all the time. As we all know, Will Rogers met Wiley post in Seattle, where they began their flight to Alaska. At Fairbanks, they set the plane down to refuel and chat with the head of the airport. And you know, I wish you'd see it. This gets made at home, Joe. It's a bandy fox piece, Bill. Sure, I will. I think you two ought to wait over another day or so, Bill, till the weather clears. Just got a report of fog all along your route up the Point Barrel. And it's registering 45 below now. Oh, that's OK, Joe. If I tell you if we'll meet bad weather, we'll just set her down, see, and open up a can of chili. We'll throw party till it clears, won't we, Wiley? Ah, yeah. I can't hear you, Bill. Everything's all right to start when you're ready to go. Well, Wiley's kind of a cow-cooled, Joe, in conversation. None of it going to bother you being too long. Anyhow, Joe, shoot this package off, and boy, much obliged. I seem to get off right away, Bill. All right, Bill. OK, here we go, off for somewhere. Goodbye, Joe. Had a fine time here. See you the next time we're around this way. Goodbye, Bill. Bye, Wiley. Good luck. I smell of that, Joe. I guess you put it in there like everyone, don't you, Bill? Well, Wiley, I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I never met a man I didn't like. To make his fellow men happy, he spoke simple, homely truths. His lance was clear, straight thinking, his opponent's shield, sham, and pretence. Today, Will Rogers has two shrines, one of stone and bronze standing on a windswept hill near his hometown of Claremont, Oklahoma, the other in the hearts of his fellow men. Oh, Gabriel Heter with a story of chemistry. Let me tell you tonight about a story of chemistry I found in a recent headline, termites eating up flaws of public building. And back of an alarming headline, here's what I found. An enemy boring away night and day eating wood and digesting it too. Up and down America, it goes on night and day. Termites taking alarming toll each year, leaving behind a trail of damage and destruction. Measured in dollars, an estimated damage of $40 million every year. But DuPont research chemists, wood preservation experts, they went to work, and their collaboration produced a chemical which made wood unfit to eat, but even better fitted for man's use. And any self-respecting termite just had to pass it up. Out of a wonderland of chemistry, chromated zinc chloride. And here's a quick roll call of what it does in addition to robbing termites of their dinner. It prevents dry rot or decay caused by rot-producing fungi. These, incidentally, do even more damage than termites. It makes wood fire resistant, the most amazing of all. Actual tests have shown when lumber has been treated by chromated zinc chloride. It will last from three to 10 times as long as untreated lumber. Another product for treating wood has just been announced by DuPont. It's called New Improved Lignisand. The result of 10 years' research. A new chemical which you probably will never see, yet it will save America's lumber industry millions of dollars by protecting lumber against an ugly discoloration called sap stain. And lumber will come to you bright and clean. Living evidence, ladies and gentlemen, of chemical research. It works night and day for everybody's well-being. Night and day, billions, trillions of insects take a fearful toll, destroying crops and gardens, carry disease and rob us all in some way. Japanese beetles, house flies, the coddling moth, just to mention a few. I saw them all at the DuPont experimental station in screened cages and working day in and day out to find quicker, cheaper, better ways to destroy them for DuPont chemists working for your well-being and mine. That's what is meant by the DuPont pledge, better thing for better living through chemistry. Next week at the same time, DuPont again presents the Cavalcade of America. A pretty girl is like a melody from Ziegfeld Follies of 1919. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.