Direct from the grand ballroom of New York's Waldorf Historia Hotel, Auto Light and its
98,000 dealers bring you Mr. Van Johnson in tonight's presentation of Suspense.
Tonight, Auto Light recreates the story of the first international automobile race.
The story is based on fact and is called Around the World. Our star, Mr. Van Johnson.
This is Harlow Wilcock speaking for Auto Light with greetings from the Great Easter Parade
of Stars Automobile Show in the Waldorf Historia Hotel in New York City. On display are 40
new car models in exciting colors. They were produced by leading car manufacturer members
of the Auto Light family. Here, too, are spectacular action displays, working models of a Navy
torpedo and aircraft carrier, along with other interesting exhibits provided by our armed
forces. Plus, special cars styled by leading American and European designers. Record-breaking
crowds of enthusiastic visitors have seen the show since Saturday's opening, and before
it closes Thursday, many more are expected to see this spring spectacle. And now, as a
special treat for our visitors here at the Easter Parade of Stars Auto Show and to you
at home, Auto Light has brought our cast and our star, Van Johnson, to the stage of the
Waldorf's Grand Ballroom for the true and exciting story of the one and only auto race
Around the World. This famous race took place in 1908, just three years before Auto Light
developed the first two-unit, six-volt electrical system used as original equipment.
But now, let's listen. Van Johnson is appearing by arrangement with MGM, producers of the
Technicolor musical Small Town Girl, starring Jane Powell and Farley Granger. And now, transcribed,
Auto Light presents Around the World, starring Mr. Van Johnson, hoping once again to keep
you in suspense.
My name is George Miller. These are my opponents, Monsieur Bossier de Saint-Chapre.
Enchanté. I am driving the TT. My crew is also French. Vive les sports.
Lieutenant Hans von Koppel.
Driving a Protoss, a German car, as are my technicians. German.
Signior Anthony Scaffoglio.
Commissaire, Italian, with my crew, with driver of a Dezuse automobile.
The gentlemen you have met and a couple of others who you will meet presently who are
riding with me. All of us are going to have a race in automobiles around the world.
New York to Paris by way of Siberia.
It's 1908, Lincoln's birthday. A bright and sunshiny day. Times Square, New York, 10 a.m.
I'm the driver of a four-cylinder, 60-horsepower car taken from stock, the Thomas Flyer.
However, this thing comes out, and I'm not offering any excuses. But in all fairness,
you should know that the other cars have been built especially for this race. But the Thomas
Flyer, anybody can go and buy one off the floor. The members of my crew are Montague
Roberts, who knows about maps and motors, and Mr. Colby, correspondent for the Combined
Use Services.
How do you do?
Hello.
Gentlemen, are you ready? All right, gentlemen.
Montague.
Yes, George.
How far is it to Buffalo?
We're only 50 miles from 40 Thursday Times Square, George, and under the second. The
day is still ahead of us.
I didn't ask you how we...
I'd like to make an observation, gentlemen.
About the rain again, Mr. Colby?
Yes, of course. As long as we're going around the world together, I don't think we should
immediately exhaust whatever food and conversation we have in store for each other. I think the
things at hand, the elements, for instance...
Please talk to us about the rain, Mr. Colby.
I'd like to know what's going on in the rain.
Yes, I'd like to know.
I'd like to know what's going on in the rain.
I'd like to know.
How far now, Mr. Colby?
Mr. Colby, found the floor again, George.
Catch the bed.
We'll be on the other side in a few seconds.
Turn it off!
Let's pull and fight!
You can drive now, Monty.
Wait a minute.
All right.
Move over, will you?
Yeah.
Don't look at me like that, George.
I just...
Let's get out and see.
I'll get under the car.
Monty, come here.
What do you see?
I don't see any clutch shaft.
That's one thing I see.
Oh.
Cracked right off.
Where are we, Monty?
Under a Thomas flyer in the middle of the desert.
Yeah.
Mind if I ask you another question, Monty?
Go right ahead.
How far from a town, a good-sized town,
one that would have a blacksmith?
About 30 miles that way.
Well, let's get out from under here.
Oh, over there on the sand, George,
the other part of the clutch shaft.
Uh-huh.
We've got to get the part to a blacksmith.
There's no two ways apart.
Uh, somebody's going to have to walk 30 miles.
Somebody who's had a lot of rest.
Mr. Colby!
Mr. Colby returned 16 hours later.
The blacksmith returned him in the wagon.
Mr. Colby was sleeping in back of it.
The clutch shaft was repaired and the Thomas flyer
and the three of us were ready to go.
So we went.
We arrived in San Francisco 12 days ahead of the other contestants.
They gave us a cup and we left for Seattle.
When we arrived there, they gave us a cup.
And according to the prearranged route,
we loaded the Thomas flyer on board a steamer
and sailed for Valdez, Alaska.
It was very cold in Valdez.
My word, it's cold.
Many people in Valdez had never seen an automobile before.
And as a token for our achievement,
they gave us a cup.
They showed us a smaller cup, which they were saving
for the Frenchmen who were 10 days behind.
On April 8, when the snowdrifts were piled from 3 to 12 feet high,
we left Valdez for the Yukon and the Bering Straits,
which were frozen over this time of year
so we could drive straight to Asia.
We were thankful for the foresight of bringing chains along,
a new innovation, and thankful, too,
for the efficiency of the motor of the Thomas flyer.
At 20 degrees below zero.
Headway was very slow.
Three days of it, and we only covered 22 miles.
Tundras.
What did you say, Mr. Colby?
Tundras.
When you've seen one of them, you've seen...
Yes, we know, Mr. Colby.
It is fleet, isn't it?
George. Yes.
If anything went wrong here...
Don't think about it. Talk about something else.
The German car was in Omaha when we got to Seattle.
I know.
The Italians in Salt Lake City.
I know.
The French, these monsters...
We know all about that, Monty.
You say something, Mr. Colby.
I was just going to say that...
What was that?
Get out of the car, quick!
An avalanche! Run!
You all right, Monty?
Yep.
Mr. Colby?
Look at the car. It's covered.
Let's start digging, boys. Can't get caught here.
All our equipment's covered. The shovels...
Improvise, Mr. Colby. Use your hands.
Oh?
Hey! Hey!
A fellow in snow shoes. Wonder what he wants.
Hey there!
Howdy! Howdy!
Hello!
You the fellas driving an automobile around the world?
That's right.
Where's your automobile?
One of the snow. We had a little...
Snow slide, eh?
I'm around here all the time.
Well, I'm glad I caught you, fellas.
Oh, we are, too. We could use a...
Well, they sent me out from Valdez to find you.
Got something to tell you.
Tell us?
You fellas are going the wrong way.
Wrong way?
Rules of this race have been changed.
You don't go through Alaska. Can't be done anyhow.
The Beren Straits don't freeze over.
What?
Here and there, they turn to mush, but they don't freeze over.
Never have.
Then what are we supposed to do?
Go back to Seattle. That's all I know.
Automobile in Alaska. That don't make no sense at all.
Well, come on. I'll give you a hand. Dig you out.
I hope this little side trip didn't lose you boys a race.
Auto Light is bringing you Mr. Van Johnson and around the world.
Tonight's presentation and radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
This is Harlow Wilcox speaking again for Auto Light and the colorful Easter Parade of Stars Automobile Show
in the grand ballroom of New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
Here are 40 exciting car models produced by manufacturer members of the Auto Light family.
In the balcony overlooking the ballroom is a 38-piece band of the Women's Army Corps.
In rooms surrounding the ballroom are special action displays
dramatizing the latest engineering advancements of the automotive industry,
as well as special exhibits featuring outstanding accomplishments of our armed forces.
Auto Light is proud to be a part of the great automotive industry
and to have contributed to the development of today's fine cars.
Auto Light serves the greatest names in the industry.
Tonight, in the climax to the second annual Auto Light family salute program,
Auto Light is privileged to salute distinguished members of the Auto Light family
whose cars are on display at the Easter Parade of Stars Automobile Show
and to salute their dealers throughout the world for our many years of close association.
And now Auto Light brings back to our sound stage Mr. Van Johnson in Elliot Lewis's production of Around the World,
a story based on fact and well calculated to keep you in suspense.
This is George Miller again.
I'd like for you to hear a few comments from my opponents in the Around the World automobile race.
Senor Anthony Scafoglio, I wish to tell you how much I enjoyed the trip by boat from Seattle to Yokohama.
The fact that we come in 12 days behind Americans to Seattle was due to an oversight by a navigator.
Thank you, Senor. Now, Lieutenant Hans von Koppel.
This is not possible that we arrive six days behind the Americans to Seattle.
However, we are happy to be in Yokohama.
Monsieur Bossier de Saint-Chapre.
What does it matter that the Americans waited a week for us?
The wine on the boat to Yokohama was deplorable.
We arrived in Yokohama on May 10, 1908.
All the cars were unloaded by Sam Pann since there were no docks.
All the contestants rested, saw the sights, and learned to eat with two pieces of wood which are called chopsticks.
During the short time we were there, the student among us, Mr. Colby of the newspaper syndicate, learned a few Japanese words.
Biru is beer, obasan is woman, kawaii is pretty face, genki desu is I am happy.
Our stay in Japan was pleasant.
All of us drove to Colby and were loaded onto a boat and we sailed for Vladivastok arriving there May 17.
The race to Paris was resumed except for the Italian car whose crew liked the ocean void so much that they were last seen sailing for the Mediterranean.
From Vladivastok to Harbin, a refueling point, we arrived ahead of the Germans but the French beat us by half an hour.
Hello Miller, hello. Hello Monsieur, well you beat us.
The race is yet to be won. Have you refueled?
A moment ago, I saw your car so I thought to wait to be due a due. Yeah, well I do.
And to save you some time. Oh?
There is no more gas to be had at the fueling station. What do you mean no more gas?
My American speech is not at the best. I do not know how else to say it. Let me think. How else can I say it?
I have it. I have bought all of it. All of the gasoline in order to cross the bigness of Siberia. So there is no more gas. Adieu.
And all, my brother. I must say that was rather unsporting.
Marty, go ask the man if he has any more gas. Right. You have no idea what I shall do when we finally get to Paris.
What are you going to do Mr. Colby? I shall lodge a protest with the rules committee. Forget it.
Anyhow, I do not think I like Siberia very much. Well you are going to see a lot of it Mr. Colby. It is the biggest country in the...
I am George. What about it, Marty? No gas.
It was Monty in his charming way who got the gas. There was an army outpost in Harban. The army of his imperial majesty, the sire of all the Russians.
Monty introduced himself and his charm at the officers club and in a little while introduced a variation on the game of poker known as spit in the ocean.
American money against the sire's gasoline. Monty won. Proposed maneuvers of the Harban outpost of the army of his imperial majesty, the sire of all the Russians, was delayed for some time.
We headed into the wilderness of Siberia. How far to the lake, Monty? I figure Lake Baikal is about 50 miles away. If we miss the boat that crosses it will lose two days.
We are well aware of that fact, Mr. Colby. Do not worry about it. We will be there tomorrow morning for sure.
Must the French get there first or the Germans? I have not seen the Germans but we passed the French. I would like to remind you that we should not cross our...
What is that up ahead? Voices. People on them. In such a locale they are known as Tartars.
If you want to line, George, you better slow down. Tartars are direct descendants of Genghis Khan. History tells us that Genghis Khan put two million people to the sword.
The hobby of these people is beheading strangers. They are on to the teeth, George. Let's go out and talk to them.
Hi there. You try it, Monty. Hello.
Mr. Colby, have you ever had occasion to learn Tartar talk? Mr. Colby.
Here he comes, George. He must be seven feet tall.
Hello, Chief. We are just riding through. We are on our way to St. Petersburg. You talk to him, Monty.
What do I say? Something charming.
Nice country you have here, Chief. George.
You like the horn, Chief? Monty, give him the horn.
Sure, sure. He will only be a minute, Chief. Hurry up, Monty. Here, Chief.
Oh, now, wait a minute, Chief. That's the wheel. We need the wheel. Blow the horn, Chief, here. Isn't that nice?
Our crossing of the rest of the Siberian wastes was remarkable only in Mr. Colby's remarking that we hadn't seen the French car for a long time.
As a matter of fact, we never saw the French again. We lost only a few minutes at Omsk when we had to stop to let the Trans-Siberian Railroad train go by.
Just before we were ferried across the Volga River, we passed Lieutenant Coppen and the crew of the Protoss automobile.
We were now in the lead. We arrived in St. Petersburg on Thursday, July 23. We were the first to arrive and there were festivities in our honor.
What a reception. My word.
In the name of His Imperial Highness Tsar of all the Russians, I welcome you to St. Petersburg.
We're very glad to...
And in full recognition of your remarkable achievements as the force to cross the motherland by automobile, I have been commanded by His Imperial Majesty Tsar of all the Russians to present a token of our admiration.
Boris, the cup. Here, take. In the name of the Thomas Flyer Corporation of Detroit, Michigan, I am proud and happy to accept the cup. Mr. Colby.
Yes, Mr. Miller.
Put this cup with the cups.
And now a toast. Boris, the glasses. Here, gentlemen. Take. Boris, the vodka. To His Imperial Majesty Tsar of all the Russians.
To Teddy Roosevelt, President of the United States of America.
George, over there, the Protoss. Lieutenant von Kappen. For Germans.
Thank His Imperial Majesty for us. We've got to go.
First, a toast. Boris, to Her Imperial Majesty Tsarina of all the Russians.
To the Rough Riders.
We're in a race here, you know. We've got to...
Boris, to St. Petersburg, a jewel in the crown of His Imperial Majesty Tsar of all the Russians.
We've really got to go. Drink.
To Detroit, Michigan.
Now. Now let there be music and the festival and dancing. Boris.
16 hours. 16 precious hours. We couldn't get away. We tried to, but we couldn't.
Finally, at 6 o'clock in the morning, we left St. Petersburg. From there to Berlin, where we were told that the Protoss car was a half a day ahead of us.
That was on July 24. We refueled and went on. The roads were better and we made good time.
Hanover, Düsseldorf, Cologne, across Luxembourg and into France. Very good time, but still trailing the Germans in the Protoss car.
Then into Rheim, still behind the Germans. And the next day, on the morning of July 30, we were outside of Paris. Just outside of Paris.
George, look. The Protoss. Yeah. Hurry.
What do you think I'm trying to do, Mr. Colby?
Hands up, George. We're gaining.
Mr. Colby, throw everything out of the car.
I was about to suggest that.
Well, do it.
We're gaining, George. We're gaining.
The cops too, Mr. Miller.
The cops too.
Hey, von Coppen, what kept you? Where have you been?
You'll have not fun yet. You'll have not?
I can't hear you, von Coppen.
There's the finish line, George.
All those people I love.
We did it, George. We did it. We really did, didn't we, gentlemen? We really did.
We won. We came in first. We drove from New York to Paris, almost 14,000 miles in the Thomas Flyer automobile.
Our total running time was 88 days. We arrived 102...we averaged 152 miles a day over all kinds of country and every sort of climate.
We climbed mountains, forded streams, drove through mud and traversed sandy deserts.
We won the New York Times $50,000 first prize, and we had our pictures in every paper in the world.
But mostly it was a tribute to our automobile. We proved something.
An American stock car circled the globe, and we're not anybody's special. Anybody can do it.
Suspense! Presented by Auto Light. Tonight's star, Mr. Van Johnson.
This is Harlow Wilcox speaking for Auto Light and the worldwide Auto Light family.
Tonight, as the crowning achievement of the second annual Auto Light family salute program,
we have brought you a special broadcast direct from the Easter Parade of Stars automobile show at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
Tomorrow night, the Auto Light family will join in a reception and supper party honoring all women's branches of our Armed Services.
Also, Irene Dunn, Rosalind Russell, Van Johnson, and Robert Merrill.
It's for the benefit of our Armed Services emergency relief funds.
The Easter Parade of Stars automobile show with its many new car models produced by manufacturer members of the Auto Light family will be open all day Wednesday and Thursday.
Admission is free.
Next week, the story about a man who dreamed of someday having all the money he would ever need and one day found a way to make his dream come true.
It's called The Great Train Robbery. Our star, Mr. Fred McMurray.
That's next week on Suspense.
Suspense was transcribed and directed by Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Moravec and conducted by Lud Bluskin.
Around the world was written for suspense by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and was based on facts.
Featured in the cast were Alan Hewitt, Ted Osborne, Larry Haynes, Steve Roberts, Danny Arko, and Cameron Andrews.
And remember, next week, Mr. Fred McMurray in The Great Train Robbery.
This is the CBS Radio Network.