 transcribed mother is Maxwell house the best coffee in the whole world well your father says so and your father knows best father knows best transcribed in Hollywood starring Robert Young his father a half-hour visit with your neighbors the Anderson brought to you by Maxwell house the coffee that's bought and enjoyed by more people than any other brand of coffee at any price Maxwell house always good to the last drop conversation is a peculiar art and probably the only one divided into genders there is for example male conversation such as an earnest intelligent discussion of politics or science then there is female conversation such as Millicent mergetroids latest hairdo and the restraining influence of the two-way stretch when it comes to universal conversation however there is one item that stands head and shoulders above the rest that's why perhaps we find the Anderson's male and female large and small gathered in the kitchen and diving headlong into a discussion on the world's most popular subject food like this I tell you Margaret that's the trouble with the world today we're digging a grave with our teeth yes dear it's an established fact that food is killed more people than anything else in the world yeah but what a way to die but well holy cow dad you have to eat not the way you do he eats like a pig okay Kathy just you wait that's all that's what Betty said never mind not had don't drag me into it but you said Kathy I was referring to the things we eat rather than the manner in which we eat them don't pigs eat hamburgers that isn't the point don't see mommy I imagine they would if they had the chance then buddy it's like a pig dad do I have to stand here of course not sit there holy cow now if I may continue with what I was saying Jim don't you think we better start from the beginning what do you mean from the beginning well you just don't come up with a statement like that out of a clear sky a statement like what we eat too much that isn't what I said what I said is do you realize that over 90% of the people today eat food that is lacking in lezithin cholesterol and other substances necessary to the maintenance of proper health Jim well do you we don't even know what they are there you see I wouldn't eat him if I did know what they were of course you would you eat them every day I thought you said we didn't I said you don't eat enough of them enough of what foods containing lezithin and cholesterol Margaret haven't you been listening of course dear with baited breath the foods we generally eat overcooked vegetables potatoes steaks chops when would dinner be ready in about 10 minutes yeah certainly smells delicious serves you right I've told you a million times not to snoop around the stove when I'm trying to work well I just wanted to what were we talking about you were talking about food and why people over 90 shouldn't have anything I never said anything like that I said 90% of the people shouldn't have any 90% of the people today don't eat properly because they use their fingers for a pusher because they eat food that doesn't have the proper nutritional value Jim are you trying to say that I'm not giving you and the children the proper sort of food oh no honey I well we have three normal healthy children of course we do and we don't need any of that let's get thin and clutter all lezithin and cholesterol whatever it is and if you aren't satisfied with the way I go Margaret you're misunderstanding the whole thing I never said the children weren't healthy if Kathy was any healthier we'd all have to move out well good gravy the way she tears around I am merely trying to point out that the American people are eating themselves into oblivion where's that Kathy go wash your face I just did wash it again go ahead dear she wears every time there's an argument I have to go wash my face there isn't any argument I'm really telling your mother about a book well finally what kind of a book dad all you have to do is mention something around here and everybody thinks it's an argument no no one said anything about an argument Jim Kathy did what kind of a book dad she very distinctly said we were having an argument don't pay any attention to her father she just doesn't like to wash your face that's no reason for her to accuse me of starting an argument what kind of an argument dad what I mean what kind of a book dad what kind of book I don't know Jim won't you please start from the beginning honey what is all this nonsense about food and books it isn't nonsense Margaret it's a very good book called learn to live and like it matter of fact it's brilliant Betty please turn the heat down on the potatoes you bet Dr. Milford Clark is one of America's leading authorities on dietary deficiencies and he proves conclusively that civilized people don't know how to eat you mean he would rather we ate our food under the table and on it I mean honey have you ever used fenugreek seeds fennel what fenugreek seeds you use them for cooking not in this house well there's no need to get upset there's nothing horrible about them what are they fenugreek seeds that's an herb containing choline ellipotropic substance used clinically to dissolve deposits of cholesterol so what else is new but if you'd listen a little more and talk a little less you might learn something about seeds about a lot of things there wasn't any argument how do you like my face now it's fine it's probably one of the finest faces I've ever seen why daddy ask him about the upper Creek seeds but you told everybody else Kathy why don't you go wash your hands I just got through go ahead Kathy gee whiz some day I wash once too often and I'll disappear Jim what did Dr. Clark and the who's he what seeds have to do with us they are not who's he what seeds they're fenugreek seeds oh I beg your pardon how could I possibly be so stupid and they've got plenty to do with us fenugreek seeds are the basis of the diet Dr. Clark is going to explain at the Chamber of Commerce dinner oh that's who he is who is he well let's not rush things angel we'll get our information one step at a time if we live that long now see here bud Kathy I thought I told you to wash your hands but I just remembered they got washed while I was doing my face Margaret leave the child alone Jim she isn't getting anything any more confused than it always is I didn't even say anything who has dear would you like to tell us about Dr. Clark or shall we finish our game of 20 questions I don't know why you're making all this fuss about a perfectly simple little thing I swear I don't Dr. Clark is the guest of honor at the dinner Saturday night and I have to introduce him that's all there is to it so you read his book that's right sounds more like you swallowed it all right bud that does it from now on the bell excuse me dad I have to come back here but it's the front door and I have to I said come back here but you always told me I'm supposed to drop everything when the front door that he was at the front door like a good girl but if I don't I have certain little things to discuss go ahead kitten yeah yeah now mr. James Anderson junior Jim I don't think I can stand this another minute will you please finish about dr. Clark I'd rather finish about my wisecracking son I'll be glad to wait dad well dr. Clark is a friend of mr. Edwards the president of the Chamber of Commerce right and he has a diet which he claims will add 20 years to the normal span of a man's life mr. Edwards dr. Clark oh so they figured that the dinner would be a good place to show what a wonderful diet it is he asked me if I'd be willing to say a few words of introduction dr. Clark did no honey mr. Edwards did go ahead there that's all there is to it except that it's a wonderful diet with fina group seeds then a Greek seeds I didn't say anything good you see the doctor explains in his book that life is maintained in direct ratio to the lack of obesity in man now a diet of raw food such as kale cabbage raw egg yolk olive oil and liver fat will tend to discourage any inclination toward overeating and how and he claims it was the cleaner mr. Manassian no doctor you brought back your tuxedo do you want me to take it upstairs Jim you didn't have that horrible old thing cleaned again there's nothing horrible about it but we agreed the last time that you needed a new one and if you keep going to these dinners what's the matter hold it up Kathy yes mommy well something wrong no it looks fine that's what I told you all it needed was a good cleaning should I take it upstairs I'll take it kitten I want to see if he moved the button far enough Jim there's any connection between moving a button and dr. Clark's reducing diet is there it isn't a reducing diet Margaret it's a health diet and I certainly think that after 15 years I have a right to have a button move yes dear it isn't that I'm putting on any weight it's just that after it's been cleaned so much it what's the matter dad can't you get it button I can button it fine he just can't breathe that's all Jim I told you there's nothing wrong with the tuxedo you must have moved the button the wrong way sure but I was agreeing with you dad he moved the button the wrong way that's what I meant it looks real pretty doesn't it daddy yes it well let's forget about the tuxedo for the time being getting back to dr. Clark oh dear I think we'll all be much better did you say something honey Jim you're not going on a reducing diet are you Margaret I told you it is not a reducing diet naturally it keeps you in condition but it's not a reducing diet you won't be able to stay on a two minutes kale and cabbage and draw eggs I think we'll all do very well on dr. Clark's diet Jim I oh holy cow dad you don't expect us to eat that stuff what stuff liver fat the very least we can do is try Angel we have three growing children and they'll grow healthier and live longer on dr. Clark's diet they'll learn to live and like it jumping creepers raw egg yolk and since there's no time like the present we'll start with dinner you mean this dinner now right now you're not going to Jim I have the entire meal prepared I know honey but you've got to be firm with these things I spent a whole day fixing your favorite meatloaf and when you eat low and scallop potatoes Margaret when you decide on a thing like this you've got to go through with it and we're all going on the dr. Clark diet first thing in the morning the Anderson home tomorrow night hmm well fenugreek seeds are no fenugreek seeds you can bet there's one mealtime pleasure the Andersons will never give up and that's the enjoyment of coffee really good coffee in other words our Maxwell house and you know there's a whole world of difference between rich truly satisfying Maxwell house coffee and just coffee the difference is that wonderful good to the last drop flavor a flavor no other coffee has ever matched a flavor that belongs to Maxwell house alone now the reason no other coffee tastes like Maxwell house is that no other coffee is made like Maxwell house you see coffee beans grow all over the world and there are countless grades and varieties of them but on the mile high plateaus of Latin America there grow a few rare choice kinds of coffee beans rich in flavor bursting with goodness and it is these extra flavorful varieties that first and foremost are chosen for our Maxwell house blend for example fancy Manizales coffees are selected for fragrant mellowness superb medallins for extra richness choice bucaramangas coffees for fine full body yes it is these fine vintage coffees blended in just the right proportions that create that world famous good to the last drop flavor a flavor so good that more people buy and enjoy our Maxwell house coffee than any other brand at any price so how about it for the most in downright coffee drinking enjoyment try our Maxwell house won't you it's the one the only coffee that's always good to the last drop a day has passed since last we saw the Anderson's one day 22 minutes 14 seconds and three meals it's dinner time again and once more the family has gathered about the festive board the table is piled high with all sorts of tasty things raw carrots celery kale cabbage well it isn't exactly festive I guess but they're certainly bored like this mother what is it Betty is my nose twitching I don't think so dare why I feel just like a rabbit you look like a rabbit do I that's your brother's idea of a joke kitten have another carrot Jimmy Woody says if you eat rabbit food you get big ears that's very interesting what let's have it oh it isn't anything dad I was just thinking of a rabbit's tail we sure look funny never mind but wouldn't we I don't want to look like a rabbit you know it's an amazing thing a genius like dr. Clark devotes entire life to the development of a diet but you'd rather take the word of a nine-year-old pipsqueak like Jimmy Woody I beg your pardon a ten-year-old pipsqueak father how long do we have to eat these horrible things that's not the proper attitude Betty in two or three weeks we'll get used to the Clark diet we'll get along fine in two or three weeks we'll be dead but if you aren't happy with your dinner yes have some raw egg yolk Betty it's bad enough eating raw cabbage Jim you might not believe this but I went to three markets this afternoon and they were all fresh out of fenugreek seeds you know somehow I get the impression that you weren't particularly fond of this diet why Jim whatever made you think of thing like that you don't seem to realize that this is a very serious matter who doesn't do you know what dr. Clark says he says that the American diet contains such a large percentage of residue and alkaline minerals that the ratio of carbohydrates is shockingly disproportionate what does that mean I don't know but it certainly makes you stop and think doesn't it doesn't make me stop and think but this is a diet not a miracle Jim take fats for example what do we know about fats may I please be excused no did you know if she's finished with her dinner why can't you be excused because this is very interesting did you know that the digestibility of fats depends upon one the melting point to whether or not it's uponifies properly and three to what degree it resists the digestive ferments well did you I didn't you see now may I be excused as you grow older you'll find all this very important if I don't get some food I'm not gonna get any older what was that oh I I said now that summer is almost over it's sure getting colder yes sir it sure is may I have my coffee please thank you the trouble with the people in this family is that they don't want to learn anything all they care about are strapless evening gowns and gasoline scooters and hamburgers thank you kitten and hamburgers now may I be excused Kathy you're a sensible little girl wouldn't you like to hear what dr. Clark has to say about Corinth my it's certainly getting late isn't it Margaret I'd better get started on the dishes or we'll be here all night but I don't hurry there you just sit there and enjoy your coffee while we do the dishes are you coming Betty it is my turn oh excuse me father I have to help mother with the dishes want me to try please come along can't I do something sure you can keep father company we won't be very long dear oh don't worry about us I'm going to tell Kathy all about Corinth you do that you see kitten currents or dried seedless grapes in contrast to dry seedy grapes are poor in water 79.1% but close the door yes ma'am naturally that's what oh what a relief what's the matter with dad doesn't he feel well he feels fine but it's just that well he becomes so interested in the people he has to introduce these dinners that he gets carried away he should be but that's not very respectful I'm sorry but good grief mom why should we have to eat all that junk just because he's interested it's all good healthy food dear it won't do you the least bit of harm it won't do me any good either phonograph seeds mother what if he had to introduce a fan dancer would we have to run around Betty really dear well then why do we have to eat rabbit food we're not going to we're going to put an end to this foolishness once and for all how do we do that we're going to get rid of your father's tuxedo what's the tuxedo got to do with it father said it wasn't a reducing diet we're all on this horrible diet because your father's tuxedo won't button I still don't get it but your father's had that same tuxedo for 15 years and he just won't admit that he's put on a little weight but he said he do you like eating that rabbit food of course not but what's up doc no all right then you've both got to help me get rid of that miserable tuxedo mother you've always said well gosh if dad really likes it my bread don't forget to order some liver fat for tomorrow all right dear what do you want us to do we won't have to shoot anybody will we very simple we're just going to make a few alterations but we don't know how to alter a tuxedo I know and when we get through no one will be able to fix it how's that gonna get us off the diet we're going to rip that old tuxedo to shreds and your father will have to buy a new one one that fits him oh then we'll see how long he worries about whether or not his food saponifies mom what if he finds out he won't find out but if he does oh well I can always move in with Janie Liggett don't forget we're going to fix it mom maybe we but well dear have you and Kathy fixed up our menu for tomorrow I was just telling her about the horrible things eating can do to your hemoglobin oh I don't think we ever ought to eat again well you don't have to go that far kitten well thank goodness for that a bud yes ma'am why don't you run upstairs and get your father's tuxedo like a good boy okay what does he want to do that for I'll bring it right down there honey I don't need we're going to fix it for you father but it doesn't need fixing of course it does all it needs is to have the button move Jim having the button moved isn't going to make the shoulders any looser but are you gonna loosen daddy's shoulders we're gonna loosen everything Margaret there isn't any reason but why can't you learn to walk down the stairs I thought you were in a hurry for what I'm not going anywhere all right dear slip it on I don't want to slip it on Jim honey you don't know anything about altering tuxedos well of course I do put it on there mommy fixes my dresses all the time dresses are different this is a job for a tailor I mean all it needs is to have the button move there you see Betty it's much too tight across the shoulders isn't it it's tight other places too Margaret if I just stay on this angel the dinner is tomorrow night and no diet is going to make that coat fit in 24 hours but all it needs we'll have to let out the seam in the back go ahead bud what open the seam in the back honey turn around Jim honey if you're all right bud like this doesn't that feel better it certainly looks better are you sure you know what you're doing quite sure dear now the seams on the side well take it easy will you bud okay dad I'll get the one over here Betty you're tearing it I am why can't I hear something later angel now honey don't you think you've done enough to this poor coat not quite but I think we ought to remove the sleeves what for we'll explain the whole thing some other time dear go ahead children oh bud will you Margaret they've ruined the whole stop it Betty you didn't have to pull the pocket off it looked a little tight honey look at this thing you'll never be able to fix it it does look a little ragged doesn't it I'll see who's at the door look what she did with this pocket she ripped the whole front of the coat want me to rip the pockets in the bottom daddy you keep away from me I didn't do anything I don't know what got into you any of you now I'll have to buy a new tuxedo oh dear isn't that too bad we're awfully sorry father you sound awfully sorry dad it's mr. Minasian the cleaner what do he want come on in mr. Minasian thank you mr. Anderson I was just something happened I don't know I think my whole family's gone a little nuts but I didn't do anything daddy you didn't have to mr. Minasian you're a tailor do you think you can fix my tuxedo your tuxedo doesn't need fixing it what that's what I came to tell you last night by mistake I brought you Hector Smith's tuxedo oh no all that mealtime misery was caused by a case of mistaken identity well you can't blame father too much after all tuxedo's do look pretty much alike and come to think of it the woman of the house has a very similar problem consider coffee for example there are so many brands how's a gal to know which one has the most in flavor well just remember this in this nation of coffee lovers more people buy and enjoy our Maxwell house coffee than any other brand at any price why because it's the only coffee with that wonderful good to the last drop flavor this weekend then start enjoying our Maxwell house savor that satisfying taste of contentment in every fragrance steaming cup you'll say Maxwell house has the flavor for you and your family as for value well just count all the truly good cups you get from each pound you'll know Maxwell house is today's coffee buy so for the most in flavor the most in value look for the sign of good coffee the big white cup and drop on the familiar blue tin of Maxwell house take home the one coffee that's always good to the last drop another day has rolled away in the chamber of commerce dinner has gone down in history not however without a late evening report to his family by the toast master general mr. James Anderson senior like this yes sir it was a very unusual dinner very unusual did they have fenugreek seeds they had everything and dr. Clark told hector how did hector like his new tuxedo dear he liked it fine anyway dr. Clark told hector did it cost very much father let's not go into that now dr. Clark said did dr. Clark look like a rabbit happy will you please you know come to think of it he did well as long as mrs. Clark is happy of course he made a great deal of sense he explained how practically every human ailment can be traced directly to improper dietary habits and the health dinner we had tonight excuse me dad would you like to split the last hamburger with me that's a good idea may I have a mustard please here you are father thank you have a little more pick a lily dad all right where was I dr. Clark's dinner oh well we started with raw cabbage soaked in olive oil and then we had some stewed kale seasoned with fenugreek seeds and you know it's a funny thing about those seeds you never even know I'm next on the doughnuts can't explain that you chop them up real fine add them just a kale is coming to a board join us again next week when we'll be back with father knows best starring Robert Young is Jim Anderson with Roy Bargy and the Maxwell House Orchestra in our cast where Ted Donaldson is Bud Dorothy Lovett Rota Williams Norma Jean Nielsen and yours truly Bill Foreman so until next Thursday good night and good luck from the makers of Maxwell House America's favorite brand of coffee always good to the last drop father knows best was transcribed in Hollywood and written by Ed James join mr. Keen tracer of lost persons tonight on NBC