 to send the very best. Visual true story on the Hallmark Halls. Welcome to the Hallmark Hall of Fame, where we offer you true stories about real people. Man observes the earth and the heavens and all they contain and asks, what are these things? What laws govern them? Occasionally, these questions are partially answered and we become that much more than masters of our environment. Now, one of those who added to that mastery was Benjamin Franklin. And tonight, we're going to tell you a delightful true story about Franklin when he was really the misunderstood man. Now, here is Frank Goss from the makers of Hallmark cards. Have you ever wondered why it's so easy to find a Hallmark card that says what you want to say just the way you want to say it? Well, let me tell you the reason. The makers of Hallmark cards are aware of the important part greeting cards play in your social life, of the lengths of friendship they represent. And so every Hallmark card is designed to meet specific standards of quality and good taste. Only the best will do for you to send to your friends. And because these standards have been maintained through the years, the hallmark and crown on the back of each card you mail means you carry enough to send the very best. Lionel Barrymore appears by arrangement with Metro Golden Mayor, producers of the Cold Porter musical Kiss Me Kate, starring Catherine Grayson, Howard Keel, and Ann Miller. And now, Mr. Barrymore brings you tonight's exciting story on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. In 1746, Ben Franklin was 40 years old. He was in business as a printer. He was also editing and publishing a weekly newspaper called The Saturday Evening Post and the yearly almanac, serving as secretary of the Pennsylvania Assembly and postmaster of Philadelphia, directing that city's first firefighting body and first public library, both of which he had personally founded, studying Latin, French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Greek, and perfecting his skill as a harpist, a cellist, violinist, and guitar player. And in his spare time, that summer, he fastened upon a new interest, the consequences of which are soon forthcoming. For shame, Will, for shame. You march to your father's study at once and let him deal with you. I said I'm sorry, Mother. The son of Benjamin Franklin brawling in the street like a rowdy apprentice. I struck but one brawl. That's hardly brawling, Mother. Go to your father, Will. Yes, Mother. I'm a cheek with my fist. You know, there was a breeze blowing. The waters became smooth. The glass blower was fashioning bottles. There's a west pond there. Not to resort to violence in the future. But, Father! You actually spilled the waters by waving a staff over them? And far more delighted. So I didn't let anyone see that my staff was hollow and filled with oil. I simply uncorked it with oil over the pot. A piece of paper on my desk and a little scraps, and I'll show you something that will astonish you. Yes, sir. Not to sponge and form me, then. The term electricity I mentioned. Shall I do that for you, Father? Now, various objects, when briskly rubbed like this, acquire a mysterious force, invisible, untouchable, until now inexplicable. Leap from the desk to the amber. Most interesting, sir. To astonish. Condensed as it were. A very specially prepared bottle that is, like this one, which was invented in Leiden, Holland. I suppose people who tell the truth are often pummeled by those who know no better. As well observe, Marble, to sweet a dinner this evening. Now, as a wizard, I command you to vanish and leave me to my studies. Closest friends joined him in his experiments with this electric fluid. They discovered it would travel through water and through ice. Then it could make loose threads writhe and curl like angry snakes. They're that appointed body, such as a knife tip, more effectively attracts the electric fluid than a rounded body, such as the handle of that same knife. And in the spring of 1749... Gentlemen, summer is at hand with its oppressive heat. I suggest we suspend our experiments until autumn. That's quite fascinating. But I'm chagrined that, as yet, we've been unable to produce anything useful. That's quite fascinating. We've been unable to produce anything useful to people. We could have mused them. Suppose we have a picnic and electrical picnic. We'll invite our friends and show them how we can kill a turkey by electrical shock. And kindle the fire with a lightened bottle and roast the bird with an electrical spit. Agreed. Tell me you'll have no more to do with this electric... Many storms. Franklin watched the lightning crackle across the sky. One morning, the 6th of June, his son came to him in a study. It was like too much of an exertion. Mm-hmm. Once when I was your age, I swam down the river without exerting myself in the least. I lay on my back and let a kite act as a sail and perform his face when he saw me glide past, propelled by a sail higher than a steeple. He would... My niece was in college, wrote a note to me which said, in essence, Uncle Frank, I've just discovered two new kinds of hallmark Christmas cards. Terrific cards that are really different. The Slim Jims and the High Cards. Why don't you talk about them one of these Sunday nights? Well, by this time, I'm sure many of you are already familiar with these bright new Christmas cards. The Hallmark Slim Jim cards are as distinctive as can be because each one is tall and narrow. A Slim Jim card is sure to stand out among all the other cards your friends receive. First, when it arrives in the mail and then when it's placed on a mantel or a table. As for the Hallmark High Cards, their casual and gay just as the name implies. Each High Card is especially designed to say Merry Christmas in a warm, amusing way. You'll find both Slim Jims and High Cards. Among the many Hallmark Christmas cards you can select individually from the displays at fine stores. And you can count on it. The Hallmark and Crown on the back of each one will to send the very best. Barrymore brings you the second act of the story of Benjamin Franklin. King of France sent him a letter of praise, the Royal Society of London sent him a gold medal, Harvard University gave him a degree and so did Yale and William & Mary. Ben Franklin appreciated these honors but as a practical man he sought to make his discovery useful as well as illuminating. And that is where the trouble began. We could save in addition to the thousands even millions the invention of the lightning rod. But it was still unknown to Ben's neighbors. It was several nights later. Preventing another will have something else. Steady, steady, steady, steady. The fighting company he personally founded. Seeking support he turned to the administrator of the public library. He had himself started. To understand that I have given your request for support the most serious consideration. Philadelphia there isn't a book concerned with lightning, not a pamphlet, not a track, not a newspaper article which I have not read, the better to understand your proposal. Well I can assure you there is no danger. I can deflect the lightning. Yes I'm certain you can but what gives me pause is the question should you? Why are you serious? Should I save life and property? I consider the attempted man, mere man to ward off lightning as immoral. I might even say blasphemous. It is not for us, but for a higher power to decide these matters. And in guiding me to the lightning rock was there no higher power? My mind is made up. And so despite the fact that he'd been honored by kings and wise men, despite his reputation for sagacity and public service, Ben Franklin was summoned by the governor of the colony. Now then Mr. Franklin, I've heard these numerous complaints. Splash will be against you. All these accusations have missed. Speak up, sir. The complaints and accusations are founded upon ignorance and fear. Ignorance? Who would know more about the harmfulness of lightning than that same company of volunteers which fights the fires it sets? Or the learned men who have to study advise me that to draw lightning down upon us is to invite disaster? No Mr. Franklin, it won't do. Say no more. Take this pleasure, say not another word of your pointy, metal shaft. Salamence! He's considered the matter settled once and for all. But Ben Franklin took another view of it. However, he didn't argue the point. He never indulged in needless controversy. Mr. Franklin, sir, I've done reading proof on this year's edition of the Almanac. There's no errors, sir. Ah, good, good. We'll start fronting poor Richard at once. Do you like this one? Oh, I think it's one of the best, sir. Richard's sayings are especially sharp and to the point. Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn and know other. I like that, Mr. Franklin. Thank you. That's not at all bad, is it? Well, I'll get to work, Jamie. Run off 10,000 copies. Well? Well, sir, there's one thing that troubles me. You advise people right here on page 11 that they can prevent lightning from striking themselves and their property by putting up lightning rods. And then you tell them how to do it. The governor forbade you to say a word more about it. Ah, so he did. But he said nothing about my printing it. As the saying goes, Jamie, there's more than one way to skin a cat. And the common people in their wisdom had faith in Ben Franklin. They raised a protective forest of lightning rods. Tens of thousands of them. Almost no time. Many of those who did not suffered for it. For, as poor Richard says, If you will not hear reason, she'll surely wrap your knuckles. Is lightning rods still saving lives and property across America today? Just one of his many great contributions to the world in which we live. Now, next week, we're going to honor a great American of today. A daring airman who was the first man to travel faster than the world. The first man to travel faster than sound. His real life adventure makes one of the most thrilling stories I've ever heard. Well, or more about Major Charles Yeager of the United States Air Force in just a moment. Frank Gross here has a few hints about how you can make your Christmas gifts doubly appreciated. You know, it's often the little extra acts of thoughtfulness we do at Christmas time that make it the wonderful season it is. The extra time we take to find just the right presents, the extra care we take in wrapping them so they'll delight the receiver from the moment they're given. Now, one of the easiest ways I know to give each of your gifts a special personal look is to select your gift wrap accessories at a store where hallmark cards are sold. You'll find a sparkling collection to choose from, beautiful papers and eye-catching colors with tags and seals to match. Yes, and here's a suggestion from the hallmark gift wrapping artist. Keep the size of your boxes in mind when you shop. Choose tiny prints for tiny boxes and big bowl prints for the largest gifts of all. And for variety, try using hallmark gift trims on some of your gifts. They're the three-dimensional trims you can attach to the tops or sides of boxes in a jiffy for an extra touch of glamour. You'll know hallmark gift wraps and trims instantly by the hallmark and crown on the package. It's the familiar symbol you look for on your greeting cards when you carry enough to send the very best. And I'll hear again as Lionel Barrymore. Oh, thank you. Thank you, Frank. Thank you very much. Oh, yes, I want to ask all of you if you've seen the two-page ad for hallmark cards in this week's Life Magazine. Well, if you haven't, I hope you'll look for it. Because I think you'll find it has some very interesting facts and stories about the lives of some of our world-famous artists like Grandma Moses and Saul Steinberg and Norman Rockwell and writers, too, like Dr. Norman Vincent Peele. Yes, there's a little story about the famous people who designed or wrote for the new hallmark Hall of Fame collection of Christmas cards. So do read about them in this week's issue of Life Magazine. Frank, now tell us a little about our very special event on next week's Hallmark Hall of Fame when we were on a major Charles Yeager, the first man to travel faster than sound. Next week we present on the Hallmark Hall of Fame one of the most exciting true stories of our time, the thrilling story of man flying faster than sound is unparalleled in real life or in fiction. The suspenseful drama of man's courage and daring in the face of the unknown is best described by quoting the words of Major Yeager himself. Any man who's ever been engaged in experimental flying knows what it is to be scared. He hopes everything will go just the way it's supposed to, but he doesn't know for sure until he climbs in his ship and tries it. So be sure to be with us next week when Major Yeager will be here to actually tell you this exciting and gripping true story. Remember, you're also invited to the Hallmark Hall of Fame on television every Sunday starring the Sarah Churchill. Until next week then, this is Lionel Barrymore saying good night. Look for Hallmark cards that are sold only in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service. Remember a Hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best. Our producer-directors, William Gay, are scripted tonight by Walter Brown Newman. Benjamin Franklin was played by John McIntyre, featured in our cast, Jeanette Nolan, Suppy Singer, Holly Bear, Herb Butterfield, Howard McNeer and Johnny McGovern. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you until next week at the same time when we'll tell you the actual story of Major Charles Yeager and his flight through the Sound Barrier. The week after that, we'll tell you about the founder of the famous piece award, Alfred Nobel, and on December 20th we'll again present Mr. Lionel Barrymore's traditional appearance as Scrooge and Charles Dickens are Christmas Carol on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. This is KMBC, Kansas City, Missouri.