The Big Top

Ladies and gentlemen, the Railroad Hour. And here comes our summer show train. Tonight the Association of American Railroads presents a new musical play by Lawrence and Lee, the Big Top, starring Gordon MacRae and his charming guest Dorothy Warren Show.

Our choir is under the direction of Norman Luboff, and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Ragg. Yes, tonight another new musical is brought to you, transcribed by the American railroads, the same railroads that bring you most of the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the fuel you burn, and all the other things you use in your daily life.

And now here is our star, Gordon MacRae. Oh! Thank you, Marvin Miller and good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, Dorothy Warren Schold and I will bring you a story in music about the romance and laughter beneath the canvas of the big top.

Dorothy will be the tantalizing Angelique and I shall be... well, you'll find out in the story. And here's Act 1. Put on your shirt. There's not a thing wrong with you physically. But I'm depressed. Doctor, I think I'm the saddest man in the world.

I have a remedy. What? Please tell me. Well, whenever I have a patient who is morbidly depressed, I prescribe that he go to the circus to see the great clown Rocco. That man could make anybody laugh.

Go see Rocco perform and you will forget all your troubles. Doctor, I am Rocco. Forgive me, sir. I did not recognize you. Without the white paint and the baggy pants. That is understandable. Tell me why you are sad.

You should know, Doctor. All men are born sad. The first noise we make in this world is a howl of protest. Still, childhood is the happiest time of our lives. Childhood is happy to everyone, except children.