 suspense And the producer of radio is outstanding theater of thrills the master of mystery and adventure William and Robeson did you know that the Stanley steamer is the fastest automobile ever made it is theoretically at least Nobody ever determined its top speed because it had a tendency to blow up first All of which is by way of background for the upcoming story of suspense Listen listen then as mr. John McIntyre stars in the big day Which begins one minute from now? I have never read a collection of American folklore which had a section devoted solely to the downtrodden commuter But there should be there are legends galore about the miseries of these poor folk For example, there was this train in Idaho that was a might slow Once an impatient passenger asked the conductor why the train had stopped There's a cow on the track. He said we have to chase her away a Little later when the train stopped again the passenger roared now. What's wrong? Oh? Said the conductor serenely we just caught up with that cow again Folklore belongs to every nation's legendary past and I guess we Americans have our share of some good ones Like the one about ha ha, but we'll have to say that one for the next time we travel your way see you then and now Mr.. John McIntyre in the big day a tale well calculated to keep you in Suspense What's it say on the gauge Albert looks like about four pounds and maybe four and a half not enough You won't run on four and a half pounds of steam pressure. That's for sure I can't see what difference it would make if she did run Sam. You wouldn't take her anywhere Just sit here in the garage like you've been doing every day since I can remember and steam her up and not go anywhere Now how come you just steam her up and don't go anywhere in there Sam does the right time hasn't come along yet? That's why you put new wheels on her and new racing tires And you made me paint that crazy number 61 on the side, but you'll never take her out Albert I'm getting tired of you sitting there asking me why I never do this and why I never do that I'm going to tell you once more what I've been telling you over and over I put the new wheels and tires on her because I'll need them when the right time gets here and it's coming Albert It's coming sooner than you think you're gonna write her up to heaven on judgment day Sam You're gonna steam her up and drive your bright red Stanley up into the sky. Is that what you're gonna do Sam? That's very funny Albert very funny. No, I'm not gonna drive her up to heaven on judgment day I'm gonna drive her where she belongs out in the open Not on the road where she can get up a full head of steam and show everybody what she can really do gonna show up all the modern cars Hey Sam. Yeah, but I Know I'm wasting my time talking to you just like I waste my time talking to that son of mine But 50 years ago 50 years ago in 1907 a Stanley steamer was wrecked going a hundred and ninety miles an hour. Oh now come off It's in the book a hundred and ninety miles an hour and she would have done better if she hadn't come apart I'll bet the fellow that was driving her came apart too. Yeah, what's the car's fault? Followers driving her just didn't know how to handle steam, but you do I do When the day gets here, I'll show you you and ma on that son of mine and everyone else who think gasoline is the only Kind of fuel for a car Only reason the steamer isn't on the streets now is because the big oil companies bought them out bought them out to keep The steamer off the streets But it'll be different when I take this one out. Oh, sure and the time is sooner than you think Albert a lot sooner than you think Now get up there and pump Albert. Let's get a real head of steam on her and see what she sounds like In just a moment, it'll be time for the 530 news but first here's a word from our sponsor Friends, how long has it been since you felt good? Junior junior. Yes, mom. Where's pop the news is coming on He wants to hear the qualifying times from the racetrack. I'll call him I think he and mr. Fellows are out in the garage. Well, tell him the news is on he'll be mad if he misses it But there he is mom coming in the back door News on yet. Yeah, I was just gonna call you and you get to the speed trials at Indianapolis yet No, they haven't finished the important news yet important. What's more important? I'd like to know than the names and times of the drivers who qualified for the Indianapolis 500 this week Well, why in the world are you so interested in the races this year, Sam? I've always been interested in the Memorial Day race and you know it But why the interest in the times and what kind of cars they're driving and all that you always listen to the race on race day But what this year you act like you're driving in it yourself, huh in a steamer, maybe huh? And what's so funny about that? He could take any one of those gasoline engine cars make them look like they were standing still Come on pot. That's Stanley yours was made in 1917 Just because you put a lot of new stuff on her like racing tires and modern wheels Well putting her on a track with a modern race car It'll be like putting a workhorse against iron Leeds at the derby son. Let me ask you something sure How old are you? 17 how long have you been driving a car three years legally? Almost a year. All right Now I've been driving cars almost as long as they've had them and I happen to know a little more about the Stanley steamer than you do And I know a little more about gas engines than you do son. Don't you talk back to your father? I'm not talking back to a mom I just said your mom heard what you said son and I can tell you this if I could get that steamer of mine out Where it could get a good start. I could whip any one of those fancy streamline jobs. They got back at Indianapolis Oh boy, I could whip any one of them and I could make them eat my steam Sam Sometimes I wonder where your mind is now stop arguing about something that's impossible and listen to the news while I get dinner It's not impossible at one of these days. I'll show you it's not impossible big deal Maybe that day is sooner than you think. What do you say to that? Well, I say you either sit down and listen to the news or go in and clean up for supper That's what I say and I say the Stanley steamer is the fastest thing on wheels That's what I say anybody want to know what I say no That's what I thought you'd say Bring the extension cord around the front of her Albert hang it over on the nail I'm trying to get it over the hood Sam, but don't drag it across her you want to scratch up the paint I don't want to do anything but go home Sam. Millie's gonna give me a bad time if I don't get home early She thinks you're down at the church again tonight Well, I told her I was painting the white lines on the basketball court trouble is I told her I was doing that last night Well, tell her it's a big court. Hold that light over here so as we can get a look at these maps Sure got enough of them and got them down at the auto club Little nice about giving them to me too. Didn't even ask me what I want them for what do you want them for Sam? Where do I want them for I want them to lay out a course a course of what? Albert when you lay out a course. It isn't a course of something. It's a course to somewhere. Oh, where? Well, that's what we're going to figure out tonight Hold the light over this way a bit. Let's take a look at this map here, California San Diego to San Francisco that's the one we want. Well, this is Los Angeles Sam. I know Let's see highway 101 runs from here to San Diego Huh too many little towns not far enough anyway. Millie has an aunt lives down in San Diego 99 if you went straight up 99 towards Sacramento you'd bypass solgis new hall And you don't hit anything really big until Bakersfield I had a friend once lived in Bakersfield and out of Bakersfield is Wasco Delano to Larry Fresno And a road run straight and level hand me that the ruler there. Will you help me? Yeah? Here it is Yeah, now, let's see Scale says 21 miles to the inch Fresno's about 10 inches from Los Angeles. That's 210 miles Got a long ways to go yet. Sam. I Don't know what you're gonna do with that map, but I got to go home if Millie finds out I've been spending my evenings over here in your garage fooling around with this steamer of yours She's skinned me alive. Oh, but let me tell you something. You've got nothing to worry about I got nothing to worry about with Millie You've got nothing to worry about with Millie when she finds out why you've been spending your evenings over here when she finds out When she finds out why you've been helping me with the steamer. She'll be so impressed She won't do anything but a plot Sam. I gotta go home. All right, Albert You go on home. You go home and get a good night's sleep tomorrow morning I'll let you in on a little surprise Sam. He's forgotten that tomorrow's Memorial Day or the race is on I know the races on Albert I know that you and I always listen to the Indianapolis race on the radio and tomorrow we listen to the start just like we always have Only it'll be different different. That's right. Albert different. That's the surprise. I'm talking about now You be here at 8 30 sharp 8 30 the radio doesn't even come on from the track until 9 15 You'll be here at 8 30 sharp. Well, I don't know why I've got to get here so early Albert All right, Sam if you say so I'll be here That's the way to talk you Albert. Now you go on home to Millie and leave me here at my maps and I'll see you tomorrow Yeah, yeah, well good night Sam night Albert. Don't be late because tomorrow tomorrow. Albert is the big day Oh There with sunny skies and warm clear evenings Stay tuned to this station for the started running of the great Memorial Day speed classic Well, where on earth is your pop Junior? I don't know mom Well, I guess this is one day. I don't have to worry about where he is He and Albert haven't missed the start of the Annapolis race for 15 years That's Indianapolis mom Annapolis is the Naval Academy, you know I never can remember which is which I tried last year to remember that the Indians are the ones at the racetrack and the Sailors at the other place, but it didn't work. Yeah, I remember you called it the Indian race from Annapolis Yes, your pop almost exploded like that tin can of his in the garage Don't you ever let your father here? You call that car of his a tin can It's a Stanley steamer and you know that as well as I do it's a tin can if you ask me And I could beat it in low gear in my old Jalopy pop would ever take it out on the road We take you now to the Indianapolis motor speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana for the start of the great Memorial Day speed classic The Indianapolis 500 mile race. Hello there race fans. This is Sam Peer speaking directly from the pagoda Overlooking the starting line here at Indianapolis, and it's a beautiful day for a race There are a few black clouds over Pop he'll explode if he misses the start like a tin can junior The doors Albert open the doors and stand back. You're gonna take it out Sam. Just open the doors and see okay, Sam Open Sam, okay, I stand back Hilbert. There she goes I know I know I'll bring that portable radio. Follow me out to the street. Don't stop her there. Okay, Sam You did it Sam. Yeah, took her out. Of course. I did Albert hand me that right here I'll tune her up. See if they've got the track yet They're warming their warm-up lap The race car is leaving the pits now and in a very short time the race will be under way That's about ready to go Albert. Yeah, we better get into the house that will miss the start Albert we're not gonna listen to the start in the house I'm gonna listen to the start right here on this corner. Oh, we can hear it's better in the house Sam Albert get up here on the seat with me up there on that seat in that thing That's right. Elbert get here on the seat with me I wouldn't drive around the block in that thing Sam and you know it. Elbert you're going with me I am not going with you. You're going with me or I'll tell Billy that you weren't at the church last night or the night before or the night before that I'll get up here on the seat and turn up the radio so we can hear the start Like this Sam. You're going to share an historic event with me You're going to be with me and my Stanley steamer when the starter at the track drops the starting flag in front of those racers back at Indianapolis And when that flag drops Elbert We're going to open the throttle and start with them Sam Porter. Are you crazy while they're driving around and around for 500 miles You and I and the steamer will be going up highway 99 to the town of Gridley Sam and Gridley, California is exactly 500 miles from where we are right now You're gonna race this thing 500 miles to gridley. We're going to race against those cars back at Indianapolis and we're going to win We're going to get to gridley before they get to the finish line Sam Porter, you're crazy sitting up on this steam and monster talking like a crazy man Turn up the radio Elbert. And here they come down the straight away in front of the main grandstands ladies and gentlemen and they're off the Indianapolis hang on and pump Elbert hang on and pump In a moment we continue with Suspense Do you know the social security benefits to which you will be entitled when you separate from the service and Take a civilian job Here's a tip from social security There are four times for action First when you go on a job covered by social security You need a social security card the account number shown on the card is used to keep a record of your earnings Second if a worker in your family dies and his work was covered by social security Some member of the family should ask about survivors benefits at the nearest social security office third if you're disabled before you reach 65 and have worked under social security Get in touch with the social security office. You and your dependents may be eligible for monthly checks and Finally two or three months before you reach retirement age Get in touch with a social security office if you want to keep working fine But get the facts about social security anyway. You may still be able to get benefit payments and now We continue with the big day starring mr. John McIntyre a tale well calculated to keep you in Suspense We're in the 10th lap of the race ladies and gentlemen and now here are the standings in first place car number 31 Johnny Gellin in second in car number 26 How fast we going Albert? I can't see the speedometer Sam. Too much speed. Wipe off your goggles. Bend down closer. I want to know how fast you are. We're going I think the speedometer is faster, Sam. It says 95. It's not faster, Albert. We're probably going 95. Now get on that spoke, Albert, and let's see if we can't get up a real head of steam. So far it's been a wonderful race ladies and gentlemen. Nothing to mar the thrill of life. I can't understand. 15 years he never misses a start and now all of a sudden he disappears. I called him on but he didn't answer. Well, maybe he didn't hear you. Go on out the garage and get it. And it all goes well. We interrupt the Indianapolis race for a moment to bring you a special announcement from the California Highway Patrol. This is Officer Hansen of the Highway Patrol speaking. We have just received a report that an unidentified object has been seen traveling north on Highway 99 at very high speed. We have no description other than the following. The object is bright red and seems to be emitting clouds of some vapor, perhaps steam. Oh no. It was last seen heading north on Highway 99 in the vicinity of Caswell and was traveling at great speed. Oh. A sheriff's car that gave chase lost it and called in this report. Motorists are warned to be on the lookout and to give this object the right of way if they see it. All police and sheriff's cars are on the alert and will bring you further reports as we receive them. Oh dear me, no. I'm searching out to the Indianapolis. Junior! Junior! Junior! Pop's not in the garage, Mom. And you know what? I'm afraid I do, sir. The steamer isn't there either. Junior, I know where your father is. He's out on the highway and that's... Gin can? Gin can. And he's trying to kill himself. Get me the phone, Junior. I've got to let them know. Police department, Sergeant Wall speaking. Yes? Yes? Now wait a minute. Let me get this straight here. You say you know what the bright red object is now. What bright red object? The one that's out on highway 99. The one that's going so fast. Oh, that one. Well, why didn't you say so? Now hold on a minute. I want to get this down. Charlie, get the radio open and stand by for an all-points bulletin. There's a lady on the phone that says she knows what that crazy thing is on 99. Okay, lady. Now you tell me just what it is. That's right. A what? A Stanley steamer! Where are we now, Elbert? I think we're coming up to Bakersfield. It's hard to follow the map with the steam and the wind. Bakersfield. That's over 100 miles from LA. Turn up the radio, Elbert. We'll see how far they've gone at Indianapolis. And these cars are performing like the beautiful things they are. Ha! So far, we haven't lost a car. It was completed a little over 100 laps. 250 miles. Somebody's crazy! Well, it isn't him, Sam. Now, as you know, ladies and gentlemen, it's the halfway mark. We always give the sands to the cars and their drivers. So now let's just take it... Oh, wait a minute, ladies and gentlemen. The yellow warning lights are on and that means we've got a car in trouble somewhere. I can't see too well, but I think it's... Yes, yes, there it is. Down at the far end of the grandstand straight away. There's a car against the retaining wall. It's a wreck, Sam. Shut up and pump! Yeah, I can see the driver, ladies and gentlemen. He's out of the car now and he's waving to me. He's all right. He's... Yeah, he's okay, ladies and gentlemen, but that car is in a bad place there. He'll have to keep this race running under the caution flag until they can clear it away. First, that means the cars will have to slow way down and this will reduce the race average, but, well, that's the break to the game. Come on, Albert. That's the break for us. Come up some more steam there and we'll make up some time off. Sam, this has gone far enough. I ain't got through that last town all right, although I think you scared them all half to death. But this next town is Merced, and it's a big one. Now, they've got signals that for 30 miles an hour, right through the main street. You can't go through Merced at 95 miles an hour. I figured out those signals, Albert, and we won't go through town at 95. Well, thank goodness for that. Signals set for 30, three times 30 is 90. We'll go through town at 90, flicker the whistle. Oh, no. Oh, yeah. Now get on that pump, Albert, and pump. We can't afford to lose any steam pressure at this point. We've got an average to hold. This is a special bulletin from the State Highway Patrol. The unidentified object that has been reported at various positions from Los Angeles all the way north to Merced has been identified as a bright red Stanley steamer. Police in Fresno were eluded when a roadblock they set up was bypassed unexpectedly. However, the California Highway Patrol are now setting an impassable block on Highway 99 south of Stockton, and it's expected that the fugitives will be apprehended any minute. Meanwhile, motorists using this stretch of road are urged to proceed with caution. This has been a special bulletin. She's really rolling now that we got that fresh tank of water. She is that, Sam. It took us a little out of our way, taking that alternate road up into the hills back of Stockton. And I figured we'd find a water tank back there easier than in the city. And that farmer was real nice, too. You going back into Stockton now, Sam? Nope. Figured away on the map while we were stopped up there that takes us right around her. Figured it won't take much longer, and we can miss the traffic in the city. You're pretty smart, Sam. You've got to be smart to race a steamer, Albert. Turn up the radio. See how they're doing at Indianapolis. Batteries are getting off a week, but I'll try. Now that the yellow lights are off, the cars are picking up their speed and the race is really a race again. You know, this was the longest period of time that the cars have ever had to run under the caution lights. Do, of course, the unfortunate fact that a second car ran into the truck and was tearing the wreckage of the first car and it's taken them a long, long time to get the remains off the track. But no one was hurt, so we're off again at Indianapolis. Turn it off, Albert. We have to save the batteries. There's not much left in them now. You know something, Albert? What? I'm kind of glad those races are running on the green flag again. I didn't feel right having the advantage over them all that time. Sam, you're crazy. You are plain crazy. But you know, I'm beginning to like this. This is the State Highway Patrol speaking. We have a new report on the runaway Stanley Steamer. For a while, it was thought to have mysteriously disappeared when officers, waiting in a roadblock at Stockton, reported it failed to show up. But just a short time ago, it was again reported on Highway 99 on the outskirts of Sacramento heading north. A block has been hastily erected at the town of Woodland, which is the next town along the route of the Steamer. We'll have a further report as soon as we hear from the Woodland Police. How come you cut off 99 until alternate 40, Sam? Because alternate 40 goes to Gridley in 99 dozens. You really map this thing out, huh? Eh, Albert, I've heard a lot of derogatory things said about myself from this wonderful steamer of mine, but it's never bothered me. You know why? Because you're smart, Sam? Because I knew that one of these days a big day would come along and I'd make all those people who said all those things laugh out of the other corner of their mouths. You know what, Albert? What, Sam? That day is here. When we get into Gridley, I'll have proven that what I always said was true. Turn up the radio, see how far they've gotten back in Indianapolis. Okay. Yeah, I won't turn on. At least, well, I can't get any noise out of it. Now, we won't know how we made out till we get into Gridley. How much longer do you think it'll take us, Sam? I'm getting awful tired. Ah, I bet it's half an hour. We'll get there at all, huh? She seems to be slowing down, Sam. If I'm not mistaken, we should be getting into Gridley right over the top of this hill. You mean it, Sam? You mean we're really there? We made it? I think so, Albert. We don't know in a minute. I'm sure the radio is working so we can know how we did. Well, there'll be somebody in Gridley with the radio we can ask them. Yeah. Hey, Albert, look there. Right down there at the foot of the hill. It's a town, all right, Sam? It's Gridley, Albert. Gridley in the finish line for us. Hey, looks like they're having a celebration or something. Oh, the car's all right. Maybe they've heard about it. Ah, most likely a picnic or a parade. Are you going to cross the finish line like they do back at Indianapolis? Albert, that's a great idea. We'll give them something to talk about for lunch. Going to bust up my steamer after she's run all this way. Anyway, we got to Gridley. All right. You two, now just stay where you are. Don't make no fast moves. Sam, this cop doesn't sound very friendly. That gun he's waving doesn't look very friendly either. I want you both to get down out of that steamer, Stanley steamer. Well, that thing. Just stand over there quiet. What I do is he says, Albert. Yeah. Come on. Albert. Yes, Sam? I can't get my hands loose to the steering wheel. They're stuck. Oh, his hands are stuck to the wheel, officer. Well, get them unstuck and climb down out of there. You're both under arrest. For what? If I took the time to tell you now, we'd be here all night. Now, get down. Oh, I almost forgot to ask. Sir, is this Gridley? No, this is not Gridley. This is Live Oaks. Gridley is about 10 miles further up the road. Oh, no, Albert, we lost. They came all this way so far, so fast, and we still didn't complete the 500 miles. Gosh. Say, you got a radio in your car, officer. Of course I got a radio. Can you get the station they have the Indianapolis races on? See how they finished? They didn't. They what? All them racers back at Indianapolis. They didn't finish. They stopped the race five minutes ago. Supposed to drive 500 miles, but they got rained out. They had to stop at 475. Albert, did you hear that? Albert, we beat them. They went 490 miles, and they stopped at 475. I told you the Stanley steamer of the fastest car on four wheels. Yeah, yeah. Now, wait a minute. If you don't mind, I'll ask you to get into my car and we'll take a slower ride back to police headquarters. Oh, sure, officer. And you know something, Sam? Oh, Albert. At least in his car, I won't have to hang on and pound. Suspense, in which Mr. John McIntyre starred in The Big Day, written by Sam Pierce and produced and directed by William and Robeson. Supporting Mr. McIntyre in The Big Day were Jeanette Nolan, Joda Santis, William Keneally, Henry Blair, Sam Pierce, and Dawes Butler. Listen. Listen again next week when we return with 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.