Family Theater: The Happy Prince

Family Theatre presents Loretta Young, Vincent Price and Junius Matthews. From Hollywood, the mutual network in cooperation with Family Theatre Incorporated brings you Oscar Wilde's classical fantasy, The Happy Prince, with Vincent Price and Junius Matthews.

To introduce the drama, your hostess and narrator, Miss Loretta Young! Thank you, Jean. Oscar Wilde has written many fantasies and he has left a wealth of stories imbued with all the mysticism and sensitivity of the Irish.

Tonight, he leaves the magic cloak of fantasy about a story as fresh as tomorrow's headlines. Man's inhumanity to man. Here then is Oscar Wilde's enduring story of selfishness and sacrifice, the Happy Prince. Once upon a time, high above a quaint European city, On a tall column stood the statue of the Happy Prince.

It was a fine statue, gilded all over within leaves of gold. For eyes, he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed in his sword-hilt. He was much admired by all the townspeople.

Oh, yes, he's every bit as beautiful as a weathercock, only not quite so useful, perhaps. This portly gentleman is a town counselor. He wishes to gain a reputation for artistic taste, but one must be practical too, and unfortunately sometimes in politics, one straddles the fence.

The quality children come out of the cathedral wearing their bright red cloaks and clean white pinnafors. And the stern gentleman, Wigman, is the mathematical master. What a beautiful statue! It looks like an angel. How do you know? Have you ever seen an angel?

I've seen him in my dreams. Nonsense, I don't believe in dreams. You cannot prove the existence of angels scientifically. And there stands a tired young man, with a portfolio under his arm and disappointment on his face.