Campbell Playhouse - 02 - A Christmas Carol

The second episode of The Campbell Playhouse, titled “A Christmas Carol,” is a radio adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novella. This episode originally aired on December 23, 1938, and features Orson Welles as the narrator and Lionel Barrymore as Ebenezer Scrooge

The Campbell Playhouse was a radio drama series that aired on CBS from 1938 to 1941. Here's a breakdown of what made it interesting:

• Star Power: It was directed by and starred the legendary Orson Welles, known for his innovative use of sound effects and captivating voice.
• Classic Adaptations: During its first two seasons (1938-1940), the show focused on hour-long adaptations of classic plays, novels, and even some popular movies. Think "The Count of Monte Cristo" or "Rebecca" brought to life through radio.
• Shifting Format: After Welles left, the show continued for a season with a shorter format (30 minutes) and a focus on lighter fare, often featuring Hollywood actors.

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Episode Transcript

(00:18):
The makers of Campbell's Soups present theCampbell Playhouse, Arson Wells producer. Good

(00:43):
Evening listeners, This is Ernest Chappellspeaking tonight, Arson Wells in the Campbell
Playhouse observe a Campbell tradition of longstanding. They bring you Charles Dickens well
loved tale of you Tibe a ChristmasCarol. Four years ago, the makers
of Campbell's Soups went shopping for aChristmas present to give to all their friends.
They found it in this story,Charles Dickens's embodiment of the very spirit

(01:04):
of Christmas. And they chose wellbecause throughout the country today, in thousands
of homes, it has become animportant and beloved Christmas custom to listen to
this story to night. This fourthannual presentation is brought to you with a
sincere wish that your Christmas may bea happy one, and with the hope
that the retelling of a Christmas carolmay help to make it so. And

(01:26):
it is more than that, forwith this Christmas present to you, Campbells
say thank you for your purchases ofCampbell's Soup throughout the months gone by.
At the Christmas season, this becomesespecially manifest everywhere. Grocers see their shelves
of Campbell's soup dwindle more rapidly nowthan at any other time of the year.
It used to be thought that thedemand increased in preparation for the Christmas

(01:47):
feast, but really it isn't thatalone. Women like to have plenty of
good soups on hand all through theholidays so that they can serve piping hot,
nourishing platefuls at any family meal time. Tis around the goal all day
long, making the most of theChristmas vacation, and soup can be ready
for them in a jiffy. There'shealth and happiness in good hot soup.

(02:08):
Your grocer has Campbell Soups twenty onedelicious kids awaiting your selection. And it

(02:30):
came to pass in those days.But there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, but all the world shouldbe taxed, and all went to be
text every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee
out of the city of Nazareth intoJudea under the city of David, which
is called Bethlehem, because he wasone of the house of the lineage of

(02:53):
David, to be taxed. WithMary is a spoused wife, being great
with child. And so it was. But while they were there, her
days were accomplished that she should bedelivered. And she brought forth her first
born son and wrapped him in swaddlingclothes, and laid him in a manger,

(03:14):
because there was no room for themin the inn. And I were
in the same country shepherds abiding inthe field, keeping watch over their flock
by night. And lo, theAngel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shoneround about them, and they were sore
afraid. And the Angel said,unto them, fear not, for behold,

(03:37):
I bring you good tidings of greatjoy, which shall be to all
people. For Untie was born thisday in the city of David, a
savior, which is Christ the Lord. And there shall be a sign unto
you. He shall find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in
a manger. And suddenly there waswith the Angel a multitude of the heavenly

(04:00):
hosts, praising God and saying gloryto God in the highest and on earth
peace good will toward men are Sincethe days of Caesar Augustus, all people
have celebrated by joy, a greatjoy which shall be to all people,

(04:28):
for unto us was born this dayin the city of David, a savior,
which is Christ the Lord. Andon this day, at least in
the calendar of our year, weaffirm the glory of our God by the
laughter of our children. Every nation, according to its character and its taste,
by some gift of gaiety, hasenriched the tradition of this our solemnest
festival. And because America is whatit is, we are the fortunate heirs

(04:53):
of the accumulated customs of almost twothousand years of keeping Christmas. The best
songs that have been sung are sungby us. The best games that have
been played, we play. Andthe best stories ever told are ours to
tell. Her story telling has persistedas a Christmas ritual in spite of the
printing press. A ceremony is hilariousand as serious as hanging a starking,

(05:17):
dressing the tree, and kissing underthe mistletoe. And because Christmas is first
of all for children, Christmas storiesare fairy stories. First of all.
It is mildly surprising that the bestof them all, which we're telling again
few to night, is for everybody, and turns out to be a ghost
story. I have endeavored, writesits author on its title page. I

(05:41):
have endeavored in this ghostly little storyto raise the ghost of an idea which
shall not put my readers out ofhumor with themselves, with each other,
with a season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly,
and no one wished to lay itdesigned your faithful friend and servant, Charles
Dickens. Marley was dead to beginwith. There's no doubt whatever about that.

(06:21):
The register of his burial was signedby the clergyman, the clerk,
the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it, and Scrooge's name
was good upon change for anything hechose to put his hand to. Old
Marley was as dead as a doornail. Scrooge knew he was dead, of
course he did. Scrooge and Marleywere partners. I don't know how many
years. Oh, he was atight fisted hand at the grindstone. Scrooge.

(06:45):
Scrooge are squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous,
old sinner, secret and self contained. Once upon a time of all the
good days in the year. OnChristmas Eve, Old Scrooge sat busy in
his counting house. It was acold, bleak, biting evening, foggy
with all, and he could hearthe people in the court outside go wheezing

(07:09):
up and down, beating their handsupon their breasts, and stamping their feet
upon the pavement to warn them.The door of Scrooge's counting house was open,
that he might keep his eyes uponthe clerk Bob Cratchit, when a
cold and dismal little cell beyond workedat his ledgers twenty nine nine and carried
June thirteen, seventeen seven, andcarry one and close the door, cratch

(07:32):
it, shut out the infernal noise. Yes, mister Spruce found their impudence.
Cratch it. Yes, mister sprHe under stap that father gilled on
your way home tonight. Click thatseventeen shillings and sixpence the old missus Michaelmas,
and tell him I shall have theconstable over here. He doesn't pay
it once, Well, sir mister, why do I care about his wife?

(07:54):
Where want my seventeen and six?I just thought it being Chris Christmas,
Christmas, Christmas, Merry Christmas,Bob, mister Fred well, Merry
Christmas. Merry Christmas to you,uncle, Merry Christmas, uncle, by
humbug Christmas? A hum hug,Uncle. I'm sure you don't mean that

(08:16):
I do. Merry Christmas. Notready for you to be merry that season
of you to be merry? You'repoor enough? Come then, uncle,
what right of you to be dismal? You're rich enough. Don't be crass?
Uncle? Can I be? Ilive in such a world of fools.
Once Christmas to you, but atime for paying bills without money.
Merry Christmas, the time for findingisself a year older and not an hour

(08:37):
richer. I could work my will. Every idiot who goes about with Merry
Christmas on his lips should be boiledwith his own pudding and buried with a
steak of his own holly through hisheart. Uncle and nephew, keep Christmas
in your own way, Let mekeep it in mind, keep it,
but you don't keep it, letme leave it alone. Then what do
you want? If you're a Christmasgift? No doubt I came to issh

(08:58):
you a merry Chris. I'm manyChristmas? Much good? May Christmas do
you much good? Has it everdone you? There are many things from
which I've derived good, by whichI have not profited, I dare say,
Uncle, Christmas among the rest.But I have always thought of Christmas
time as a good time, akind for giving, chargeable pleasant time.
Therefore, Uncle, though it hasnever put a scrap of gold or silver
in my pocket, I believe ithas done me good and will do me

(09:22):
good. And I say God blessit. Don't best Christmas? Hello the
sound from your dear Bob Crechet.You keep your Christmas by using your situation.
It's just you, nephew. Iwonder you don't go into parliament talking
of nonsense. Don't be angry,uncle, I want nothing from you.
I ask nothing of you. Whycan't we be fred good afternoon? So

(09:43):
you feel that way, well,I've tried very Christmas to your uncle,
Good after and a happy New Yeartooss to you Bob is missing, and
a tiny hymn thank you, misterfrind same to you, sir, Good
day, sir, good day,Hey Bob, Merry Christmas eleven either squad

(10:05):
nonsense Flummery talking of Christmas another anothersix months to jingle against another in his
childer's pocket? Are you there aboutKresty you're here. What are you doing
in there? Oh? I wasonly putting a bit more coal on the
fire, mister Scrooge, seeing it'sso cold in here, sir, you
put that call back in the scunnoff, Yes, fire, indeed,
I can tell you you used cordthat rate you and I assume parting company

(10:28):
about present. Do you understand thatmany a young fell like your situation?
Now? I'm sorry, sir,my fingers were getting a little stiff with
the cold, and put on yourmitten. Hendy Christmas, Merry Christmas summer
at the dart you there, anny, Christmas, many christ Yes, sir,
this is the third of Scoot.Yes, sir, I should like

(10:48):
to see the head of the firm, if I may, very good sirs,
step this way. What is it, gentlemen to see you? Mister
Scrubs. Have I the pleasure ofaddressing mister Scrooge or mister Morman. It's
been daddy seven years tonight and I'mscrewed, though I doubt that'll be any
pleasure to U, sir. Oh, oh, I'm sure it will,
now, mister Scrooge. At theseason of the year, it's only fitting
that we who are more fortunate shouldraise a fund to buy the poorest of

(11:09):
meat and drink and means of Wandyou may not believe it, sir,
but many thousands are now in woughtof common necessities, and hundreds of thousands
are in wrought of comfort, sir. Are the no prisons? There are
plenty of prisons, sir. Andthe workhouses they're still in operation, I
trust. I wish I could saythey are not, But they are,
say Treadmill, and the poor lawand poor bigger then both very busy.

(11:33):
I'm very glad to hear that.I was afraid, from what you said
at first, that something had occurredto stop them in their useful course.
That, sir, and you wantwith me for mister Scrooge, A few
of us are endeavoring to raise afund for the poor and destitute. What
shall I put you down for nothing? You wish to be anonymous, and
I wish to be let alone.I don't make merry at Christmas time.
I can't afford to help make idlepeople merry. I help to support the

(11:54):
establishments and take care of the poor. They cost enough that those who are
badly off there there many can't gothere, sir, And many would rather
die. Let them do so anddecrease the surplus population side. And I
know that's true. You might knowit someday, mister Scrum, that my
business not for a man to understandhis own business and not interfere with other
people might occupied me constantly. Goodafternoon, sir, cratchit, cheer this

(12:18):
gentleman out, Yes, sir,this way, so please excuse me,
sir. I couldn't help overhearing.I should like to contribute the propens.
It's all I can afford. Butif there are others in worse situations than
I, you're a generous fellow.I wish I might say the same of
your employer. Good afternoon, sirdaymany Christmas, Good afternoon, sir,
and the merry Christmas. Fifteen twentyfour thirty one one and carry three seventeen

(12:46):
twenty two thirty three three and carrythree four seven in crech sister team cretcha,
yes, sir racket. Later wego to father Girls, he'll be
closed up for Christmas like these otherpools, and as well close up this
place now, Yes, sir,it is getting a little dark, hard

(13:07):
to see the figures. I supposeyou want the entire day the mark if
quite convenient, sir, not convenient, then it's not fair if I was
to stop half a crown of yourwages for don't you think yourself you're used?
I'll be barn well, sir.And yet you don't think me are
used. When I pay a day'swages for no work. It's only once
a year once he once a hereindeed a fine excuse for picking a man's
pocket Eeric twenty fifth of December.I suppose you must have the whole day

(13:31):
see the jury here earlier. Thenext morning you understand, oh, I
will say, I will well,good night, sir, good night,
good night Christmas, mister spoo bah. The office was closed to a twinkling

(13:54):
and Bob Cratchit with the long endsof his white comforter dangling below his waist,
for he both did no great coat, went down a slide on Cornhill
twenty times in honor of its beingChristmas Eve, and and ran home to
Camden Town as hard as he couldpelt to play with his family at blind
Man's Buffo. Scrooge, on theother hand, took his melancholy dinner in

(14:18):
his usual melancholy tavern, and havingread all the newspapers, and spent the
rest of the evening with his banker'sbook. Went home to his dismal house.
The yard was so dark that evenScrooge, who knew as every stone,
had to grope with his hands thefog and frost hung about the black
old gateway of the house. Darknessis cheap, and Scrooge liked it.

(14:41):
Before he shut his heavy door,he walked through his rooms to see that
all was right, sitting room,bedroom, lumber room, all as he
should be. Nobody under the table, Nobody under the sofa, small fire
in the grate of his bedroom,spoon and basin ready, and little saucepan
of gruel upon the hop, Nobodyunder the bed, Nobody in the closet.

(15:03):
Closed his door and locked himself in, double locked himself in. Then
took off his cravat, put onhis dressing gown, slippers, and his
nightcap, and sat down before thefire to take his gruel. It was
a very low fire, indeed,nothing on such a bitter night, not
even enough to kindle a glow oflight in the cheerless room. Scrooge stretched

(15:28):
his numb fingers over the wretched fire. Then he saw something that made that
made him draw them back slowly.The meager embers dissolved before his astonished eyes,

(15:50):
dissolved into a face, a ghostlyface, but one that Scrooge recognized
as the face of Marley Marley,his partner dead these seven years. Was
not angry or ferocious, but lookedat Scrooge as Marley used to look,
with ghostly spectacles turned up on itsghostly forehead. The hairs were curiously stirred,

(16:15):
like flames blown from a chimney draft, and through the death cold eyes,
Scrooge saw the buttons on the backof his coat Hey Hamberg, Hamburg,
Hamburg. Scrooge got up and walkedaway from the fire. As he

(16:38):
turned, his glance happened to directupon a bell, a disused bell that
hung in the corner of the room. It was with great astonishment and with
a strange, inexplicable dread that ashe looked, he saw this bell begin
to swing slowly. At first,it was the same face, the same

(17:34):
face he had seen in the fire, Marley's face, and Marley Marley's body
coming straight at him through the door, a body pale as the bluish smoke
that comes out of a chimney ona cold day, a body so transparent
that Scrooge, looking through his waistcoat, could see his watch in his waistcoat

(17:57):
pocket. The cheney drew was claspedabout his middle. It was long and
wound about him like a tail.And it was made of cash boxes,
keys, padlocks, and heavy purseswrought in steel. Even now, Scrooge
would not believe his eyes. Theghost advanced towards him. He and he's
a school he he's a school.Mally, what do you want with me?

(18:22):
Who are you? Ask me whoI was? Who were you?
Then? I your particular for aghost in a life? I was your
partner, Jacob and Maley, Molly, but dead. You died seven years
ago this very night. You donot believe in me, then I do
not. Because the little thing affectsthem, A slight disorder of the stomach

(18:48):
makes them cheek. You. Youmay be an undigested bit of beef,
for brood of mustard, a crumbof cheese, a fragment of an underdone
potato. There may be more gravyand grave about you. Whatever you are.
Ah, Hey, Hamburg, Itell you, Hamburg said this.
The spirit taking the bandage off fromit round its head, as if it
were too warm to wear indoors,its lower jaw dropped upon its breath,

(19:12):
and the world in mine. Doyou believe in me? Now? I
do? I do? Why doyou walk here? Why do you come
to meet Jacob? It is requiredof a man with the spirit within him
should walk abroad among his fellow men, and travel far and wide to witness

(19:33):
what it cannot share but might haveshared on her and turned to happy gall
with Jacob. Well, what isthat chain you were around you? I
wear the chain I forged in life, cash boxes, keys, headlocks,
ledgers, purses. I made itlink by link by my own free will?

(19:55):
Is its patterns strange to you?Webbinezer? Yours was a heavy and
as long as this seven years ago, and you've labored on it sin seven
easa Jacob or Jacob Morley, tellme morse be comfort to me, Jacob,
I have none to give evenizer,no rest, no peace, incessant

(20:17):
torture of remorse. I but you'realways a good man of business, take
a business Mankind was my business.Charity and mercy, benevolence, they were
all in my business. The dealingsof my trade were but a drop of
water in the comprehensive ocean. Andof my business, Jacob, hear me,

(20:37):
even he's as cruse. My timeis nearly gone by. I will,
I will, Jacob, but don'tbe hard on me. Speak to
me, Jacob, Please don't beflowery. I am here tonight to own
you that you have yet a chanceand hope of escaping my feet. And
you were always a good friend tome. Jacob, Thank you, and
go on gaute. Listen to me. Ebenezer, you will be haunted by

(21:03):
three spirits. I think I'd rathernot without the visits, Ebenezer, Screws.
You cannot hope to shun the pathI tread. Expect the first tomorrow
when the bell chose one. Expectthe second on the next night, at
the same hour. The third uponthe next night, look to see me

(21:26):
no more, and look that foryour own sake, you remember what has
passed between a smile. Take yourmoney, screwed to walk. He was

(22:00):
lying on his bed, fully dressed, when suddenly the curtains of his bed
were drawn aside, and Scrooge foundhimself face to face with the unearthly visitor,
who drew them as close to itas I am now to you,
and I am standing in the spiritat your elbow. It was a strange

(22:21):
figure, like a child, yetnot so like a child as like an
old man. Its hair, whichhung about its neck and down its back,
was white, as if with age, and yet the face had not
a wrinkle in it, and thetenderest bloom was on the skin. The
arms were long and muscular, thehands the same as if its hold were
of uncommon strength. Its dress wasof the purest white, trimmed with summer

(22:45):
flowers. It held a branch offresh green holly in its hand. But
the strangest thing about it was thatfrom the crown of its head there sprang
a clear jet of light, bywhich all this was visible, and which
was doubtless the occasion of its usingin its duller moments a great extinguisher for
a cat, which it now heldunder its arm. E a neighbor.

(23:10):
Scrooge, ebenievor Screwede. Are youthe spirit who's coming with foretold me?
I am who and what are you? I am the ghost of Christmas past
long past? No your past?What Christmas brings you here? What do
you want of me? Your welfare? Ebenezer Screwge, rise and walk with

(23:36):
me. No, now, notthe window. I'm mortel. I won't
die having a touch of my handthere upon your heart, and you shall
be upheld in more than this.Come follow me, let us grow.

(24:02):
They stood upon an open country roadwith fields on either hand. The city
had entirely vanished the darkness, andthe mist had vanished with it, for
it was a clear, cold winterday, with snow upon the ground.
And they walked along the road.Scrooge began to recognize every gate, every
post, every tree, until alittle market town appeared in the distance,
with its bridge, its church,and winding river. Some shaggy ponies now

(24:26):
were seen trotting towards them, withboys upon their backs, were in sleighs.
And all these boys were in greatspirits, and showed to each other
that they were happish, shouting throughthe broad fields, until they were so
full of music that the crisp airlaughed to hear it. And there stood

(24:47):
old Scrooge in his dressing gown andslippers and nightcap, on the hill,
and beside him the spirit of Christmaspast. And now the spirit spoke again.
Not all the boys and girls weresinging on that Christmas Day where the
Ebaneze are Scrooge. See the bleakbuilding over there, that building. I

(25:08):
was a boy there. Yeah,I went to school in that place.
You recollect the way I could walkit blindfold strange as you have forgotten it
for so many years. Come,let us go closer. Look through the
window into this cold, barren room. What do you see, Abaneze?
A school? I see you,boy, A solitary child, neglected by

(25:32):
his friends, sitting alone, abook open. Before I know that boy,
I was lonely. Poor boy.Your lip is trembling, scooge,
what's that on your kids? There'snothing? Nothing? I I wish I

(25:55):
was too late, though, Whatis the matter? Nothing? Nothing?
There some boys a Christmas carol atmy door last night. I'd like to
give them something. And so thatis all. Come, Ebaneza, schooge.
Let us see another Christmas. Youknow this, know it, know

(26:36):
it. This is the county ghostwhere I was a British. Listen,
come home, go yourny my oldmaster prisidart, my old master life again.
And then if we it's clerks don'tfull of joy on Christmas Eve,
don't hand you my lad? Ohlook Scooge. Look at that carefree young

(27:12):
man with a light heart and thegay smile. Do you recognize him?
A Beneza? What is the matterof Aneza? Nothing? Nothing ridicular?
Something I think, No, no, no, only I should like to
be able to say a word ortwo to my clerk. I'll patch it,
not sure, that's all. Mytime grows short, and we have

(27:47):
yet another journey to make. Wereno come again? Scrooge saw himself in
a room that was vaguely familiar.He was an older man, a man
in the prime of his life.He was not alone, but sat by

(28:11):
the side of a fair young girl. There were tears in her eyes.
Very little I know another idol hasdisplaced me. And if it can cheer
and comfort you in time to come, as I would have tried to do,
I have no just cause to grievewhat idol has dispraced you. A

(28:32):
golden one bell, listen to me. There's nothing the world so hard on
his poverty, and yet nothing itpretends to condemn so much as the pursuit
of wealth the world again, youfear the world too much? Of Bill?
Have I changed towards you? Whenwe were engaged, we were both
poor, was it better then there? Was it better to be poor,

(28:53):
better at least to be happy.You're changed, You were another man,
then I was boid. You blameme because I've grown wiser. Have I
ever tried to break our engagement withthe words? No? Never? And
what? Then? In a changednature, in an altered spirit, in
everything that made my light love ofany value in your sight? So I

(29:15):
release you from your promise. Bill, I love you still. Oh.
At first, it may cause youpain to lose me, for very brief
pain. But soon it will bedim like a half remembered dream, an
unprofitable dream, and you will beglad to be awake from such a dream.

(29:37):
May you be happy in the lifeyou have chosen, even easier for
the love of him you once word, spirit, spirit is enough, Show
me no more? He is whatshadows of the things that have been?
If they are what they are?No more? No more? One shadow

(30:03):
more? Tell a relentless ghost pinionthem in both his arms and forced him
to observe what happened next. Theywere in a room, not very large
or handsome, but full of comfort. All around them were the voices of
children talking and laughing, and beforethe winter fire said, a beautiful young

(30:26):
girl so like the last that Scroogebelieved it was the same until he saw
her. The girl he had beenbetrothed to, now a handsome, middle
aged woman sitting with a husband attheir own fireside. Do you see this
man, I belieza, Scrooge.This man might have been you and that

(30:48):
girl, that girl might have beenyour daughter. Have a user, Scrooge.
He might have called you father.He might have been a springtime in
the haggard winter of your spill it. Let me go, show me no
more mis hello while they speak abenezer. Oh, I saw an old
friend of yours today? Who wasit? Yes? How can I?

(31:11):
Oh? I know, mister Scrooge, Mister Scrooge, it was. I
passed his office window. It wasn'tshuttered, and there was a candle inside,
so I couldn't help seeing him.His partner lies at the point of
death, I hear. And thereScrooge sat all alone, quite alone in

(31:32):
the world. I do believe spiritbell reward men war, leave me,
take me back, take me back. In his anguish, Scrooge began to
struggle with a ghost of Christmas past, the lights in the crown of its

(31:52):
head burnt high and bright, Scrooge, in a last desperate effort, tore
the extinguisher cap from its head,and by a side sudden action, pressed
it down upon its head. AndScrooge was conscious of being exhausted and overcome
by irresistible drowsiness, and further ofbeing in his own bedroom. He gave

(32:16):
the cap a parting squeeze, whichhis hand relaxed, and had barely time
to reel the bed before he sankinto a heavy sleep. The stroke of
one awakened him and sat him boltupright in his bed. We pause now

(32:52):
for a station identification. This isthe Columbia Broadcasting System. You are listening

(33:15):
to the fourth annual presentation of CharlesDickens, a Christmas carol, brought to
you by the makers of Campbell's Suits. We return you now to the Campbell
Playhouse and Arson Wells. On thestroke of one, Scrooge had awakened suddenly,

(33:45):
and it set him bolt upright inhis own bed. You remember the
words of Marley's Ghost, and wonderedfrom which direction the second specter would appear.
He drew aside the curtains and establisheda sharp lookout all around the bed.
At that moment, nothing between ababy and a rhinoceros would have astonished

(34:06):
him very much. Now, beingprepared for almost anything, he was not,
by any means prepared for nothing.And consequently, when no shape appeared,
he was taken with a violent fitof trembling. Five minutes, ten
minutes, a quarter of an hourwent by, yet nothing came. And

(34:30):
all this time he sat upon thebed, with his nightcap upon his head,
the very core and center of ablaze of ruddy light which streamed upon
it. Being only light, thiswas more alarming than a dozen ghosts.
As he was parless to make outwhat it meant. He began to think
that the source of this ghostly lightmight be in the adjoining room, from
whence, on further tracing it seemedto shine, he got up softly and

(34:52):
shuffled in his slippers to the door. It was his own sitting room,
there was no doubt about that,but it had undergone a surprising transformation.
The walls and ceiling were so hungwith living green that it looked a perfect
grove, from every part of whichbright gleaming berries glistened. And such a

(35:14):
mighty blaze went roaring up the chimneyas had never been known in Scrooge's time,
or for many and many a winterseason gone. Heaped upon the floor
to form a kind of throne wereturkeys, geese, game poultry, great
joints of meat, sucking pigs,long wreaths of sausages, mince pies,
plum puddings, barrels of oysters,red hot chestnuts, and seething bowls of

(35:37):
punch that made the chamber dim withtheir delicious steam and an easy state.
Upon this couch there sat a jollygiant, glorious to see, who bore
a glowing torch in shape not unlikePlenty's horn, and held it up high
up to shed its light on Screwedeas he came peeping round the door.
Heaven coven, Heavenyo, screw you'dknow me better, Yeah, yeah,

(36:04):
I am the ghost of Christmas presents. Look upon me. You've never seen
the light of me before. Spitit, did it? Candut the way
you will. I went forth lasttime on compulsion and learned a lesson which
is working now. If tonight youhave anything to teach me, let me

(36:27):
profit by it. Touch my robe, and he's a screwed Touch my robe.
The room vanished, so did thefire. The ruddy glow the hour
of night vanished. Sunlight brushed themas they streamed through the clear morning air.

(36:52):
Second specter flew the more leisurely speed, and Scrooge had time to observe
people below him, shoveling snow onthe city, rooks calling out to one
another from the parapets, and nowand then pelting each other with snowballs.

(37:12):
In the streets below them, thepoulterer's shops were still half open, and
the fruiterers were radiant in their holidayglory. Scrooge and his ghostly guide circle
the tall spires and with Stephens allgood people, all the church and chapel,

(37:44):
and there below them lake Camden Town, with its squalid streets of ugly
frame houses. Of all these dwellings, the ghosts selected the humblest for their
visit. Scrooge, by now pastall surprise, recognized Bob Cratchitt's wife rested
in a twice turned gown, butbrave In Ribbons busily laying the table,
assisting her with Belinda Cratchett, secondof her daughters, also brave in ribbons,

(38:08):
while Master Peter Cratchett plunged a forkinto the saucepan of potatoes. And
now two smaller Cratchet's boy and girlcame tearing in, screaming that outside the
baker's they had smelled a goose andknown it for their own, and now
basking in luxurious thoughts of sage andonions. And three more young crotchets danced
about the table. Then once morethe door opened. Poor children, quiet,

(38:38):
Why bless your heart alive? Martha, my dear, how late you
are, Merry Christmas to you,Merry Christmas mother? How late you are,
Martha with a deal of work atsimmy shop last night, and we
had to clear away this more.Never mind, so long as you're here
now, pitching down before the farn, have a warm Lord, bless you

(39:00):
for his father. He's been tochurch with Tiny Tim. There'll be along
directly. How is tiny Tim motherany better at all? Sometimes I think
he is, and sometimes sometimes Ithink, Oh, dear God, if
anything should happen to tiny Tim,if Tiny Tim should die, mother,
you mustn't even think of such athing. Oh, my God father,

(39:27):
Merry Christmas, Father, and Tim, Merry Christmas Mother. Oh there was
Bob Cratchit with at least three feetof comforty, exclusive of the fringe hanging
down before him, and his threadbareclothes downed up and brushed to look seasonable,
and tiny Tim upon his shoulder.For tiny Tim, he carried a
little crutch and had his limbs supportedby an iron frame. Oh did little

(39:47):
Tim behave in church? Bob oh, I like church mother? Or they
sang the nicest hymns, and thepeople were so kind to me. There
was such fun riding home on Daddy'sshoulder. He behaved as good as gold
and better. Somehow he gets thoughtfulsitting by himself so much, and thinks
the strangest things you ever heard.He told me coming home that he hoped
people saw him in church because hewas lame, and it might be pleasant

(40:09):
for them to remember on Christmas Daywho made lame beggars walk and blind men?
See Tim, you darling, Oh, yes, children already, come
take your places and wake them.There's plenty of stuffing and dressing and plumps
pudding for all lobody. You takecare of kind of tales, that's right,

(40:34):
And see that he needs plenty.He must get strong and well.
Now shall we say grace? Yes, Bob our father who art in heaven
we thank THEE for the daily breadwhich in thy mercy thou hast given to
us. Bless us this Christmas day, keep us all together, so that
for many years to come we mayunite here to do Thy will and praise
thy name. Amen Ah. Andnow my DearS were such a dinner,

(40:55):
A toast, A Merry Christmas tous all, and God bless sadness.
God bless us everyone. And nowto mister Scrooge. I'll give you a
toast to mister Scrooge, the founderof the feast, the founder of the
feast, indeed, who pays youall of fifteen shillings a week. I
wish I had him here. I'dgive him a piece of my mind to
feast on, and I hope he'dhave a good appetite for hear the children

(41:19):
Christmas. Well, it should beChristmas Day. I'm sure on which one
drinks the health of such an odiousstingy. I'm feeling man as mister Scrooge.
You know he is Bob. Nobodyknows it better than you, poor
fellow. My dear Christmas Day,Well, I'll drink his health for your
sake, and the days not forhis long life. To him a merry

(41:40):
Christmas and a happy New Year.You'll be very merry and very happy.
I have no doubt, and Isay God blest him to mother and everyone.
There's nothing of Hi Mark and allthis. They were not a handsome
family, these crotchets. They werenot well dressed, shoes were far from
being waterproof, Their clothes were scanty, and had known very likely the inside

(42:06):
of a pawnbroker's. But they werehappy, grateful, pleased with one another,
and contented with the time. Andwhen at last they faded, Scrooge
had his eye upon them, andespecially on Tiny Tim, until the last

(42:30):
spin it spin it tell me,Tell me if tiny Tim will live a
sea of bacon seed in the pool, chimney corner and the crutch without an
over carefully all kind spirit, seehe will be spared. Say he will

(42:50):
live. If these shadows remained unoateredby the future, the child will die.
Many call Scrooge made that night,with a ghost of Christmas present.

(43:15):
Now he stood upon a bleak anddesert more, where monstrous masses of rude
stone were cast about his thought,with a burial place of giants down in
the western setting sun had left astreak of fiery red, which glared upon
the desolation for an instant like asullen eye, then was lost in the
thick gloom of darkest night. Alight shone from the window over hut.

(43:38):
Passing through the wall of mud andstone, they found a cheerful company assembled
around a glowing fire, an oldold man and woman with their children and
their children's children, all decked outgaily and their holiday attire. The Lisa
Scooge, the mislaver in the bowelsof the earth. Still they know me

(43:59):
here. Spirit did not tarry here, but bad Scrooge hold his robe,
and passing on above the moor,they sped on whither, not to see,
to see, to Scrooge his horror. Looking back, he saw the

(44:21):
last of the land. Below himwere the waves breaking upon a frightful range
of rocks, but built upon adismal reef of sunken stones. Some league
or so from shore, they stooda solitary lighthouse. Great heaps of seaweed

(44:42):
clung to with base, and stormbirds born of the wind rose and fell
about it. Like the waves.They skinned again the gut sped on about
the dark and heaving sea, onand on, until they lighted on a
ship. They stood beside the helmsmanat the wheel, the look in the
bow, the men at the watch, dark ghostly figures in their several stations.

(45:12):
Much they saw, and far theywent, and many places they visited,
but always with a happy end.The spirit stood beside sick beds,
and they were cheerful on foreign lands, and they were close at home by
poverty. And it was rich inarmshouse, hospital, and jail. Where

(45:36):
a vain man, in his littlebrief authority, had not made fast the
door and barred the spirit out,he left his blessing. It was a
long night, if it were onlya night. And it was strange too,
that while Scrooge remained unaltered in hisoutward form, the ghost grew old,

(46:00):
clearly older. My life upon thisglobe is very brief, Ebenezer.
It ends tonight, tonight tonight atmidnight, hark the owl. There are
still more things I wish to learn. These you will learn from still another

(46:22):
spirit, still another spirit, heaveneazer. Scrooge looked about him the ghost.
It had vanished, and he foundhimself once more in his bed, in

(46:44):
his dressing gown and his nightcap onhis head. He heard the clock strike,
and then he remembered the prediction ofold Jacob Marley, and lifting up
his eyes, beheld a solemn phantom, raped and hooded, coming toward him
like a mist along the ground.The spirit slowly, gravely, silently approached.

(47:20):
In the very air through which itmoved seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
I am the ghost of Christmas yetto come. Ebone's a Scrooge.
I am about to show you theshadows of the things that have not happened,
but will happen in the time beforeus. Ghost to the future.

(47:45):
I fear you more than any specterI've seen lead on lead on the night
is waiting for lush, and itis precious time. Scrooge followed in the

(48:08):
shadow of its dress, which borehim up, he thought, and carried
him along, and suddenly they werein a room which Scrooge seemed to remember
having seen before, where a womanand a child were. Oh my,

(48:28):
well, tiny Tim, I lovedhim so muh, dear, you mustn't.
It's almost time for father to behome. Don't let him see you
crying. He's late tonight. Hewalked slower than he used to, and

(48:49):
yet I've known him to walk veryfast, indeed, with Tiny Tim on
his shoulder, so have I.But he would like to carry it.
And his father loved him, soit was no trouble, no trouble at
all. Bob. Good evening,my dear. You're late, Bob.

(49:10):
I'm sorry, my dear. Iwent. I went to the churchyard today.
I wish you could have gone withme. It would have done your
heart good to see how sweet andgreen a place it is. But you'll
see it often, I promised him, I promised Tiny Tim. We walked
there on the Sunday. Oh it'sGod's will mind, oh a little.

(49:36):
I loved him. So Scrooge triedto break through the shade that held him

(49:59):
to talk with Bob Cratchett, tospeak some word of comfort, But the
sleeve of the ghost of Christmas yetto come, passed in front of him
and shut the family from his view. And now they were in an obscure
part of the town where Scrooge hadnever been before. The ways were foul
and narrow, the shops and houseswretched, the people drunken, slipshot ugly.

(50:21):
The whole quarter reeked with crime,with filth and misery. Deep in
this den of infamous resort. Therewas a low browed beetling pawn shop where
iron, old rags and bottles werebought, and there was an old charwoman
standing at the counter undoomer bundle Joe, I OpEd screws didn't die of nothing,

(50:43):
catching eh, don't be afraid.I ain't so fond of his company
that I'd take a chance of that. I you may luck through that shirt.
Tell your eyes ache and you won'tfind a hole in it. The
besty head and a fine one too, dave wasted if it hadn't been for
me, What do you call awasting of it? Missus Gilbey? Putting

(51:05):
it on him to be buried insomebody was fool enough to do it,
But I took it off him again. If Kellico ain't good enough for such
a purpose, it ain't good enoughfor anything. It can't look uglier than
he did in that one, theold Laura. And he has his bed
curtains, small use he left forhim where he's going. It's the true

(51:30):
East word one is there? Youever spoke missus Dilbay. Oh, this
is the end of him. Yousee. He frightened everyone away from him
when he was alive. To profitus when he was dead. The phantom

(51:52):
spread its dark robe before him fora moment like a wing, and withdrawing
it revealed another place, a chardwalled in by houses, overrun by grass
and weeds, choked up with toomuch burying, flapped with repeated appetite,
a worthy place. The spirit stoodamong the graves and pointed down to toward

(52:15):
it went, and following the fingerred upon the stone of the neglected grave,
his own name. Ebonez A screwed. Frillitit am I am I the
manually dead. Upon that bed,the spirit pointed from the grave to him

(52:37):
and back again, and the upperportion of its deep black garment was contracted
for an instant in its folds,as if it had inclined its head.
Eboneze A screwed. And then Scroogesaw an alteration in the phantom's hood and
dress. It shrank, collapsed,and dwindled into a bed. Yes,

(53:00):
and the bedpost was his own,The bed was his own, the room
was his own, best and happiestof all the time before him was his
own. To make amends. Inrunning to the window we opened it.
He put up his head, nofog, no mist, clear, bright,
jovial, stirring, cold cold pipingfor the blood to dance in golden

(53:22):
sunlight, heavenly air, sweet freshair, merry bells, Oh, glorious,
glorious? Why? Why what's today? What's that? What day is
it? By wight her today?Why it's Christmas Day? Christmas Day?
Christmas Day? That I haven't ristedthe spirit and done it all in one

(53:43):
night, all in one night.I don't know what to do. I'm
was nice as a father. I'mas happy as a angel. I've just
got as a schoolboy. Merry ChristmasDay. Everybody happy to do you?
I happy to do you in allthe world. Next morning, next his

(54:15):
mornings, Scrooge was early at hisoffice. He went early for a reason.
He can only be there first andcatch Bob Cratchit coming late. That
was the thing he'd set his heartupon, and he did it. Yes,
he did. The clock struck nine, no Bob, quarter past no

(54:36):
Bob. Scrooge sat with his doorwide open that he might see him come
in flat. He came pattens offbefore he opened the door. Is comforted
too. He's on his stool ina jiffy, driving away with his pen
as if you were trying to overtakenine o'clock two thirty one and five.

(55:00):
It's six. Hello you were Cracket, Yes, sir, Cracket, step
this way, cratche Yes, sirCrackett. What do you mean by coming
in at this today? I'm verysorry, sir. I am behind my
time. You are, yes,I think you are. It's only once

(55:22):
a year, mister Scrooge. Itshall not be repeated. I was making
rather merry yesterday, say, AndI tell you what, my friend,
I'm not going to stand this sortof thing any longer. Therefore, it's
therefore, Bob Cracket, I'm aboutto raise your salary. Are you?
Are you quite yourself soon? No? No, thank heaven, I'm not

(55:45):
quite myself. Merry Christmas, Bob, Papa, Merry Christmas, my good
fella, Merry at Christmas. AndI've given you for many a year are
rasio salary. And we're still beingdo for tiny Tim the rest of your
family. And we'll discussed it thisvery afternoon over a Christmas bullt fucking vision.
Bob, make up the buyer andmake him up and buy another col
scuttle before you talk. Not arye for pretty. And Scrooge was better

(56:14):
than his words, He did itall and infinitely more into Tiny Tim,
who did not die. He wasa second father. He became as good
a friend, as good a master, and as good a man as the
good old City knew, or anyother good old city, town or borough
in the good old world. Hehad no further intercourse with spirits, but

(56:36):
looked upon the total abstinence principle everafterwards. And it was always said of
him, but he knew how tokeep Christmas well. If any man alive
possessed the knowledge, may that betruly said of us and the roll of
us. And so as Tiny Timobserved, God bless us everyone. You

(57:17):
have just heard the fourth annual presentationof Charles Dickens, a Christmas carol offered
for your enjoyment by the makers ofCampbell's Soups. And here is awesin.
Well, ladies and gentlemen. Thisis the first year I've shared in this
happy tradition of the Campbell Playoffs.And I'm only sorry that that that very
very grand actor Lionel Barrymore was notable to come to New York this Christmas
to be part of our broadcast tonight. We're depending upon him to be with

(57:43):
us next year as he's been inthe past, and I'm looking forward to
it. And now a word aboutnext week's show. Next Friday Night,
I shall have the great pleasure ofwelcoming as our guest star, one of
the most delusive stars in motion pictures, Miss Catherine Hepburn. Miss have been
making her first radio appearance in morethan four years, joins me in a

(58:05):
dramatization of Ernest Hemingway's greatest novel,Farewell to Arms, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Night Before the Night Before Christmas, and all through the Campbell Playhouse,
not a creature is stirring that doesn'twish you a Merry Christmas. This goes
for all of us, for mysponsor, for myself, for all of

(58:28):
us, from Johnny Deets, whoruns the machinery in the control room,
to Miss Hess, who types theCampbell Playhouse scripts, Merry Christmas, Merry
Christmas, from all of us toall of you. Merry Christmas. Benny
Herman and his band of Merry Melodeonswish you a merry Christmas. Orra Nichols
and her demon crew of sound technicianswish you a merry Christmas. Orson Wells

(58:58):
and his considerable aggregateation of dramatic talent, including Hiram Sherman who played Bob Cratchett,
Ray Collins who was the man whoasked for Arms, Frank Reddick who
was the Ghost of Christmas Yet toCome, Eustace Wyatt who was the Ghost
of Christmas Present, Arthur Anderson whowas the Ghost of Christmas Past, Alf
Shirley who was Morley's ghost, AliceFrost was the charwoman, Brenda Forbes who
was Missus Cratchett, Joseph Cotton whowas nephew, fred Anna Stafford who was

(59:21):
Bell, Kingsley Colton who was TinyTim, and George Spelburn who was mister
Peswick all wish you a merry Christmas, and finally is Tiny Tim says everyone

(01:00:00):
will fail to listen in next FridayNight, when Arson Wells brings to the
Campbell Playhouse Miss Katherine Hepburn in hisown dramatization of Ernest Hemingway's great novel of
Farewell to Arms. This is ErnestChappell wishing you all of very merry Christmas.
On behalf of the makers of Campbell'ssoups. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System