301027 - Wenatchee Apple Story

National Apple Week began in this country back in 1904. By 1930, it was virtually a holiday in the state of Washington, where the apple industry has long been among the top apple producing regions of the nation. Since 1962, the winner of the annual cross-state collegiate football rivalry between the University of Washington and Washington State University takes home the Apple Cup. Apples and Washington go hand-in-hand, and Wenatchee is arguably at the epicenter of apple production in the state. It was also a key Great Northern town. As the theme of an Empire Builders broadcast, National Apple Week was a natural. The National Apple Week program of October 28, 1929, was so popular, the railroad was swamped with requests for copies of an apple booklet mentioned on the broadcast. So one year later, the writers were hard pressed to come up with a better story than the one they concocted the first time around. On October 27, 1930, Empire Builders simply aired the same story they presented the year before.

Great Northern Railway placard promoting National Apple Week, circa 1930.
Minnesota Historical Society collection

About every two sentences or so the 1930 continuity had a little wordsmithing, compared to the 1929 story. Otherwise, the content was virtually identical. As a quick recap, the story began in New York, where Morton Leath the British playwright was discussing apples with the Old Timer. A street vendor’s apple box indicated his apples were from Wenatchee, and soon Morton and the Old Timer were on their way west to visit the Old Timer’s pal, Joe Trent, in the apple capital of the world. The musical transition at this point of the 1929 continuity specifically called for the studio orchestra to play “Dream Train,” a popular tune from 1928. The continuity for the 1930 broadcast dropped the reference to this song (perhaps “Dream Train” was becoming passé). Here’s a comparison of the directions from each of the two continuities:

_______1929_____

PLAYING “DREAM TRAIN,” WITH EXTERIOR TRAIN EFFECTS, DISTANT, RUNNING THROUGH IT. TRAIN SOUNDS ALWAYS AS BACKGROUND AND EVENLY SUSTAINED – CHOO-CHOO OF ENGINE, FAINTLY RINGING BELL, DISTANT WHISTLE, TWO VERY LONG WHISTLES FOLLOWED BY TWO SHORT, AT INTERVALS OF 20 SECONDS OR LONGER. FADE OUT. MUSIC IN AGAIN, DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTATION. COMEDY MOTIF. FEW BARS ONLY, THEN FADE QUICKLY FOR DIALOGUE, CONTINUING FEW BARS THEN OUT COMPLETELY.)

 _____1930_____

(MUSIC: ORCHESTRA UP FULL --- MUSIC SEGUES INTO SPEEDING TRAIN EFFECT WITH WHISTLE AND BACK AGAIN INTO FULL ORCHESTRA.  REPEAT AND CONCLUDE.  ESTABLISH BRIEF PASTORAL MUSIC, AND FADE)

One of the first conversations presented to us at the new locale of Wenatchee was that taking place between Joe Trent’s daughter, Shirley, and her erstwhile suitor, Bill Barth (a hand on her father’s apple tree farm). Shirley announced they had special company coming to the house for dinner, and she challenged Barth to guess who it was. In the 1929 program, Barth’s first guess was Lindbergh. This was a good contemporary name to drop – Lucky Lindy, who had not long before flown solo across the Atlantic. The next guess was “Mr. Addison Sims of Seattle.” That was a new one on me, so I looked him up. It turns out there was a sales pitch that made the rounds as early as 1913 for a marvelous self-improvement scheme called the “Roth Memory Program.”

Illustration from a typical Roth Memory Program advertisement.

Full-page newspaper ads showed up frequently in those days, demonstrating the power of this wonderful skill by having a fellow at a meeting or convention or some such impress the bejesus out of a man by saying with great confidence, “of course I know you – you’re Mr. Addison Sims of Seattle!” It was such a catchy tagline that it wended its way into the public consciousness, and was still fresh enough in 1929 to be familiar to a broad audience. The fellow to whom the Addison Sims line was attributed, Hartley Davis, was an adman who passed away in 1938. It was said the name was inspired by U.S. Navy Admiral William S. Sims. I have no reason to believe Admiral Sims was related to Harold M. Sims of the Empire Builders program, but it may have been something of an inside joke to invoke the Sims name.

Don Bernard of

Empire Builders

In the 1930 continuity, Addison Sims was replaced by the Prince of Wales for Barth’s second guess (and therein lay a subtle connection to the GN’s Prince of Wales Hotel). In both continuities, Shirley reveals the mystery guest is to be playwright Morton Leath – author of “The Ghost of Don Bernard.” Now, that one had to be an inside joke for the 1930 continuity, but it was also used in 1929 – prior to Bernard’s (direct) association with Empire Builders. But remember, it was John Elwood who hired Bernard to the NBC staff in 1926, and perhaps even the 1929 continuity’s reference to Bernard was meant as a little joke.

Watch your feet… they're dropping more names on the show. Bill Barth asked Shirley Trent what this Morton Leath looked like. Shirley told Bill she’d seen his picture in a magazine, and described him as a combination of several notable people.

The hair of John Gilbert (left), the eyes of Buddy Rogers (right).

In the 1929 edition of this story, Leath was said to have John Gilbert’s hair and Buddy Rogers’ eyes. The 1930 continuity had Shirley comparing Leath’s hair to Ronald Coleman’s, and his eyes to Conrad Nagel. In both stories, Leath was said to dress like Rudy Vallee.

The hair of Ronald Coleman (left), the eyes of Conrad Nagel (right).

At this point, Bill spotted a car approaching. In the 1929 version, Shirley said “there’s our Pioneer friend in the back seat with Father …,” but in the revised version she said “there’s the Old Timer in the back seat with Father …” I see this as another subtle example of the move away from calling the Hays character “the Pioneer” and sticking with “the Old Timer.” The dialog prompts in the 1929 continuity consistently called the Hays character the “Pioneer,” while the 1930 continuity changed all those prompts to “Old Timer.” Many successful radio performers found it necessary to take roles on multiple radio programs to make ends meet and/or further their careers. In the fall of 1930, Harvey Hays was also appearing on a new (and increasingly popular) radio program, “Death Valley Days.” His character on that show was “the Old Prospector.” I would imagine the Great Northern was making an effort to solidify their claim to the “Old Timer” character. They did protest to NBC about the similarity, and although they did not push the issue to the point of conflict, they stated their case that they were first in line with Harvey Hays as the “old-whatever,” and that the Death Valley Days folks had better watch their step with the obvious similarities.

In both continuities, the writers found a way to draw attention once again to the Great Northern and its facilities. Shirley asked her father why they weren’t in the Trent’s car.

SHIRLEY:              Father, what happened? I thought you were going to meet the Empire Builder in our car?

TRENT:                 She burnt out a bearin’, Shirley. Lucky fer us, Marie was just drivin’ past th’ Great Northern Depot, an’ so we all piled in with her. Well, I reckon we’re just in time for supper, folks.

This exchange did nothing at all to further the story (other than provide a mechanism for the Marie character to enter the scene), but it did insinuate the Empire Builder train and the local Great Northern passenger depot into the conversation.

GN depot, Wenatchee, circa 1920s.
Collection of Washington State Railroads Historical Society.

The next transition in the continuity demonstrated another noticeable difference between the 1929 and 1930 versions of the program. In 1929, the continuity clearly gave the impression that the broadcast would incorporate sounds meant to be coming from a radio playing in the background. Here is the direction provided in the continuity for the earlier season:

(MUSIC:  “BIG CITY BLUES”)

               (At close of selection, announcer’s voice is heard saying “You have heard ANDY SANELLA and his orchestra play the “Big City Blues.” This is Empire Builders, a program sponsored by the Great Northern Railway. The next selection is ‘ ___________________’. Music continues, fades quickly for following line.)

The direction used for this transition in 1930 was:

(ORCHESTRAL TRANSITION IN GAY, PASTORAL MOOD. FADE OUT TO SEVERAL MALE VOICES IN NEAR DISTANCE SINGING “WHEN THE AUTUMN MOON IS SHININ’” WITH BANJO AND GUITAR. LAUGHTER AND AD. LIB. AT CONCLUSION)

I have not located any sort of notes that suggest an effort was made to find improvements on any of the specific broadcasts, but it sure seems like the preparation for the 1930 airing of this story must have involved considerable thought about how to improve on the earlier version. The use of a radio in the background at that point of the story probably seemed a bit too awkward and unnecessary. For the new version of the story, the singing was described as coming from some of the apple pickers working in the orchard. Then the little group on the porch broke into a chorus of “We Must Have Our Apples.”

The next departure from the original version of the broadcast occurred as the men continued their after-dinner conversation on the porch. Here’s how it went in the first version:

TRENT:                 You oughta be here in apple blossom time, Mr. Leath.

MORTON:           It must be wonderful! Really, I never knew there were so many apple trees in the world as I’ve seen this afternoon.

TRENT:                 Yep. There’s five million apple trees in these parts.

MORTON:           Five million trees!

TRENT:                 An’ that means fifty thousand carloads of apples a year.

MORTON:           Fancy that! Where to they all go?

TRENT:                 All over th’ United States an’ Europe. You can get Wenatchee apples from almost any fruit dealer in this country. I reckon your home town, London, is ‘bout our best foreign market. You’ll find fresh Wenatchee apples ten thousand miles from here.

(SOUND:)             (DISTANT TRAIN WHISTLE – 2 long, 2 short)  You see, that’s where fast transportation comes in. Th’ Great Northern takes ‘em by th’ trainload an’ rushes ‘em pell-mell to th’ big cities.

PIONEER:            Yes, an’ when th’ Great Northern takes ‘em in tow, they’re pretty apt to go through on time.

TRENT:                 Yes sir! Ya know, Mr. Leath, that railroad’s got th’ longest tunnel in America through those mountains over yonder – goes eight miles right through th’ backbone of th’ Cascade range. An’ their whole line through th’ Cascades is electrified. Take their trains runnin’ ‘tween Seattle an’ Chicago – they chopped hours off th’ runnin’ time when they got that job finished.

MORTON:           The speed – the size of it all. It’s amazing!

(SOUND)              (DISTANT TRAIN WHISTLE)  Y’know, it’s my personal opinion that everyone likes apples, and that they’d eat even more if something were done to make them – what would you Americans call it? – apple-conscious.

TRENT:                 That’s just what we’re a doin’, Mr. Leath. National Apple Week begins October 31 – that’s next Thursday – an’ we’ve got up a slick little booklet that th’ Great Northern is gonna give away to everybody who writes for one. An’ I reckon a lotta people’ll want one, too.

__________________________________________________

And here is how the dialog went with the changes for 1930:

MORTON:           It must be wonderful! All these apples – were they here all the time?

TRENT:                 No, not always.

OLD TIMER:        There’s five million trees in these parts now – but up till ’48 there wasn’t nary a one. Th’ story of Wenatchee apples reads like a page from a fairy tale. In ’48 Okanogan Smith planted th’ first apple trees in th’ district.

TRENT:                 It was him they named the Okanogan Valley after – over that way.

OLD TIMER:        Smith traveled three hundred miles on horseback to get those trees. Brought ‘em back tied to his saddle … an’ there’s one of ‘em still bearin’ fruit.

MORTON:           Imagine!

OLD TIMER:        It was dry here in those days … barren as a desert. Then irrigation came an’ – almost like magic – th’ whole district was transformed into a great orchard, producing more’n half the apples grown in the State of Washington, an’ Washington supplies about a third of all th’ commercial apples in th’ United States. Th’ soil an’ climate are jest ideal. Last year they shipped nearly twenty thousand carloads outa here.

MORTON:           Fancy that? And where did they all go?

TRENT:                 All over th’ United States an’ Europe. You can get Wenatchee apples from almost any fruit dealer in this country. I reckon your home town, London, is ‘bout our best foreign market. You’ll find fresh Wenatchee apples ten thousand miles from here.

MORTON:           The magnitude of it all – it’s amazing! Y’know, it’s my personal opinion that everyone likes apples, and that they would eat even more if something were done to make them – what would you Americans call it? – apple-conscious.

TRENT:                 That’s just what they’re doing, Mr. Leath. National Apple Week starts October 31 – that’s next Friday – an’ I reckon ‘tween then an’ November 6th, most everybody in the country’ll hear ‘bout Wenatchee apples.

One of the most obvious differences between the two variations of dialog is the commentary in 1929 about a little booklet being distributed by the Great Northern Railway. The GN did in fact put out a certain amount of material over the years to promote National Apple Week and the apple industry of the Wenatchee Valley, but I’m almost certain the booklet mentioned on the 1929 broadcast was produced by a local apple commission. I have not yet located a copy of such a booklet, but I’m on the lookout for it. I will be very grateful to anyone who can point me to a copy of it to either view or add to my collection. Please contact me at the “gnradio” email address on the “Contact Me” page of this blog. Although National Apple Week was highlighted in both broadcasts, the 1930 program did not make any mention at all of a booklet about apples being available from the GN, or anyone else for that matter.

This is NOT the apple booklet I seek, but this one was distributed by the GN,
circa 1930, and it is pretty cool.             Author's collection

The next section of the continuity advanced the suggested romance of Mort Leath and Shirley Trent, or Bill and Shirley, or Mort and Marie, or Bill and Marie, or … these tribulations of the heart can get a mite convoluted. After so many verbal substitutes for the classic note-passing among tittering pre-teens, the Old Timer talked about how it was time to hit the road. He and Mort had been soaking up atmosphere in Wenatchee for nearly a month. The Old Timer said he had some business to attend to, and after all, Mort needed to get back “… on account of that play of his they’re goin’ to produce”. The first time around, Mort had to return to New York. In the 1930 continuity, it was Chicago, and an interesting wrinkle was shared regarding Mort’s writing:

SHIRLEY:              This new play of Morton’s – what’s it about?

OLD TIMER:        Why, it’s a story he wrote up from a yarn I was tellin’ him ‘bout th’ Northwestern Mounted Police. Sure is a thriller. Empire Builders are goin’ to broadcast it from Chicago next Monday night.

SHIRLEY:              Oh, then I’ll get to hear it! … My!  Isn’t the moon beautiful tonight.

In each version of the Wenatchee Apple Story, Mort Leath and Shirley Trent wind up engaged, but the interchange is handled a little differently between them. In both cases, however, Shirley is pleasantly surprised by Mort’s proposal, as she had convinced herself it was that pesky Marie for whom Mort had fallen. And in each story, Bill Barth came along at the last and Marie was sent off with him as a consolation prize for all her unwanted efforts.

This night’s playlet suggested that the following week’s broadcast of Empire Builders would be a story involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It’s quite possible that it did. Some of my notes suggest the program for November 3^rd of 1930 was about Glacier National Park, but a news article from the day reported the story had to do with a group in Canada known as the Doukhobors. But we’ll get to all that in due time.

Until next week, keep those dials tuned to Empire Builders!

301020 - Topic: Minnesota football

We’re well into autumn now, and if at this season Empire Builders did not tell a story about fall foliage, pumpkins, Halloween, or Thanksgiving, then the obvious theme would have to be football. And in 1930, there was arguably more interest in college football than the fledgling realm of professional football. Making sports headlines in the west in the fall of 1930 were the Cougars of Washington State College, coached by Orin Ercel “Babe” Hollingbery (1893-1974). The team went undefeated that season, won the Pacific Coast Conference title, and faced the likewise undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide at the 1931 Rose Bowl.

1931 Rose Bowl ticket.
Washington State University collection

This night’s story, the second offering from writer Dan Markell in as many weeks, was a romance involving a love-struck co-ed and a big game between two fictional Minnesota rivals, Darnell College and Kane University. The broadcast opened with the Empire Builders’ signature musical crescendo, which gave listeners the notion of a big steam train starting up and working to full speed. Ted Pearson boomed into the microphone “The Great Northern Railway presents “EMPIRE BUILDERS!” This was followed by a voice shouting for everyone to climb aboard the special train to the big Darnell-Kane football game. Ted Pearson returned to the mike and gave this introduction to the story:

ANNOUNCER:

            Here they come, folks. The Empire Builder’s pulling a lot of special cars tonight. Going ‘way out west to sit in on a big football game … Darnell College and Kane University, and what a game it’s going to be! Surprises, comedy, a beautiful girl, and a husky halfback. Oh, yes, and our friend the Old Timer, too, to help Darnell win the game.

(BAND OFF – FAINTLY, APPROACHING)

ANNOUNCER:

             Here comes the Darnell band now. Listen to that – “Sons of Old Darnell”  (HUMS MELODY WITH BAND)  Better pile on, folks, get good seats – the train’s going to start in a moment.

(CHEERS UP CLOSER. BAND APPROACHES)

The growing crowd let out three big cheers for Coach Thore of Darnell, and followed that with three cheers for the Empire Builder. The last shouts of “Booooooooard!” ensured everyone climbed aboard, and with two whistles and “wild cheering,” the Empire Builder pulled out with 900 Darnell supporters. The sound effects boys created an atmosphere that brought the scene to the train’s dining car. Coach Thore bumped into his star player, running back Gus Carrick, and began to chew him out for missing his place at the team’s training table at lunch time. With Carrick was Miss Mary Tomlin, who defended Carrick by admitting it was she who talked Carrick into skipping the team lunch to dine instead with her. Coach Thore remonstrated Carrick for his selfish neglect of responsibility, while Mary protested that the star of the team ought to enjoy star treatment. Coach Thore did not agree:

COACH:         Now listen! Get this! Nobody on any team I coach rates any special privileges. Playin’ football’s their job till the season’s over – and so long as I’m coaching –

MARY:           Mr. Thore, I think you’re an old meanie.

GUS:               Aw, listen, coach ---

COACH:         Never mind the boloney. I’ll tell you something else about privileges – You, Carrick will have the privilege of sitting on the bench if you break any more of my orders. And you get that, don’t you!

Mary kept pouring it on, protesting that they had only enjoyed a light lunch together. Thore demanded to know what they ate. Mary explained:

MARY:           Well we had … let’s see … Wenatchee baked apple, Olympia oyster cocktail, fresh Columbia river salmon, Minnesota mushrooms, a Montana baked potato and some gorgeous Dakota carrots … You know, Mr. Thore, just one of those delightful Empire Builder luncheons.

Naturally, Coach Thore did not object to this lovely and nutritious spread of groceries, but then he found out Carrick topped off lunch with pie. It did not help matters that Mary pointed out that she would not allow Gus to have a third slice of pie. Coach Thore chased off Gus, but asked Mary to hold up a moment so they could chat. Coach asked Mary why she interfered with his training regime for his players. Mary teased that she enjoyed seeing Thore get so wound up, but also confessed that she was quite fond of Carrick. This evolved into a slightly awkward revelation that Coach Thore was still rather fond of Mary – the two had made time together before the football season started (I suppose we’ll have to assume Thore was a young man, possibly a student-coach or something).

Thore took one more parting shot to beseech Mary not to interfere with Darnell’s star player until after the big game against Kane. That’s about the time the Old Timer showed up – and overheard some disparaging predictions about the football game’s outcome.

OLD TIMER:  Well, well, Mary … Hello, Thore … Did I just hear someone allow we might get whupped by them Crimson Bears?

COACH:         Yes. I said it!

OLD TIMER:  Now, now, coach, that’s no way to talk, and I reckon you don’t mean it, either. Why, I’ve been a-following our teams for nigh on forty years and man to man I’d say Darnell’s never had a better squad since Harvard loved Princeton.

COACH:         Yeh!

OLD TIMER:  No doubt about it … Now just take this Gus Carrick …

MARY:           (eagerly)  There, Mr. Thore! … Listen to what Old Timer thinks about Gus.

COACH:         That’s just who we were talking about, Old Timer. He’s the big problem.

The Old Timer expressed his surprise at the thought of Carrick being considered anything less than a salvation to the team, when another fellow ambled up to the group – a guy with a “thin voice” named Pee-wee. Buzzing with the amount of exuberance – and embraced with about the same degree of affection – as a blood-thirsty mosquito at sunset, Pee-wee launched into his latest pep rally yell . . . “Kazee—kazaa—kazOO! … Kazee—kazaa—kazOO …”

Coach Thore immediately pronounced it rotten, and the Old Timer exclaimed “sounds like a hog call to me, dog my cats.” Undeterred, Pee-wee completed his unpopular cheer. This caused both the coach and the Old Timer to make a hasty exit. Mary, on the other hand, stayed behind with Pee-wee, saying “Never mind, Pee-wee … you sit down and teach it to me.”

Having moved to where he could speak more openly, Coach Thore began to explain his concerns about Gus Carrick. He told the Old Timer that Carrick seemed a bit love-struck, and getting so full of himself it was interfering with his performance on the gridiron. In the last game, which the men agreed should have been an easy win for Darnell, the team barely escaped with a tie, due largely to Carrick’s lackluster effort and his preoccupation with strutting about for Mary’s sake. Coach detailed one example of just how distracted Carrick had become. In the last game, with time winding down and the team needing only to convert an extra point to win it, Carrick came in to kick the ball. The star running back also served as the go-to man for place kicking – he had a reputation for being nearly automatic about kicking extra points. The Old Timer asked him what went wrong.

COACH:         He fixed the dirt for the kick … stood up, hitched up his pants, and – now I’m not kidding … He took out a little comb and combed his hair!

OLD TIMER:  Great chiggers and chipmunks! Didn’t he have his helmet on?

COACH:         Helmet? … No … Won’t wear one anymore … He’s all swelled up … Mary likes his ducky blonde hair.

OLD TIMER:  Well I’ll be a jumped-up jack-rabbit.

COACH:         Wait a bit! … That isn’t all … After he combed his hair he waved at Mary. Waved, I tell you! … All that before he condescends to step back and signal for the kick!

OLD TIMER:  Then what?

COACH:         Klein hiked! … Grisley placed it … perfectly! … The line held! … Then … believe it or not … Gus minced up the ball, tripped over his foot, and finally booted it – a mile wide!

Coach Thore told the Old Timer he was ready for drastic action – he was going to bench Carrick and put in a reserve running back in his place. The Old Timer was nearly apoplectic, and even offered to suit up himself.

OLD TIMER:  Starting Klinger! Why you might as well put in old Dean Holsnere of Romantic Languages. Or give me a suit! (PAUSE)  Dean Holsnere and me played purty good football for Darnell back in ’88.

COACH:         I know. Maybe you wouldn’t be so bad at that. Still keep in condition, don’t you?

OLD TIMER:  Well, I’m feeling right pert.

COACH:         I wish Gus had your spirit.

At this, the Old Timer said he had an idea of how to overcome Carrick’s preoccupation with Mary – and himself. Thore went off, and Mary showed up to join the Old Timer in conversation. Mary said she wouldn’t mind visiting with the Old Timer, because he wasn’t always scolding her the way Coach Thore did.

OLD TIMER:  Scolding! Why, does Thore scold you, child?

MARY:           Yes, he does – about Gus!

OLD TIMER:  Why-y-y Mary! … But a coach’s gotta have some discipline, you know.

MARY:           Oh, of course! … But his silly rules about players avoiding girls … They’re too ridiculous!

OLD TIMER:  Other coaches have the same rules, Mary. Take Babe Hollingbery at Washington State, f’r instance. He’s even more strict than Thore.

Now you know why I mentioned the real-life success being enjoyed in the fall of 1930 by the Washington State Cougars. By superficial reference, at least, they were a part of this radio story. And then, of course, there’s the fact that I’m a Washington State alum myself. Go Cougs.

Mary and the Old Timer talked about the unfortunate outcome of the last game, and how Carrick played without his helmet, and stopped to comb his hair. Mary didn’t make much of it, but the Old Timer asked, “Well that is a mite – unusual, don’t you think?” Mary protested that Gus only did that to keep the hair out of his eyes. That’s when the Old Timer began to put his little plan into motion.

OLD TIMER:  Well, we got to see that Gus’s hair don’t get in his eyes, tonight, Mary … And I’ve got a plan. If you and I can work it out we’ve just about got that game won.

MARY:           You don’t mean anything that would spoil his hair, do you, Old Timer … He’s got awfully nice hair.

OLD TIMER:  We’ll make it even purtier.

MARY:           Gee! How?

OLD TIMER:  Well you see … there’s a mighty fine barber shop right here on the train .. .and a dandy barber … and a hair-dresser and …

Being a radio broadcast, the studio musicians came up with some music and a group of “college students” worked through the train car singing their alma mater or some such. As the music faded out, the dialogue came up again between Mary and the Old Timer. The radio listeners missed the detail of what they had just discussed, but heard the part where Mary agreed to the Old Timer’s plan. To me, this is an intriguing device of dialogue and music (and/or sound effects) to advance part of the story without revealing the specifics. Today we are all too familiar with this technique, but on the radio in 1930, I suspect this was still a fairly fresh approach.

With more music, the story transitioned to the stadium and the scene of the big game. Several anxious voices chimed in with concerns about the absence of Gus Carrick. The players did not seem to know where he was, and the game was about to start. Coach told them to forget about Carrick and get their heads in the game. The Old Timer was on the sideline, and mentioned something about Gus, to which the coach replied he figured he'd have to put Carrick into the game at some point. The Old Timer’s scheme began to take shape.

OLD TIMER:  Well, now, listen, boy – don’t you let him wear a helmet out there tonight.

COACH:         Why, what, --

OLD TIMER:  Never you mind. You do as I say.

COACH:         (laughs)  Well, there won’t be much trouble ‘bout that, Old Timer. Won’t tell me what you got up your sleeve, eh?

OLD TIMER:  Nope, you’ll see – (both laugh)

(BAND UP WITH STADIUM NOISES)

The next dialogue began with Mary, who was seated in the stadium with Pee-wee and a friend named Helen. Pee-wee kept up with a constant stream of his own made-up cheers, while Mary and Helen’s conversation informed the listening audience that it was the start of the third quarter, and good old Darnell was losing to Kane, 13-0. The Darnell players once again took the field, and this time Gus Carrick was in the pack. But he was wearing his helmet.

COACH:         What’s the idea of the helmet tonight, Gus? You don’t usually …

GUS:               Aw, listen coach … I gotta wear it …

COACH:         Yeah!

GUS:               It’s kinda chilly tonight, coach, and …

COACH:         Take it off.

GUS:               Aw, coach … you never used to …

COACH:         Get it off!

GUS:               Aw-w-w- Ain’t you always told me …

COACH:         Be quick about it! Get me!

GUS:               Aw coach, listen … I gotta bad head cold tonight … please, coach …

COACH:         Here! I’ll take it.

GUS:               Aw … shucks, coach … dog-gone it!

COACH:         Get in there at right half! Jump now!

VOICES:         Gosh, did you see his hair … Did I? He’s gone dingy as a toad … Must think he’s Apollo or … Julian Eltinge would be my guess … That hair!

Julian Eltinge. There’s a name I had to look up. Turns out he was a real person, who in 1930 was quite well known for his career performing as a female impersonator. Big hair. Make-up. Effeminate. Mary and Helen were up again with their conversation:

HELEN:          Good heavens, Mary, what’s happened to your sweetie’s hair?

MARY:           Oh, Helen … I … Oh …

HELEN:          Those cute curls!  (sarcastic)  Oh, the dear thing! What in the world’s he done – marcelled it?

MARY:           (sharply)  Well, the crowd doesn’t seem to care.

Helen was correct – in respect to the Darnell fans. The Kane fans, on the other hand, were merciless.

(KANE CHEER LEADER IN DISTANCE)

                        All right, gang … Let’s give it back to them … Three jeers for Darnell’s prize beauty …. Miss Goldilocks.

THRONG IN DISTANCE:     Rah, Rah, Rah – Miss Goldilocks ….

                                    Rah, Rah, Rah – Miss Goldilocks ….

                                    Rah, Rah, Rah – Miss Goldilocks ….

                                    (laughter)

Gus Carrick was somewhat vain. And proud. And at this point, angry. Quite stirred up, actually. Not unlike Ferdinand the bull, after being stung in the rump by a bee. Oh, goodness. Look out, Kane. But the Kane players heaped it on poor Gus, too.

GUS:               (tensely)  Gimme the ball, Gates … Gimme it … I’ll smash ‘em … I’ll show them … gimme the ball.

VOICE 1:        Hey, darling, if you ever get the ball bring it this way. I just love big bold football players!

GUS:               (threateningly)  You ….

VOICE 2:        Whoops, dearie! You must come over! Haw, Haw, Haw!

GUS:               I’m going to bust your face, you –

VOICE 3:        Oh, goody, goody, Gussie’s getting mad.

VOICE 4:        Oh girls, he’s blushing!

GUS:               Grrr!

Well, if you know anything about the Seattle Seahawks’ running back, Marshawn Lynch, I guess you could say Gus found his “beast mode.” Naturally, the game ended with a win for good old Darnell (28-13), with Gus turning into a one-man wrecking crew. He scored every touchdown for Darnell. Coach Thore shared his amazement with the Old Timer.

COACH:         Sure keyed up today.

OLD TIMER:  Keyed up! Plumb full o’ riot, rampage and wrath, I’d say. Bless my soul, I didn’t know they could wrap up so much turbulence and tumult in any one man.

COACH:         Sure surprised me. Something seemed to …

OLD TIMER:  To get his mind off his girl. Sure, supposin’ you had a marcel .. assuming you had some hair, which you ain’t … wouldn’t it sort of stir you up and rile you some.

Gus came off the field, acting rather gloomy. He was eager to track down Mary, but not before he could rid himself of the embarrassing hairdo. The musicians and sound effects crew transitioned the listeners to the train station, with an ebullient crowd still basking in the glow of their team’s dramatic victory. There seemed to be something else stirring them up, though …

OLD TIMER:  What’s all the excitement now, by hokey!

COACH:         It’s Mary.

GUS:               Mary … and the gang’s throwing rice an’ things … Gosh!

VOICES:         Three cheers for Mary! … Good luck, Mary! All the best, Mary … Happy honeymoon … Bye! Mary!

COACH:         Well I’ll be a son of a gun!

GUS:               Aw heck! …. Aw-w-w-w-w- …

OLD TIMER:  Dog my cats! And look at the groom!

COACH & GUS:        PEE WEE!

OLD TIMER:  Well, you can’t never tell about women!

In the span of a thirty-minute radio play, the Empire Builders were not shy about having whirlwind romances and impulsive matrimonial decisions drive the story line. It would seem Pee-wee’s football cheers (or something) wooed Mary enough to want to be his wife. Ummm…. okay. And so, on that happy note, Ted Pearson came back to wrap things up.

ANNOUNCER:

The Empire Builder this fall will carry many a jolly crowd, many a husky team, to the scenes of football conflict, East and West. From Chicago to the Pacific Northwest is but a pleasant short journey, when you’re routed via the Empire Builder! Spacious, comfortable lounges – delicious Great Northern meals – restful sleep o’ nights on triple coil springs and mattresses soft as a featherbed … what more of travel comfort can anyone ask?

If you’re going West – or East – to any of the intersectional games, ask to have your ticket read “via Great Northern” – the beautiful scenic, comfortable, route of the Empire Builder and the Oriental Limited … two of the finest transcontinental trains in America.

Tonight’s playlet again presented Harvey Hays as the Old Timer. Bernardine Flynn played Mary; Don Ameche, Gus Carrick. Coach Thore was played by Bob White, and Mary’s friend Helen was Lucille Husting. The orchestra and band were under the direction of Josef Koestner.

This is Ted Pearson speaking. EMPIRE BUILDERS comes to you from the Chicago Studios of the National Broadcasting Company.

       (TRAIN UP AND OUT. MUSIC.)

Until next time, keep those dials tuned to Empire Builders!

301013 - The Cavalier Purple

This episode of Empire Builders was written by 33-year-old Daniel B. Markell, who worked for the Portland (Oregon) Telegraph newspaper. In 1930, Dan Markell’s parents still lived in the town where he was raised, Twin Falls, Idaho, and a news blurb of the time mentioned that they made it a point to tune in Empire Builders regularly – especially when they knew their son’s work would be featured. No doubt they were tuned in on this night. It was the first of Markell’s stories to be aired on Empire Builders.

One of the subtle but noticeable differences for the new season was the identification of some of the cast and crew of each episode. Rarely did earlier broadcasts call attention to the players, other than sometimes naming Harvey Hays as the Old Timer. Although they were not usually named during the broadcast, others such as Virginia Gardiner, Andy Sannella, and Bob MacGimsey might be identified in a program’s press release. But with the new season, the closing credits often concluded with a mention of which actors played which parts. For instance, the continuity for this broadcast included a couple of names, plus a couple of blanks to be filled in pending last minute changes in the line-up. Announcer Ted Pearson provided the following information at the end of the program:

Tonight’s playlet featured Harvey Hays as the Old Timer … … … … … took the part of Doris; … … … … … played Bob; and Margaret was played by … … … … … . The production was directed by Don Bernard.

This is Ted Pearson speaking. Empire Builders come to you from the Chicago Studios of the National Broadcasting Company.

Although the continuity left blank a few of the names, I’ve located another source for two, and can pretty well guess a couple more. One newspaper write-up about the show said Bernardine Flynn played “the heroine” – Doris Brale, presumably. Don Ameche was the “hero” – Bob Tyrell the sax player, no doubt. It’s very likely that Lucille Husting played Margaret. The program opened with Ted Pearson talking to a couple of boys and girls about hopping on the Empire Builder train. I’m confident that Betty White was utilized for one or more of these voices.

Another notable development with this continuity is a clear effort to flesh out the character of the Old Timer a little bit. Despite the fact he was featured in virtually every one of the 66 other broadcasts up to this point, very little detail was ever provided about him. For as affable and popular a character as he was, the listening audience really knew almost nothing about him. In this episode, his faithful dog January is once again heard from, but the story enlightens us with the realization that the Old Timer owns “Vista Ranch” near Kalispell, Montana, where he raises a significant number of livestock, including shorthorn steers. By this time, Empire Builders enthusiasts were already well-conditioned to hear the Old Timer pop off with the occasional “scatter my chipmunks” or “dog my cats.” This program introduced a few new exclamations to add to the Old Timer’s repertoire. We also learned something about his taste in music.

The program opened with the sounds of a train – the Empire Builder – getting ready to pull out of a station. We’ll have to assume that would be Union Station, Chicago. As soon as the radio show’s title was dramatically announced (“E-m-p-i-r-e  B-u-i-l-d-e-r-s!”), a little girl tried to finagle her way aboard the train. It turns out that in the world of radio, which is of course an integral realm in the world of make-believe, this train could accommodate darned near anyone, going darned near anywhere, and at unworldly speeds.

GIRL:                          Mister, is this the Great Northern Railway?

(Child)

 

ANNOUNCER:          It certainly is, Miss.

GIRL:                          An’ is this the Empire Builder?

ANNOUNCER:          Right-o, little lady.

GIRL:                          Where’s the Old Timer?

ANNOUNCER:          (laughs)  The Old Timer? Well, Miss, he’s a long, long ways away tonight. But it won’t take us long to get to him – on this train!

GIRL:                          Can I go, Mister.

ANNOUNCER:          I should say you may, Miss.

BOY:                           (ASIDE)  Ask’m if we can go, too.

GIRL:                          Can all of us go?

ANNOUNCER:          Sure – all of you!

BOYS & GIRLS:        “Oh, goody!”  “Hoo-ray!”  etc.

GIRL:                          Where’re we goin’, Mister?

ANNOUNCER:          You see, the Old Timer’s got a ranch out near Kalispell – that’s in Montana, just the other side of the main range of the Rocky Mountains. Well, ‘bout this time every year we’re pretty likely to find him at his ranch, looking over his stock to see what horses an’ cows an’ pigs an’ sheep he’s going to take to Portland, to exhibit at the Pacific International Livestock Exposition that’s held there every year. This year, you see, it’s going to start on October 25, and everybody who’s interested in thoroughbred stock’s pretty likely to be there. Even a lot of farm boys and girls! Well, the Old Timer told me that he’s been trying for forty years to win a Purple ribbon – that’s a grand championship ribbon. Seems he gets pretty close every once in a while, but he doesn’t seem to be quite able to get one of those purple ribbons. Now I sort of suspect we’re going to find the Old Timer tonight, out near Kalispell, getting all ready to try again. An’ you kiddies want to come along, do you?

VOICES:                     “Yes”.  “Oh, yes, sir.”  Etc.

ANNOUNCER:          All right. But you must keep real quiet. Maybe it’d be a good idea to turn the lights down a little …. That’s fine …  Are you ready –

VOICES:                     “A-bo-o-o-ard.”  “A-bo-o-o-ard.”  “A-bo-o-o-ard.”

            (TWO SHORT BLASTS OF WHISTLE.   BELL UP.   STARTS CHUGGING).

GIRL:                          We’re moving!

ANNOUNCER:          Sh-sh-sh-

           (TRAIN DEPARTS)

I have to admit, I kind of envy anyone who tuned in that evening. I can just picture a rural family at the end of a long day of working the farm, supper over, papa with a fresh pipe and a warm fire in the fireplace, mama turning down the lights, and the kids inching up to the radio set to hear this evening’s story.

As the ethereal palace on wheels got under way, the studio orchestra struck up a tune, which then faded to a lone saxophone player who was off in the distance. The Old Timer and his faithful hound dog, January, came up to the microphone and greeted a young woman named Doris. She and the Old Timer launched into a good-natured discussion of whether the shorthorns of the Old Timer’s Vista Ranch would be able to beat out Doris’s stock at the upcoming Pacific International Livestock Exposition. It was revealed that Doris’s father, an old and dear friend of the Old Timer’s, had passed away and left his Montana ranch to Doris. This was known as the Cavalier Ranch. A championship ribbon at the livestock expo was an elaborate purple affair – hence the name of the evening’s story, “The Cavalier Purple.”

 

Only loosely related to the night's radio play, the subject of this vintage postcard is an enormous steer taken along for steaks and such by a large group of Shriners travelling across the Pacific Ocean on the Great Northern Railway's S.S. Minnesota.
Author's collection

 

January the hound dog began baying mournfully, and Doris asked the pooch what was bothering him. Just then the saxophone got a little louder, as someone was playing a crooning melody on it. The Old Timer commented they must be hearing the music down by the lake, and he asked Doris if she knew who was playing it. Doris said it was Bob, one of the newer men on the ranch. The Old Timer let on that he wasn’t much for jazz and saxophones:

OLD TIMER:  A sax-warbling cow hand! Great galloping galumpusses! What’s the West coming to anyway? I’d fire him! No wonder January’s all riled and resentful.

DORIS:           Old Timer …. I …. I’d like to have you meet Bob … you see … well …

OLD TIMER:  Ah hmmmmm. So that’s it.  Hmmmm. It’s you he’s serenading and not the Mission mountains or the Shorthorns. I thought he seemed mighty serious, especially on them trills and wah wahs.

DORIS:           He is, Old Timer. He’s proposed to me hundreds of times.

OLD TIMER:  With music?

DORIS:           With words and music.

OLD TIMER:  That does sound serious. And how many times have you accepted?

DORIS:           Why none, of course … but I am fond of him. You and Daddy were such close friends that … well … I wanted to tell you. You see, Old Timer, he wants me to leave Cavalier Ranch and go away with him.

With clues provided in the dialog, it seems the location of the fictional Cavalier Ranch was somewhere roughly between Kalispell and Missoula, on Flathead Lake, and probably in the general vicinity of Finley Point. But I digress.

Doris protested that she would never leave Cavalier Ranch, and that poor old Bob was just barking up the wrong tree if he thought she would run off with him somewhere and get married. Not letting go of his obvious disdain for jazz, the Old Timer took another swipe at poor old Bob and once again suggested to Doris that she just fire him. But to his surprise, Doris said that she had fired him, several times, but he just wouldn’t leave. She admitted, however, that she really could use Bob’s help at the livestock exposition. And besides, she was eager for the Old Timer to meet him.

(SAX UP LOUDER–JANUARY BARKS–AS DORIS AND OLD TIMER APPROACH)

DORIS:           Bob!

(SAX DIES WITH A LAST BRIEF FLOURISH)

BOB:               Hello, little lady … er … I beg your pardon. I didn’t know anyone was with you. You must excuse the sentimental effect of these Montana nights, Mr. ….

DORIS:           This is Old Timer, Bob. You’ve heard me speak of him often.

BOB:               Yes, indeed. I’m glad to meet you.

OLD TIMER:  I’m glad to meet you too, boy. It seems you were sort of speaking of sentiment and …

BOB:               It’s these moonlight nights on Flathead Lake. They kind of get you. There’s music in them. The breeze in the pines and all. Yes sir, I tell you, it gets you.

OLD TIMER:  Well, young fellow, what’s the idea then of mussin’ up a night like this with that musical menace you’ve got there.

Doris tried to sway the Old Timer’s staunch musical taste by offering to perform a song for him, with Bob accompanying her. Bob played the first chorus on the sax while Doris sang, then the two of them sang a duet for the second chorus. This was in reality a duet by Don Ameche and Bernardine Flynn. It’s a shame we don’t have a recording of it.

 

L-R: Bernardine Flynn, Don Ameche, Josef Koestner (Musical Director), and Don Bernard (Director).
Press photo, author's collection

"While actors and actresses for radio playlets are selected for the quality of their speaking voices and cleverness in interpreting various roles, Empire Builders has been fortunate in finding two young persons who will not need professional ringers to double for them when the script calls for singing. And if television comes along during this new series of playlets – well, if photographs are to believed, Empire Builders will be sitting pretty!"

Great Northern Railway press release, dated September 10, 1930.

The Old Timer acknowledged that the singing part of the song was “all right.” Doris then added another wee plug on behalf of our sponsor:

DORIS:           Thank you, Old Timer … You know, Bob, Old Timer owns Vista Ranch. He and father came out here about the same time … when the Great Northern Railway was built through here. Both of them started Shorthorn herds with cattle that James J. Hill brought over from England. Our ranches have been rivals ever since and it’s going to keep on that way, now that daddy’s gone.

BOB:               Well, I don’t see how any ranch could be a rival to this for beauty. I always had the impression that Montana ranches were all out on the plains – To find trees and lakes and mountains and tall, green grass was a big surprise.

That bit about Jim Hill and the stock from England that he helped introduce to the Pacific Northwest? It’s true. Really happened. But that’s a story for another time. Doris, Bob, and the Old Timer wrapped up their conversation and the Old Timer mentioned he had to be headed back to his Vista Ranch up towards Kalispell:

DORIS:           We’ll see you on the Empire Builder then if you don’t get back over here before. I suppose you have reservations on one of the Pullmans they’re putting on special for the live-stock exhibitors?

OLD TIMER:  Sure have. I’ll be seeing you then, Doris. Come on January. Well, so long.

BOB:               Goodbye, Old Timer …. and January.

            (JANUARY BARKS)

The next scene in the radio play was at the railroad depot at Whitefish, on the mainline of the Great Northern Railway. With so much overall control of the production, our sponsor once again ensured some of the features of their premier train were interwoven into the story:

(TRANSITIONAL MUSIC. FADE TO STATION PLATFORM WITH COWBOY BAND PLAYING.  PLATFORM NOISES UP; TRAIN WHISTLES IN THE DISTANCE; FADE FOR DIALOGUE)

DORIS:           That’s the Empire Builder whistling now. We’re just in time, Bob.

BOB:               Wonder if I’ve still time to send a telegram?

DORIS:           Why not send it on the train. You won’t be able to get into the telegraph office with that cowboy band playing in front of it.

BOB:               Good idea. And another thing I’m going to do as soon as we’re on the train is to get some of the dust off. Me for that shower bath. You can’t help getting a bit dusty loading a Shorthorn herd.

DORIS:           Well, while you’re taking a shower I’m going to have a marcel. The maids on these Great Northern trains are dandy hair-dressers.

BOB:               Is the band going to Portland, too?

DORIS:           Why, of course. The Pacific International Livestock Exposition is a mighty big event. We ranchers make it sort of a holiday.

The train departed Whitefish and steamed off towards the coast. Doris and Bob eventually located the Old Timer, and they got to visiting.

BOB:               Oh, hello, Old Timer. Say, I’ve got some great news for you. Doris is going to marry me.

OLD TIMER:  What! Great bulls of Goshen!

BOB:               Well, it’s practically certain. You’ve promised me, haven’t you Doris?

DORIS:           Why Bob!

BOB:               Yes, sir, Old Timer … Doris has promised to marry me – as soon as Cavalier ranch takes a Royal Purple.

OLD TIMER:  (chuckles)  That sure is a promise. You almost had me stampeded. I don’t want to throw cold water on either the Cavalier herd or your matrimonial aspirations, young man, but if your weddin’ depends on a Cavalier grand champion you may have to be a bachelor a long time. You’ll be competing against some of the finest herds in America in this Portland show.

When Doris and Bob both weighed in with their optimistic predictions of success, the Old Timer (or at least Dan Markell, the author of the story) saw another opportunity to cast a reverent light on our Dear Founder, Jim Hill:

OLD TIMER:  Well, that’s the right spirit anyhow. It’s the trying and building that has brought greatness to this Northwest of ours. This breeding of pure-bred herds; this never-ending improvement of quality stock, has won prosperity for thousands of ranchers along the Great Northern Railway just as James J. Hill … the Empire Builder, envisioned fifty years ago, when he first started in to interest the settlers in raisin’ thoroughbred stock.

They didn’t call James J. Hill the “Empire Builder” just because he built a railroad.

As the Empire Builder train rolled on, and the Old Timer continued to call out accolades of the scenery to be viewed along the route (more not-so-subtle advertising – so clever), the story segued once more and the audience found themselves at the Pacific International Livestock Exposition. The Old Timer congratulated Doris on the various red and blue ribbons that some of her entries had won, and while she was certainly pleased by her successes, Doris admitted to being a bit let down by not winning a championship purple ribbon for the Cavalier Ranch – a “Cavalier Purple.” The Old Timer tried to assuage her disappointment by reminding her that, although her father had run the ranch for so many years, this was in fact the first time the Cavalier Ranch had brought livestock entries to the exposition under her stewardship. He assured her that her father would have been very proud of her. Doris revealed that she really did hope to win a purple ribbon and propel that into matrimony with Bob – and that the absence of the purple might not be enough to stop the wedding anyway. Just then, Bob appeared, and with another woman. Uh oh . . .

Bob strolled up to Doris and the Old Timer and introduced them to Miss Margaret Duane (she of the “Southern accent,” according to a note in the script). There was no immediate explanation of just who she was or what she was doing with Bob. Bob said to Doris and the Old Timer that he was sure they’d both seen Margaret ride at the horse show. When Doris responded by asking Margaret if she was riding in the show that evening, Miss Duane replied “No, I’m foregoing that pleasure for Bob.” The Old Timer was getting very uneasy. Savvy old coot.

OLD TIMER:  (HASTILY)  Let’s all run over and see the pet show. Or the Boys’ and Girls’ club exhibits. Or the Industrial exposition or dairy show, or something’. It seems to have gotten rather chilly here.

The little entourage strolled off to see the poultry and pet exhibits. Doris called the Old Timer’s attention to a cute little wire-haired terrier, to which the Old Timer sniffed that he didn’t see any dog he’d trade for good ol’ January. Doris seized on this opportunity to put in a dig against Bob and the present circumstances by which she was beginning to feel so marginalized.

DORIS:           That’s right, Old Timer. January’s loyal to you and you’ll always be loyal to January. Loyalty seems to mean more to some people than others.

Margaret seemed oblivious to any simmering jealousy on Doris’s part, but Doris kept inserting catty snipes whenever she could. The Old Timer was growing more uneasy by the minute. Just then, a public address announcer called out the next event – championship class for five-gaited horses. As Doris, Margaret and the Old Timer made their way to their seats, Doris observed Bob was no longer with them. The Old Timer said Bob slipped away five minutes ago.

Then the horses and riders came into view – all of them blue-ribbon winners, as Margaret explained. She also explained how each five-gaited class champion would compete for grand champion.

At this point, the trio spotted Bob entering the arena, riding an elegant horse named Nubian Knight. This took Doris by surprise – she commented that she didn’t even realize Bob had brought riding clothes with him, let alone his own horse. Margaret divulged some of her knowledge of the horses by describing what the ringmaster and judges were doing by requiring all the riders to work through various gaits:

MARGARET: You see, these five-gaited horses are real aristocrats. They’re being judged for conformation, substance, finish, style, beauty, soundness, way of going, and manners –

Doris made a glowing comment about Nubian Knight, and Margaret countered by asserting that Bob was the star of the riders. Doris asked if she had known Bob for long: “for ages,” replied Margaret. Hmmmmmm.

The ringmaster next had the riders rack the horses (haven’t a clue what that means, but the orchestra picked up the musical tempo “to almost race music,” so it seems it was a crescendo of action by horse and rider). Margaret complimented Nubian Knight’s performance, but then betrayed a bit more of her particular intrigue by acknowledging the prowess of another competitor, Lady Butterfly: “That beautiful brown mare has been a sensation in all the eastern shows for two years,” she revealed. Hmmmmmm. Again.

The competition had come to a head, and with the sound of trumpets it was time to announce the winner. It was of course… wait for it… Nubian Knight. Owned by Miss Doris Brale. Of Cavalier Ranch. Mr. Robert Lee Tyrell, rider.

 

Bob, you sneaky devil! What the … ?

Doris was dumbfounded, quite convinced there had been some mistake. She did NOT own Nubian Knight. How could the purple championship ribbon be awarded to her stable? Bob rode over to the excited if partially perplexed trio. He handed over the “Royal Purple” to Doris.

DORIS:           But … I can’t understand … It isn’t my horse …

BOB:               Nubian Knight is yours, Doris. I had the registry certificate for him transferred to Cavalier ranch a month ago. You see, I had Margaret bring him out from dad’s Blue Hill stables in Kentucky. He’s ours, Doris.

DORIS:           I … I … but Miss Duane?

BOB:               Margaret is the daughter of our stable master. He couldn’t come right now so Margaret brought Nubian Knight to Portland.

DORIS:           Oh … Bob, why didn’t you tell me? I didn’t know you were interested in blooded horses.

BOB:               I didn’t either, at first. You see, dad’s getting on in years. He’s been wanting to turn Blue Hill stables over to me. But I wanted to organize a jazz band and toot my saxophone around the world. That’s why he sent me to the Northwest … to … well sort of …

“Get all that tomfoolery out of his system,” no doubt. Bob let on that it worked.

BOB:               Yes. I’m going to carry on for my dad … just as you’ve been doing.

DORIS:           (sadly)  So you’re going back then – to Kentucky?

BOB:               Who said anything about my going back to Kentucky? Didn’t we win the Royal Purple? Aren’t you going to keep your bargain?

DORIS:           But I won’t give up the ranch, Bob.

BOB:               Of course not. I’m moving the Blue Hill stables to Montana. And a … say, Old Timer, do you play pinochle?

OLD TIMER:  Do I? … Why at Devil’s Lake one time, I …

BOB:               Then you’ll like Dad, I know.

OLD TIMER:  You bet I will …

With much happy and excited discussion of finding a parson, and making the Old Timer the best man, the orchestra came back on with another musical bridge. Announcer Ted Pearson brought the night’s proceedings to a close with these helpful comments:

 

ANNOUNCER:

One of the outstanding events each Fall on the Pacific Coast is the Pacific International Livestock Exposition and Horse Show which will be held, this year, October 25 to November 1, inclusive, at Portland, Oregon. With prophetic vision, James J. Hill, founder of the Great Northern Railway, foresaw nearly two generations ago, the possibilities of livestock in this great industry. Many agencies are now co-operating in furthering the interests of the agriculturists and livestock men of the Northwest, and among them, continuing the program initiated by Mr. Hill, is the Agricultural and Development Department of the Great Northern Railway … Next week, at this same hour, Empire Builders will bring you another playlet, a football story, in which the Old Timer joins the board of strategy and wins the game – from the sidelines.

 

Dan Markell’s parents had every reason to tune in again to Empire Builders the following Monday – it was stated that the Minnesota football story was another of his efforts.

So, like Markell’s folks...

 

Until next time, keep those dials tuned to Empire Builders!