America on stage; The Lion of the West

Washington DC July 1st enough Peter here I am only two days journey from New York. I got your letter I said right off the horseback. That all the foreigners in New York know I'm half was happy alligator. I talked to the earthquake way this. Week. Magic can you. Give. Me yours to the back. Nimrod wildfire comes to New York. New York City in the year 1831 a new play opens at the Park Theater a new play for a new America. All of the nation's not an infant. It's all out of swaddling clothes all right. Tom Jefferson died a while back at a ripe old age. Dolly Madison has had her day at the White House and she improved the drawing rooms considerably. Of course the British burn the place down but we've rebuilt the house and the Capitol too grander than ever before though they're still having trouble with acoustics in the hall of Representatives. Oh yes the nation's growing up. Washington D.C. is about 30 years old now. But now now in

1831 a new nation is springing up a new breed of men a new look in their faces a new cut to their clothes. A new speech on their tongues. It's this new breed of American who has starred in the play just opening its name Nimrod wildfire and the play The lion of the West. Program three of America on stage. The character of a nation as seen through its theater. America on stage is produced by the Wisconsin state broadcasting service under a grant from the Educational Television and Radio Center in cooperation with the National Association of educational broadcasters consulting for the series. Jonathan W. Kervyn

professor of speech at the University of Wisconsin and a specialist in the American theater. Here to introduce the program Professor curve and the opening of the West or more properly West. But there was the west across the Appalachians the west across the Mississippi the west across the Missouri. So on paved the way for that uniquely American experience front here living this experience in turn set the American Theatre stage for Western drama. And it's enormously popular leading character the frontiersman from a distance. Lord Byron had characterized the winner of the West as simple serene the antipathies of shame. Is first important stage vehicle. James Kirk Paulding is play the lion of the West was long thought to be lost until James did well discover his manuscript in of all places the British Museum and arranged for his publication in 1954 by the Stanford University Press.

We are not able to say Colonel while fire the anything but serene hunter of Kentucky. You don't write a play overnight. You don't even write it alone in your room. Certain season of a certain year many many places strangers and events you never saw help you conceive and bring forth the play. You cannot claim all the seeds that give it birth. This play. This one is not unrelated to an old gentleman on a horse riding out of Washington D.C. One mild spring day March 4th 18 29. Get me there. Nothing. Let me help you there's my answer.

Thank you thank you very much. Not my horse you understand convenient everything disarranged everything except your traditional habits or as usual you are arranged to have your morning exercise on horseback. You know who I am then. Certainly sir everyone in Washington knows President John Quincy Adams must have his daily constitutional. Constitution is as it should be thanks to respectable and regular living with the constitution of our country where it's safe. I gather you don't ride into the city to join today's celebration Mr. President. I shall remain withdrawn. This is Adams and I have covered a reporter at Meridian Hill. This horse this creature is is when they gave me. Want to be strange to inaugurate a new president without his predecessor at least putting in an appearance assuming you speak of gentleman. You cannot assume this is a gentleman conducting himself by a civilized code of men is that I cannot assume

Andrew Jackson did not call at the White House to pay his respects to me when he arrived in Washington. And if this man is to be inaugurated and his mentors and his friends inaugurated with him I shall remove myself from the scene. I cannot associate myself and my family with these barbarians. But you don't plan to go back to Massachusetts Mr. President I returned to Washington. Good. While I have breath in my body and all in my soul I hope I shall serve my country in the House of Representatives that is good news for Washington society. So much pleasure during your administration is centered about the drawing room in the elegant assembly. Has your dinner because personally I prefer the theatre. Give me a man who can perform Shakespeare. That Hackett fellow for instance he and his players from Philadelphia Mark me an evening of his Shakespeare is more elevating than a dance. I understand General Jackson prefers horse racing and cock fighting since he also preferred a wife who smoked a corncob pipe.

What's that. Morse code let me holy Mr. President. Down down this president I beg pardon Mr. President. Every day can be addressed by that title. It was cannon shot you heard the salute to Andrew Jackson president of the United States. The inauguration must be over now the reception at the White House began his Jackson and his mob the house full of Indian fighters and and fun to mark me well sir can enjoy his putting this horse but Jackson will shock the very foundations of our country before he's president a year market sir. Yes Mr. Adams. Mr. Snow I am Mr Ed and many other men too many will feel the change. The end of our time. Good day sir. The. Changes in the air. Many

men feel in Washington there are new job holders hunting up rooms where the beds are still warm from predecessor. At the White House a tavern keeper's daughter is Jackson's closest friend and on the streets are congressmen who come in strange attire in buckskins and coon caps you know a place in this man's town I can get me a bite to eat. The engine in the hob frost. There's a tavern round the corner. Mr. Congressman that I may be shot. David Crockett's the name Colonel Crockett from Tennessee a Westerner you know President Jackson now I've known him a while back in the Houghton days and the Jackson May 5th engines. And the seeds of change blow out of Washington north to Philadelphia. There are two men feel the ground shifting the wind coming from the West

and the shrewd gentleman in Philadelphia bends with the brake. I tell you I've got to find something you know I can make a fortune if I just hit upon the right thing. Nobody makes a fortune in the theater. You mean you want to star in a new play Mr. Hackett. You can say my wife does not agree with me but my dear James Catherine Catherine wants us to open the season with the same old repertoire. Shakespeare Dryden Yankee impersonations. Yet even as you admit I do better business in the old grocery store selling potatoes and crockery a ton of money anywhere people aren't spending. With this new talk of the tariff and the federal ban on the uses of adversity which like the toad ugly and venomous with no quotes James Hackett this is a serious matter. Try some new crazy scheme and you'll play to an empty theater I tell you it's dangerous out of this net with this safety stop it. It is comedy not tragedy. And I say the public wants a new

comedy a new style new character frontiersmen they're all the rage. Keep up with the times of should I say play about Huntress Indian fighters Western Where should you get this epic is my idea. Don't bait me. I should instigate a contest of course a contest to sniff out a playwright and put him on the trail of my own. I am sure someone else can do the script. So the women from the west blows past Washington and Philadelphia New York. Carrying the seeds of the new place. This is the home ground of old Knickerbocker himself. A literary giant of the Washington Irving. And here too is his boyhood friend James Kirk Paulding the Polings live in a fine old house.

This is my place in my home. Not at all. I thought you would be working in the library but I'm not working. Writing a letter to England. To Washington. Oh dear I do. Tell them to come home. Lots of changes since he left the country. I wonder what he'd think of them. Maybe you'll have a chance to see at least my version of them. I have news for you news. Listen to my letter to Irving. A playwriting contest offered by James Hackett the Shakespearean actor has just awarded my entry first prize Mr. Paulding. Why you would never tell me not to worry. As you know plays are not quite in my line but politics and satire and this play is concerned with both. The hero is a nimrod wildfire a frontiersman type who is now invading our land to such an extent that he qualifies as a fit subject for

both public interest and literature. Heavens it'll be a scam. Well I think not my dear. Neither does. It is going to take the played England after it opens here in New York. Good heavens what will they do with the English. We've had enough of their sneering down their noses at American taste that's in my play to it. The public will love it. Do you think I could win to really keep it keep it. It'll be the making of them is a new type of actor. Philadelphia Baltimore Washington. Just wait till he takes it there. You have that government crowd stampeding down the aisle. Now now the wind blows circle and the seed comes to harvest in the city where you saw. The new play of the new American breed arrives in Washington D.C. after an uproarious run in New York and London air all the town's buzzing with rumors before the curtain goes up.

It said Colonel David Crockett personally requested Mr Hackett to present the play he wants to see what all the hullabaloo is about in New York. Now the theatres are filling up every seat taken. There's a rumor that Colonel Crockett himself is the model for this comic hero Nimrod wildfire. But the play's author denies it. Now there seems to be some flurry of excitement in the season. On this day. It. Was. Connell Crockett himself coming down the aisle to the front there cheering him. And now he's taken his seat in the front row. Looks like the curtain is going up almost as if Crockett's entrance were a signal for the play to begin. Now the famous actor James Hackett himself appears in buckskin and he's bowing to the audience they're applauding. And now Mr. Hackett bows to the colonel

trying to David Crockett in the front row. Colonel Crockett rises and bows to the idea. Well that's a moment to remember I've never seen anything like it in Washington or New York. The play's beginning it opens with a typical New York merchant and his wife had a daughter and sister. Mission How can you be so blind to the attentions of a certain visitor of Percival the English merchant to much and indeed I mean the distinguished member of the English aristocracy whom I know about daughter by accompanying her home from the spring all his lordship Lord Granby. Why should I not rather give my daughter to a man whose nobility is in his conduct not his name what Republican infatuation. All right come on. What's this a letter from my nephew Colonel wildfire it's dated Washington and he is now on the road to New York to spend the summer with us I

regret to hear it. Such a baritone. Consider the circumstances of his education this nimrod was born a thousand miles from good society and if his manners are brought up to still awaken by a native humor like his Kentucky vocabulary Oh rather eccentric I confess eccentric Mr. Freeman. This man's a Sammy Hagar A are prejudiced. It's mere exuberance of spirits whimsical experiments of speech quite overbalance By a Heart which would scorn to mean or dishonest action. Well at least I hope he will not be here less Mrs. wallop is our guest. What a pity. It would be for national matters from such a man. This Mrs. Atwell up is a direct satire on Mrs. Francis and this woman who lived in Cincinnati and created an art by writing a book on the racism of American manners or party tonight to prevent Mrs. walk to visit our home and observe our society at its best I mean na upon my pride.

This is why I love Shelby in France first to free my show a man first of all you will excuse me but my care personnel do come and I am your most obedient servant but my friend pardon me if I'm wrong about a certain change in Mrs. Freeman's manner if I have given her qualify where your friend's part of your coming to our party promises wollop No I have not been invited but you must come. It's my fault that you know why I love to share the human cataract from Kentucky. Wait wait snakes June bugs you come with us nearly as soon as your water. Let me introduce you to my friend Mr. Percival a gentleman and a merchant from England to real food bloody John. STRANGER There is my hand. Let me give you a cordial and a good grip. I have no doubt it's a correct imitation that Kentucky has our national gas gong and

using it to screen stranger and all kinked up she's a cream of these United States. When I go back there I'll take you with me just to lead a ride. About a thousand miles. Now if you're in Congress take a while. That's really what will be your sentiments on the tariff question terror. I'll settle that in a single speech a single speech. And so could these six months. It tariff bill comes or I'll jump up on a table and US S.. Look hear me. I bet these tariff duty won't my father the first down Kaintuck a river with the hogshead to back it up on the banks you couldn't see the trees for an hour say. I'll say Mr. Chairman now about your care. I was squatting deeper.

And stand on the man come out. I say I say I've got your prettiest sister horse and police dog and it is the show. Mr. Chairman this jumbled up in one we don't carry a duty. Speech is a priceless piece of nonsense on the hottest political issue of our day. South Carolina almost seceded from the union because of the tariff. And now we see Nimrod wildfire meeting. This is one of the caricature of the visiting English woman whom all America is up in arms about me you come to take a squint at seeing is this side of the big pond big. Oh yes. That is my

object. Would you join me in a cup of tea was never raised on hot water madam. Always go on our I praise your principal and encourage them that is are you stationed in New York. Cain talks to spot lady. There were made on a large scale. And you only did this again it was no mistaking them. You take my three dark Patti Smith a 9 year old she shot a bar by 50 and she could whisper wait n watch this should be the first anecdote of my writing. I say mater I say Madam there's no mistaking your use screamer you will you beat Kentucky.

Now suppose you and me could go to. The media nor parson. Any family. Tree five minutes we will be hammered into one day I go by the collar. The Cat in the office in a covered wagon to the back. Room. Damn. What do you call your mistress. Oh miss. Oh you mean I'm alone in this house. I see plainly stand there I should never left. What do you. Think madam. It was.

Only this and a British comedy hits the spot that nimrods not only good comic stuff but a real hero too. He discovers the British lord is an imposter and just as this Lord is about to kidnap the Freemans daughter Nimrod fights him in a typical Western duo. Joists with rifles. Do you take me for a buffalo. Lack of fire in a prairie. Take trail trail races. We might as well fight you know washing up to $100. I put my touch in your know my dear nephew are safe now this scoundrel had intended to kidnap my daughter but thanks to you expose you plaster.

Leave us just a freeman. I cannot deny what you say but stop stop there right there stranger. You know country where you. On. This doesn't even just pose I phone you. It will save you from this British nephew of yours that he wants to get me off into the woods with it to be a duck that might be their kernel while this country want you or your designs for approving it. When I have my. I made my observations. I return we come to England and I'll give them to the was. Steady jobs between us. I say.

She is screamer The key is that Nimrod but that's not to say that no good can come of joining the American in the brig. My daughter cannot marry my English friend Percival. What do you say to that. Wow I say they'd better get hitched right away. Pack up their plunder their selves off to Kaintuck. I'll give my land on a Big Muddy and a little muddy and their fortune will be made out there that if you plant a crowbar overnight sprout to turning. The. Yes. I am. On.

The Edge. Of the West. The audience cheers sophisticated Washingtonian Jackson from the western rivers has blown a fresh breath. You're listening to America on. The third program in a series designed to explore American history through the theater of the time. Here again is our consultant for the series. Professor Jonathan curve in the front in the theater as

elsewhere was a low brow hero. His grammar was bad his manners rough His voice was loud and he could barely read or write but his very plainness besides his rugged physical courage and blunt practicality endeared him to democratic America. So did his simple moral philosophy as summed up in Davy Crockett's phrase Be sure your right line go ahead. The American theater is pretty much cleared the stage of many of us one time idols the stage Yankee rarely appears anymore. The honest farmer is no longer the hero he once was nor the Indian but admiration for the front tears human remains undiminished as a popular theatre of the Western movie clearly shows. Davy Crockett's glory was not to wind up the Alamo popular legend simply refused to let him die. Stories were told of how he continued to roll in the planes and you've been seen in California as far away as the SOL sees continuing of course wherever he was to perform his incredible

exploits of backwoods strength and skill. He lived on as a hero who knows how many tall tales. He was America's first Superman sold to the American theater will not let the front tears man die on the movie screens he remains a hearty survivor and many a Hollywood scenario. He stands for an American experience that according to every sign will long continue to fire the imagination. The next program. Fourth in the series America onstage introduces the Indian play or rather the Indian play of the early American theater not a moral all the last of the Wampanoags. Program three of America on stage produced and recorded

by the Wisconsin state broadcasting service under a grant from the Educational Television Radio Center. The programs are distributed by the National Association of educational broadcasters consulting for the series is Jonathan W. Kervyn professor of speech at the University of Wisconsin heard in the cast were cliff Roberts Karl Schmidt Tom teen Carol Cullen or Dean ness. Very good work. Joyce millstone Tom grown wild and cow nosed music composed and conducted by Don vaguely script by Jay Helen Stanley production by Carl Schmidt. This is the end he be radio network.