In this episode, we take a nostalgic journey to The Globe Theater, a radio playhouse dedicated to providing top-notch entertainment for the armed forces of the United Nations. Our host, Herbert Marshall, introduces a unique radio production of the American folk opera "Porgy and Bess" by George and Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heywood. Set in the vibrant Catfish Row of Charleston, the story unfolds with a rich tapestry of music and drama, capturing the essence of community, love, and struggle. The performance features a talented cast selected by Gershwin himself, with Alexander Smallens conducting the powerful score.
As the curtain falls on "Porgy and Bess," we are given a sneak peek into the next Globe Theater presentation, "The Odyssey of Runyon Jones" by Norman Corwin. This delightful fantasy follows the adventures of a young boy named Runyon as he embarks on a whimsical journey to find his lost dog, Pootsie. With a blend of humor and imagination, the upcoming episode promises to be a captivating experience for listeners. Join us as we continue to celebrate the magic of radio drama and its timeless appeal.
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No purchase necessary. VW, avoid prohibited by law. See terms and conditions. 18 plus. Here's your pass to the Globe Theater. This is The Globe Theater, the radio playhouse especially for men and women of the armed forces of the United Nations. Just as The Globe Theater has meant the best in entertainment since the days of Shakespeare, today it means the best in radio drama for service men and women all over the globe. Here to tell you about tonight's play is your host at the Globe Theatre, Herbert Marshall.
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Hello, everyone. It's good to have you with us again. You know, we've had drama of all types on our stage at the Globe, but tonight we bring you something entirely different. Something we feel we feel sure will be a real treat. Of all his fine Broadway hits, the late George Gershwin considered Porgy and Bess his best work. And it's a radio production of this American folk opera that we will hear this evening. Our stars, chorus, and supporting cast are those selected by Gershwin himself to perform his great work, and our conductor is Alexander Smallens, who first conducted the mighty score. Inspired music and drama indeed are awaiting us for the overture to Porgy and Vests by George and Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heywood.
The time is evening. The place, Catfish Row in Charleston. In the brief silence that marks the interval between the day's end and the night's beginning, in this restless and peeling quarter, a mother sings a lullaby.
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There now. What I tells you, you should sleep all day.
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Now if the devil was out walking in Catfish Road this evening, mind you, I said if he was, now's the time he start again. Yes, sir. Here comes Paulie and his old goat cart. Open the gate
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fern.
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Here's the old pet shot. Now we'll have a game.
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Evening
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Get out down from that wagon, Porky. We'll take it. Head down. Alright. Men, hold on. We don't wait long enough. You best wait for Proud. I've seen them coming. Looks like he ain't gonna stand no fooling. Is Best with him? Listen to Porgy. I think he's soft on Proud Best. Oh, I never swapped two words with Best. Porky got too good sense to look twice at that no good Best. Why that gal best ain't it for god cheering ladies to associate with it? Let's get your mouth off best. That's poor girl ain't got a chance. Anna tells you, Poppy's soft on earth.
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Here comes best now. No best.
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Oh, Brown. Hi, boys. Alright, high stepper. Get your mouth and throw them ties. I'm talking to you. Anybody answering me? Come home, little bones. Come, four. Go a dice, Brown. I'll pass them. You think I'm foggy? Hold on the stars. Roll. Roll this four big. Hold on, Benjamin. Come now. You got the dice, Tungus. Freedom, clown. Nine spider or nine. Touch that money and meet your god. Put your hands off me, you
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Tom. Yeah, Bess.
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You better head out. You've got no time to lose. What's the matter? You done killed it all until the police have become it. Police. Where are you gonna hide? They know me and you both together. Oh, some man's always willing to take care of that. Well, guess this. Whoever he is, he's temporary. I was coming back. You hear me, Beth? Alright. Alright. Only get out now. You take this money. Now, hurry. Remember,
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I'm coming back.
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Is that too short in life? Sure. And I was the only friend you got left. Listen. I'll be going to New York soon. A ride job and take you with me. While you and me will make a swell team. I ain't under that yet. Well, the cops ain't gonna find me here for no woman. Oh, no. Wait. Wait, Adam. Oh. But you bet
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Bess. It's me, Porgy. Don't be scared, Bess. I want to go with the light for you. Porgy knows that. Would you? Come, Bess. They mustn't find you here.
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You oh, you're the good man, Colby. Yeah. Colby's a good man, alright. Invest a good gal at heart. Those two might get together and make a good thing out of it. But if old Satan happens to stick around Cactus Row, mind you, I said his, And it sure looks like he's here to stay. Robin's dead, sounds a murderer, and crowns women fixing to marry Poggill. But you know, sometimes even a devil must feel like a heel. Look at poor Serena Robin crying out loud. All her good neighbors come to keep her company. Sure. Sure. Even old Satan gotta take a rest sometimes. He's sure when Billy and Catfish rode a deserved arrest.
Look at Porgy. He's so happy since the best come to live in Catfish, really can't keep it to himself. He's gotta tell everybody.
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Everybody. Oh, I got plenty of nothing, and nothing's plenty for me. I've got no car, got no muse, got no misery. Folks with plenty of plenty,
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No. That's my car. No. That's going to the picnic? No. It's so nice. No. Guess I'll stay home. And see for the life of me what you hang around this place for. Why, what y'all looks best? Dog. Dog. There's big money for you and me in New York. Old life, I can't remember ever meeting our man. What I like left and I does you. Come now. You and me understand with each other better. You better get out of your foot and I can't come for you. What's going on here? What's the big idea? Why you big low lifers? Let go, fool. Let go.
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What in life you keep away from my woman or I'll bet you on that. I'd like to see you break my neck. Before I get my hands on you once more, you'll see quick enough. Alright. Your land friends come and go. But remember, old sport in life here all along. Help, you rat luff, you buzzard. We'll have plenty of fried chicken. Why don't you go to the picnic, Beth? Oh,
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I think I'll stay with you, Baldy. Ain't that sweet? Now if I was the devil, mind you, I said it, I'd find some way quick to bust up this affair. I'd find me some way of getting back to that picnic in spite of everything. Here comes the lion. Maybe between her bossy ways and Porgi's soft heart. What's it all about you, Bess? Don't you know you're gonna be late for the picnic? Stop staying at Porgi.
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Bess, honey.
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I'm so glad to have you go.
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I've been warned you'd be happy here in Catfish Road. Yes, Bess. I know. Come on now, child. You gotta help me with this basket. It's heavy. You go on, Bess. Well, if you say so, Bess. Goodbye.
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Goodbye, Bess. Hurry home.
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And if anything the devil likes said in a crap game, it's a picnic where the wrong elephants get invited. If I were the devil, they've been spending some time in Catfish Road. Couldn't pick a better spot myself than on Kitty Wild, where Beth and all the folks are cutting up right now. Watch this. I'm gonna have some fun with this, sunbisco's barge. He fought big Goliath coolly down and die a little day. This was small, but oh, my lived in the well. Oh, Jonah, he lived in the well. For he made his home in that fish at Doman. Oh, Jonah, he lived in the well. Little Moses was found in a stream.
Oh, yeah, bless you. Gonna miss that boat. Well, wait for me, Murrah. I've got my bastards.
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Oh, very well, Miss Brown. I've been hiding here on this island until I'm most dead. Oh,
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I see you get off the boat and I've been waiting all day to talk to you. Charlie,
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I'm married to Corgano, and I live in deep. I know you ain't changed, but you and me are always gonna be the same. You tell Porgy Crown come coming to get you when my cotton
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comes to town. Well, Del's done his work, but good. Ain't anything left for him to do now but wait and let things take their natural course. Crown will come to get best when the caution comes to town, but Porgi ain't gonna let his wound go without a fight. So what happens? Crown is found dead. Crown was one of the murders himself, so the cops ain't gonna question Porgy too closely. Understand? The best thing she doesn't know that. All she know is Porgy's gone. Maybe they're gonna hang him. If old Satan was to come around the Catfish Road now, he'd find that doll that's easy kicking. I can see him now, sliding up to him.
What you want with me, sporting life? You look lonesome, honey. I come to cheer you up. I ain't no chain up. Just like I told you. Ain't nobody home now with best nose sporting life. This time, there's a bold bad leaving too can live that high life in who y'all come with me. There, we can't go wrong, sister.
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Thank God I was home again. What's the matter with everybody? What kind of a welcome is this for a man who's just been in jail? Mariah. Mariah, where's Beth? Tell me quick. Where's my best? Can't we tell you all along, Pauly? That woman ain't fit for you. Tell me the truth. Where's Beth gone? New York, folks. I hear you say New York. Where it at? A thousand miles from here. Which way in New York? It's way up north past the custom house, Porgie. Bring my goat. What you want with goat, Porgie? You best not go any place. Bring my goat. But where are you going, Porgie?
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Ain't you safest on to noon? That's where I'm going. I would be with
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Oh, god. Help me to find her. I'm on my way.
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And so tonight's performance of the great American folk opera Porgy and Bess by George and Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heywood comes to a close. Our thanks to the conductor, Alexander Smallins, to Etta Mottin, William Franklin, Warren Coleman, Avon Long, Edward Matthews, Georgette Harvey, Harriet Jackson, Alma Lilly Hubbard, and the supporting members of the cast and to the Eva Jesse choir. We hope you enjoyed Porgy and Bess, something rather unusual in our Globe Theatre presentations. The next time our Globe Theatre curtain goes up, we'll follow the wanderings of a little fellow named Runyon, who goes searching for his dog, Pootsie.
Runyon gets into very interesting situations that make this one of the most delightful fantasies we've had the pleasure of presenting. It's by Norman Corwin, the distinguished radio author. He calls it the Odyssey of Runyon Jones. And just to give you an idea of what to expect, listen to this brief scene.
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Now, mister Jones, this is what you do. There's only one person I know who can possibly set you on the right track, and that's the head of the division of time. We call him Father Time. His place is quite far, and you'll have to make several changes before you get there. That's what all the tickets are for. Shall I say you sent me? Oh, that won't do much good. He's very busy and he won't have much time to talk to you. Tell him quickly what you're after and if he can assist you, he'll tell you quickly. He hates to waste time. The, papers. Very good. Mr. Jones, will you fill out this blank and sign these two while I stamp these documents? Yes, sir.
Clerk, I see that he gets put safely on the golden escalator with with instructions to change at the Inter Heaven Junction for the Nebula Express. Wouldn't it be better for him to take the, westbound tower special? That crosses the meridian, two light hours ahead of the neb. Yes, but then he'd have to wait in Asterion for the ecliptic local. It's better the other way. Maybe right.
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Have you finished, Mr. Jones? Yes, sir. I got a link spot all over the sheet here. Will that make any difference? No, no. Well, Mr. Jones, I guess that does it. Thank you, Mr. Superintendent. Gosh. What's he sure gonna be glad to see me?
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Don't be too sure you'll find him because you're liable to be disappointed, you know. But good luck anyway. Thank you. Now, young man,
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if you'll come with me, I'll see that you get onto the golden escalator. Alright. I'm coming.
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Well, that's just one of the situations in which Runyon finds himself during the unfolding of Norman Corwin's The Odyssey of Runyon Jones, the next feature of The Globe Theatre. Now this is Herbert Marshall wishing you the best of everything and saying, I'll be
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seeing
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you.
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You have been listening to the Globe Theater with Herbert Marshall as host and master of ceremonies. The Globe Theater is presented for servicemen and women of the Allied Armed Forces all over the globe. Listen for our next Globe Theater production soon. This is the Armed Forces Radio Service.
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