M coddown for Blackstop X minus fire or create two X minus one fire from
the far horizons of the unknown, come transcribe tales of new dimensions in time
and space. These are stories of the future adventures in which you'll live in
a million, could be years on a thousand, maybe worlds x minus one.
Tonight's story the Parade by George Leopards. You are, mister Sid Ryan
the same. My name is Lucia. I am a Martian. Pleased to
meet you, mister what was that again? A Martian? A Martian as
an Austin Wells precisely. I'm a roll Terry and myself Helm. Thank you.
And now that we've had our little joke, mister Lucia, what can
publicly associates the boy of it? Has been my observation. It's advertising and
publicity of the very backbone of earthly civilization. Spoken like a true martian,
Miss Lucia. Now if you'll tell me the name of the client, the
client, of course will be the Martian. You don't give up the give
up the gag I mean Oliver. Oh, yes, mister Ryan, this
is miss Lucia claims to be a Martian. Take him outside, will you
all I get the name of the sanatorium you escape from and tell them to
bring the butterfly net waiter. I'm happy to see, mister Ryan, that
my telling you I am a marsh and has approximately the effect I supposed it
would have. I believe we can do business. I have here Casher Tener
for five thousand dollars. By the sit, mister Lujah, all of us,
get the clients. The go sir, no nothing no, no,
the other lass the otherwise, thank you? No. Well, now what
can I do for your Then? I wish you to manage a publicity campaign
very large, a very important campaign. Is the part established or is it
something brand new? Oh? Something quite new? Now what would you judge
to be the most effective type of campaign? Well, if the client has
a lot of dole to throw around, a suspense campaign is best. Virtue
place ads on the paper saying watch this space. Then about a week lady,
you run an ads saying X, y Z A PDQ, and you
get people guessing what it means. Then finally, when you've teased them up,
you bust loose and unveil about X. Very well, sir, we
shall conduct a suspense campaign. Of course, in this kind of campaign.
Secrecy is very important. Once the name of the product leaks out, its
spread like wildfire, and the whole campaign is flopole. Yes, quite so,
quite so, utmost secrecy. That's right. You realize, of course
these things cost like crazy. Would say one million dollars cover the expense?
Come again, I said, with one million dollars coverage? Yes, I
imagined you did say one million dollars. I understood that you had handled some
very larger counts. Of course, if this is too big, a tall
tall. As a matter of fact, I seldom touch anything less at the
right all the oh oh oh, of course that's right, mister Ryan,
Absolutely right good. You will begin then by saturating the newspapers, radio,
see cars. The very simplest statement, what's that? I should write it
for you. The Martians are coming. Say that's not a bad teaser,
got that all? Yes, sir? The next dad, we'll read,
June first is Martian Day? June first is Martian Day? What happens on
June first? The parade takes place? What parade? I wish you to
arrange a parade up Fifth Avenue? You mean might be a macy point exactly,
except that the theme will the world of tomorrow, the Martian world.
My client would like it to be a gay air balloons, clowns, tenants,
pretty drum majurette Hey, that sounds terrific. I might be able to
interest the department stores and a tie in the parade will climate the campaign.
On June's first, the product will be unveiled good enough. By the way,
miss Chard, just what is the product? What are we selling?
Oh no, mister Ryan, secrecy. Remember all will be revealed to you
in good time. Mister Ryan. For the moment, let me say we
are selling a concept, a concept precisely the concept of invasion from Mars.
Benny Marcus, Please, Benny, this is Sid Ryan over publicity associates.
Listen, Benny, how you fixed for midgets? I got midgets, fine.
I need forty midgets for a parade forty June first, And listen,
Benny. I want him dressed in little spacesuits, you know, like men
from Mars. Okay, and I want some movie extras, maybe fifty of
them, also raked up like men from Mars. Make them look gruesome,
go back. Also, I need some horses with the pretty girls on top
of them. Maybe you get that much from Maroney's traveling circus, the ones
we booked for the Fireman's Parade in Albany last year. And never mind the
expense, Just get me the talent. Okay, I gotta hang up now,
I'll call me back, Benny. I don't all the whole fine,
mister Ryan, just fine. We got full page ads and all the dailies
and ten seconds spot on anouncements on every local station. It's costing a fortune
of all. It costs the bigger off percentage spend, like you are going
to the electric chair, Oliver. Yes, sir, how are you making
out on the parade. If it comes off, it will be the biggest
thing since Barham invented the midget. I've got Macy's gimbals and sacks to contribute
floats. Everything is built around the Martian thing. See. Even horses will
have long feelers attached to them and funny looking extra lakes. It'll be sensational.
Oh yeah, yeah, it sounds fine. Only only one, Oh,
mister Ryan, we don't even know what we're selling all of my boy,
You think old Sid Ryan has been sitting here spending all this mula and
not putting two and two together. You mean you know who Lusha represents.
Just by accident, understand, I have learned that Century Pictures is making a
big new epic, a space offera entitled Invasion from Mars. Get up.
Oh oh, I begin to see. Also, by mere coincidence, it
happens to be the premiere sometime around June. First you follow me. But
mister Ryan, Century has an exclusive contract with New Features Syndicate for all that
publicity. Suppose Century Pictures doesn't like the way New Features is handling their stuff.
They want to get out of the contract. A New Feature says no,
so they have to get around the contract. A man named Lusha client
unknowns start publicizing the Martian Invasion. Need I go further? I get it,
mister Ryan, Gee, I suppose I should have thought of that.
No, all of that. That's what I like about you. You're so
innocent. Let me talk to you. Commissioner Patrick Leese said Ryan. Hello.
Commission said Ryan, Oh, it's you. Well, what is it
this time? If you want to goup a man off the Empire State Building
into a tea cup full of water? The answer is no. Oh,
so we are not arresting any fan dancer. You know. I don't handle
fan answers. I want a permit for parade June first, Fifth Avenue.
It's a Sunday, there's no frin. Macy's gets a permit, Gimbals gets
a permit, The American Legion gets a permit. The sons of Aaron marsh
every time Morton Downey Sings are wearing the green. Don't give me a hard
time, Patrick, this is too big. I have the Fifth Avenue Merchants
Association behind me. I'll pass him along with the license comissioner. That's my
boy. By the way, what's the occasion? Don't you read the papers?
Patrick? June first is Martian Day? Here, mister Ryan, how
is the campaign very like fire? Lusha likes fire. Everybody and his blug
is going along with the game. Yesterday we decided the fifty thousand Martian hats
the fool kids. I even arranged the commission of Patrick, who accept the
fifty thousand dollars check for the Policeman's Benevolent Fund from the man from Mars.
I understand Century Pictures spend over a million bucks, making that step upper a
big brother fall com car Miss Lusha. Sid Ryan wasn't born yesterday. You
know I know who our client is, even if you don't admitutes you do
always thinking that's me. Well, as long as you know, let's keep
it to ourselves, shadowy, mister Ryan, because you once remarked when these
things we count, it destroys. This a crime in us, the effectuous
campaign, the ver minutes gone higher them speaking to you from our portable pensmitt
top of the hewing stamp for a much heralded Martian parade on Fifth Avenue.
The beautiful summer day here in New York, perfect day for parade, and
the treats are packed with thousands of spectators all you can to find out what
this is all about. There's an air of real expectancy. Okay, all
right, I've just had words from Salgoon at the Pstal Park Mall that the
Martians have landed from big pink balloons. And while we're waiting here for the
arrival of the parade, we've brought some people up on microphone and had you
their reactions to the spectacular affairs. What's your name now? A little lot
of please, miss Shacklin, And where are you from, missus Jacqueline?
I see and I see you have your family with your two little kelly headed
boys. Are you in New York for your vacation? Yeah, we came
for the Shiners convention with their dad. Well what do you think of Martin
Day, Missus Shacklin. Well, it all seems very safe to me,
but the boys have been testing me to watch it, so we've been standing
here for two hours. I can't they hear her tail. We're neithering a
lot of other people, Missus Shackley. But judging by the thousands here already,
there's a lot of curiosity. Curiosity here the cat. Let's hope not
thank you, Usa jack La. Here's yeah, they come, ladies and
gentlemen. The first unit is a big unching today when he un a famine,
the tan fair colored streamers, music and petty cloaks and all the tapmodica.
Let's put to the vanthems. You're in the vanguard. The host who
little nidget and weird looking. He can lease spaceship carrying weird gold bug weapons.
The spurning fainted on them. I can read one which says a tonic
blaster. I never had the flack or greeting. We're marching through Georgia and
here come the clown laughing and for all over time they're getting free sugar candy.
They gets a long way lass, ladies and gentlemen. There's a happy,
laughing crowd along sit Famiue today, a poor reflection of a great pink
of humor and good nature that makes America the paper. There, I only
what's this? It dogs mummery. Now they've owned somewhat silent, some coming.
I'll try to get it for you, Oh, ladies and gentlemen.
Here the Martians and compen This is per the climax of the show. And
oh it's great push has fallen over the crowd. Quite a sight to see
these thousands of people standing here expectantly, hearing only the great regular sigh of
their mass breathing. Now here they come, ladies and gentlemen, the Martians
marching in booted helmeted ranks row after the road. This is an impressive sight,
ladies and gentlemen, and around a serious contract for the rest of the
the joyous slashtick Blady's been wokenessing up and mouth. So that's over two hundred
broad chested men dressed in metallic race spaces with fixed glass prices drown across their
faces. Each one's holding an ominous looking ray gun at the ready position and
launching an absolute silence. He steps perfectly, as though some unspoken commands and
marking guide booms. Even the children are bored by the unexpected warlike realism.
Martian legions and all the first ranks of the Martians moved past this down for
this sabue towards the reviewing stands at the square, No one moves. A
woman, A woman, ladies and gentlemen, just dashed out into the streets
for what reason, I don't know. She just whip through the police cordon
comes out after and now but she's already reached the ranks of the marches,
and she's trying to lift the visor of one of the martians. Face here
wait wait the fourth he screamed, and then fell forward in a dead faint.
A Martian column keeps right on coming unless they break ranks. They got
the tramplers, No, no, no, the policeman a daughter, now
that they're dragging her away out of the way, trying to revive her.
Now, what is that? Also at the rooms be I'm filtering back through
the crowd some reason whispering is a woman's death? We don't know yet,
but whatever has happened, the incident seems have passed a slight shadow over the
mood of the crowd. There, free holiday as ms to have vanished.
The crowd is stirring uneasily, a little disturbed what we've We've just seen.
Nothing to be alarmed that, however, It's just just Thing's a shame that
anything like this should happen to spoil our enjoyment of the Martian parade. Mister
Ryan, did you see that a woman painted? She ran out into the
street to get a close look at the Martians. Then then she screamed and
painted dead away. I am well aware of that, all of us,
since I paid her fifty bucks to do it. What the dramatic moment,
Oliver the start and trade of the good publicity man Reli hags, Holy smoke,
she should think of everything. For my share this view roughly one hundred
thousand dollars, I can afford to think of everything. Shut the window,
okay, but don't you want to see the finish you'll get out of the
reviewings Dan A little finished right now? On make a phone gold And by
the way, Wislusha, I haven't seen it, spose the window, all
of it. Okay, mister Ryan, Marka's talent agency. Benny, this
is said Ryan. Oh, I say, listen, said I was gonna
call you. I'm offul sigh About those Martians? What do you mean?
Sorry? That terrific? I mean the two that grade grade? Do you
want to pack? Never felt better? Of course I mean it? What
is this? The Martians in the Korea? About one hundred and fifty?
Of course I only ordered fifty. But under the circumstance, what is it?
Did that? You know? I couldn't get you a single movie?
Actually there's a studio striker who York. Huh wait a minute, where these
guys come from? If you didn't hire them? Hold on albah oh,
yes, mister Ryan, did you hire those Martians? Well, no,
sir, I did any This is on the level of Okay, Benny,
I'll call you back. What's the matter, mister Ryan, I don't know,
so I don't know. Wonder flu shot. What's the century picture numbers?
Which remain four one thousand m Sentury Pictures? Is study UK Star?
Give me Marty Sandford your publicity directed, Mardi, This is said Ryan.
By fine, listen, Marty, this is dead serious on the level.
Get it. I've got to locate lu Sha Lusha. Come man now,
Mardy, this is life and death. The guy you sent over to higher
meed for the invasion picture? And what invasion picture? Invasion from Mars the
space opera? You a shell last month? What sure? Back in the
can the big shots decided you can't sell a Martian invade into the American public.
It's two incredible, said, who never believed that could really happen.
I won't agree, mother. What is it? Mister Ryan? You look
terrible. It's too fantastic, And mister Ryan, is something wrong? Open
that window? I want not to look at those Martians. Look at it,
Oliver. You are in the army butt one hundred and fifty movie extras
learned to march like that and say if twenty four hours, no, not
in twenty four days, mister Ryan. That second hesitation not one of a
step, but the way they carry those ray guns at the wreck. On
the other time, I've seen troops much like that. Was a film with
the Nazi s troops marching through the streets of Paris. Mister Ryan, Oliver,
get down there. Find that woman painted. Her name's Gloria montees.
Get her up here and make it fast. Ryan, I can't get much
sense. Okay, Gloria, you need cannot be acting the lights. It's
me, said Ryan. Gloria said it down, baby, it's me,
some big green eyes and see it's like a baby. Snap out of it.
Listen what happened on me? You ran out the screen like I told
you, for the fainting that wasn't in the act. Please go away.
Just one question, be inside that helmet. What did you see? Okay,
I've written up any other you take care of Gloria. You got a
drinks? Why are you going see the commissioner. You gotta stop the correct
All things are going to happen, Okay, Ryan, what's the b Listen,
Patrick, I don't know what it is, see, but something's wrong.
You've got to stop that parade. I suppose you drig the rad squad.
That would get you a front page spread in every paper in town.
Now, look, Ryan, I've got no time to your achieve publicity.
Guys, you're a busy man. Listen. I'm trying to tell you.
I don't know where those Martians came from, who they are, anything about
them? Oh, Ryan, I'm wise to your tricks. Now if you
let the sergeant show you you won't do it, an honor citizen appears for
protection and you refuse, I'm most emphatically to now be all right, Patrick,
I'll go right to the Mayor's office. I'll have you busted flat on
the Friday. Oh ahead, I'm sure it's honah. We'll be glad to
toss you out on that phony nickel plated skull of yours. You heard me
rying, you can't see the man hate off. Please, this isn't a
gag. I don't want publicity. All I want to do is maybe prevent
something horrible from that pha. Don't no it wise, guys, something horrible
is already happening. A couple of hundred little kids are in the hospital which
remained poisoning from that phony march in Candy. You passed out? What but
didn't you know? I just we've got to start that park. Sure,
you'd like nothing better than start a planet. Now, maybe a few hundred
people get time for to death. Think of the newspaper, Stace stand it,
get you and your phoney frot. I won't stand for this eight off.
This may be a matter of life and death. Get out of here,
for you'll be your death. Go on, beat you, get out.
You're and your publicity sons makes me sick to my stomach. Oh where
are you? Oliver? Oliver, Oliver? It is useless to scream at
him, mister Ryan, your friend is quite dead. Flo. He wanted
to render the police with some story about a Martian invasion. I found it
necessary to restrain him. Restrain him. You were speaking moderan, now,
mister right, collect yourself. After all our penning, it wouldn't do to
have everything spoiled. Now, shall start talking, and talk fast, because
when you get through, I'm gonna take you apart piece by peace. What's
it's all about, Truller, you know, mister Ryan, after all,
you've been publicizing it for months. You see, before colonizing your pen at,
the Martian government sent some of us to Scouts in advance, disguised dessertmen,
of course, to study your habits, your weaknesses. We found that
the people on earth are predominantly conditioned by advertising and publicity, and so we
conceived the idea of tweaking our entire invasion is a vast problicity. Stand clever,
yes, after all, mister Ryan, who would suspect an invader who
advertised his invasion in the newspaper, invited the public to a surprise attack,
and spent millions publicizing his plan. Oh, chump, you've done very well.
You see. Then there was no product, but there is a product.
The product is dead. What are you trying, Lucia. We Martians
are as humane people, mister Ryan. We do not like to destroy thousands
with a few hundred office in expected two minutes. Our troops will treat the
world or a spectacle of death, which will bring the rest of your planet
to its knees in horror. Nations will clever to surrender, perhaps, mister
Lusha, But not a finger operator is mister Ryan. Give me to Biel
telephone on the reviewing stand of the Martian Day Parade. Hurry because sorry real
stamp. Hello, yeah, me coming to Patrick. Hello, I want
coming to Patrick patnic Patrick where recording? Now? What was that you wanted?
This is why? And I have to talk to the commissioner no matter
why and death. I can't talk to him now. The Chief marsh is
presenting the BBA chick to him. The marshes a kind of fire at the
Listen, you're gonna stop him stop. I'm gonna I can't you already have
the worst stop? I heard? He's something? The matter doesn't matter,
nothing mat the Night. By transcription X minus one has Brought You the Parade,
written by George Lefferts. Featured in the cast where Joseph Curtain as Ryan,
Barry Kroger as Lushar, Alexander Scourby as Ron Heilman. Music by Albert
Berman. X minus one was produced by Van Woodward and directed by Edward King,
Fred Collin speaking. X minus one is an NBC radio network for US
and now next week The Cave of the Night, the gripping story of the
first man to pilot an Earth satellite beyond the reach of gravitational pulls, and
of what happened when a watch World learned that something had gone wrong but he
could never return, that he was doomed to die a lingering death in the
arching blackness of the sky The Cave of Night. Hear it next week at
X minus one. Did you ever stop to realize that four American coins show
us the importance of elections? The first one is the Washington Quarter. It
was George Washington who reminded us that on the unity of our government depends our
independence, our peace at home and abroad, our safety, prosperity, and
our freedom. The second coin is the Jefferson nicol. It was Thomas Jefferson
who said, no government can continue good but under the control of the people.
The third coin is a penny bearing the likeness of Abraham Lincoln, who
said, among free men there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to
the bullet. And finally, the Roosevelt dime reminds us of something Franklin D.
Roosevelt once said. Every man and every woman in this nation, regardless
of party, who have the right to register and to vote, and the
opportunity to register and to vote, have also the sacred obligation to register and
to vote. These four Americans, by recognizing the importance of elections, added
another page to your political history.