Swanee River

Lux presents Hollywood. The Lux Radio Theater brings you Dennis Morgan, Al Jolson, and Francis Gifford in Swaney River. Ladies and gentlemen, your guest producer, Mr. Walter Houston. Leading some Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen, without doubt we Americans are the greatest song-loving nation in the world.

Other countries may still lead us in the classics and grand opera, but our melodies have warmed the hearts of marching armies. They've been sung by the lonely campfires and the steps of Russia to my native Canada.

And they've been danced to from the villages of Ireland to the cafes of Brazil. Our songs come easily to Americans. And they came easily to Stephen Foster, whose life story is the subject of our play tonight from the 20th Century Fox hit Swanee River.

In our cast is a man who is for years billed as the world's greatest entertainer, Al Jolson, who made the first talking picture ever produced in Hollywood. Ghostard of Mr. Jolson is another gentleman who is carrying on that fine tradition of great musical entertainment, Dennis Morgan, a singer who is acting talent as admirable as his voice.

And finally because the life of Stephen Foster had its share of female beauty and romance, we have the Auburn hair and blue-eyed Francis Gifford, shortened to be starred in Metro Golden Mayor's picture, our vines have tender grapes.

I highly need to say that it's a pleasure for me to be back on this stage after many years of absence. And while I've missed you all, I've been with you every night as part of the Lux audience.

And I might add, I've also been loyal to the real producer of this show Lux Toilet Soap. In my hometown of running springs about a hundred miles from here, Lux Toilet Soap is a regular item at the little general store.