WEBVTT 00:00:00.340 --> 00:00:03.306 6 15. 00:00:03.339 --> 00:00:07.176 Ladies and gentlemen Hanis Adams at First Street presents transcribed 00:00:07.209 --> 00:00:11.017 MEREDITH Harless interviewing screen stars. Susan Peters, but first 00:00:11.050 --> 00:00:15.797 appointment reminder Every parent has dreams for his child. But last year 00:00:15.830 --> 00:00:20.747 more than 33 such dreams were shattered, Infantile paralysis struck more 00:00:20.780 --> 00:00:25.616 than 33,000 in the second worst epidemic ever recorded. And now new dreams 00:00:25.649 --> 00:00:29.887 are being built. Dreams are being able to walk once more. You can help 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:33.567 build those dreams by sending dimes and dollars to your local march of 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:39.567 dimes headquarters, help make their dreams come true, join the 1951 March 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:45.847 of Dimes. Now, MEREDITH Harlot, Good evening. This is MEREDITH Harless 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:49.707 broadcasting to you from backstage at the Sombrero theater playhouse here 00:00:49.740 --> 00:00:53.876 in phoenix. Believe me the excitement of opening night, the hustle and 00:00:53.909 --> 00:00:58.656 bustle of stagehands, the smell of grease paint technicians problem in the 00:00:58.689 --> 00:01:01.607 actors and actresses themselves. Getting ready for. This first night 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:05.576 performance is really exciting As most of you know, the barretts of Wimple 00:01:05.609 --> 00:01:11.167 Street opened here tonight at 8:30 PM. There are several outstanding 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:15.536 personalities here whom we know you will want to hear from. Certainly the 00:01:15.569 --> 00:01:19.587 most exciting one and the one we're most anxious to hear from is lovely. 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:24.897 Susan Peters, Hollywood actress, star of stage radio and screen, This 00:01:24.930 --> 00:01:28.206 vivacious actress here to play the role of Elizabeth in the barretts of 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:31.876 Wimple Street. This is some brow theater playhouse was injured some six 00:01:31.909 --> 00:01:36.426 years ago and expects never to walk again. A young star who had just 00:01:36.459 --> 00:01:40.326 reached the top when her spinal cord was severed in a hunting accident. MS 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:45.337 Peters was determined not to that misfortune interfere with her career or 00:01:45.370 --> 00:01:48.676 her life. It gives me the greatest pleasure in the world to present to our 00:01:48.709 --> 00:01:53.757 radio audience. Susan Peters. Susan, very much MEREDITH for the delightful 00:01:53.790 --> 00:01:56.596 introduction. Well, Susan, it's wonderful to have you here in phoenix 00:01:56.629 --> 00:02:00.007 Arizona, is it your first trip here? Yes, it is. But we know you like us. 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:03.637 Indeed I do. Are you going to stay beyond the term of the theater here? 00:02:03.670 --> 00:02:07.546 Yes. I'll spend another two or three days here. How wonderful! And I want 00:02:07.579 --> 00:02:11.797 to see the next show. Good. And what is the next show? Oh dear. What Kirk 00:02:11.830 --> 00:02:16.717 Douglas in Detective Story. That's right. Wonderful. It also has had a 00:02:16.750 --> 00:02:20.386 wonderful press, but I don't believe anyone or anyone in town is more 00:02:20.419 --> 00:02:23.436 excited than I am about seeing your performance here tonight. How long 00:02:23.469 --> 00:02:26.106 have you been playing in this role of Elizabeth? Well, I toured last 00:02:26.139 --> 00:02:30.096 winter for seven months with that. Married us seven months on tour all 00:02:30.129 --> 00:02:33.957 over the east, in the midwest and the south and we closed in Washington. 00:02:33.990 --> 00:02:37.237 We opened a theater. They're married in Washington, D. C. The National 00:02:37.270 --> 00:02:40.916 Theater has been closed for some time. Yes, I do know. We took over the 00:02:40.949 --> 00:02:46.047 Gaiety Theater, which was a burlesque and completely redid it and believe 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:50.846 or not? All of these people came the wrongs? I tracked you know. Do you 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:55.087 mean the cabinet members and Oh yes. And Vice President Barkley and mrs 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:58.156 Barkley. Oh, what an exciting first night audience for you. You closed 00:02:58.189 --> 00:03:01.166 there. Yes. Uh huh. But I think it's wonderful that you have brought 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:05.027 theater back to the nation's capital where certainly we should have all 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:08.566 the culture in the world since it is the capital of the world. They were 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:11.557 starving for theater when we arrived there we played for two weeks and 00:03:11.590 --> 00:03:14.536 could have played for two weeks longer. Well, we've been starving for 00:03:14.569 --> 00:03:17.506 theater here too and we're so grateful to Andy and Dick Carlson for 00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:20.946 bringing these some brand of theater to us and particularly for bringing 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:25.987 such fine actors and actresses as yourself. Thank you very much. What 00:03:26.020 --> 00:03:28.497 other places have you been in other than the barretts of Wimple street? 00:03:28.530 --> 00:03:33.827 I've been glass Menagerie. What part did you play Laura Daughter? Yes. And 00:03:33.860 --> 00:03:37.337 uh it's rather an interesting thing because I did it in the theater of the 00:03:37.370 --> 00:03:41.666 round Atlanta Georgia. Oh did you? What type of theater is that? I wonder 00:03:41.699 --> 00:03:46.696 where we don't understand uh without any scenery whatsoever. No sex, no 00:03:46.729 --> 00:03:50.487 cops. No, no, you have proper, you do, yes. You have a furniture and your 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:54.427 hand props the audience that works on all four sides of you. And the four 00:03:54.460 --> 00:03:58.286 corners are open so that you can make your exit from the corners. And it's 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:01.367 to me it was very interesting because it's very much like picture work 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:05.457 like working just before a camera. I see you can see all four sides at the 00:04:05.490 --> 00:04:09.506 same time. As a matter of fact, very strange thing happened to me. I was 00:04:09.539 --> 00:04:14.797 waiting for my second act entrance in a little alleyway and this man came 00:04:14.830 --> 00:04:19.166 up to me and he was very inebriated and he wouldn't you like me to push 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:23.757 you on so you could see better. I said no thank you very much. And he said 00:04:23.790 --> 00:04:27.676 , well really you can hear better. And I said no thank you. And with that 00:04:27.709 --> 00:04:32.817 I call my nurse and she wheeled me on and I'm supposed to go on and meet 00:04:32.850 --> 00:04:37.236 my gentleman caller and I feel myself being propelled on. And I looked 00:04:37.269 --> 00:04:40.116 back and I'm about to have to go on and say mother, I came with a second 00:04:40.149 --> 00:04:43.166 gentleman caller when an usher picked him up and tweet back and put him on 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:47.846 an elevator and sitting back downstairs to the bar where you belong. You 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:52.226 are always in a wheelchair. Yes I am. Except when I'm in my car, which I 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:55.606 drive myself as hand control. Really well how do you travel? How do you 00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:59.236 manage to travel all over the country like well I had my car driven here 00:04:59.269 --> 00:05:04.096 by my cousin and I flew with my nerves and he met me at the plane and 00:05:04.129 --> 00:05:08.786 unfortunately the tired it was flat just as the plane rolled in and we 00:05:08.819 --> 00:05:13.546 were right in the way of the plane Oh no! So I had to do a little waiting 00:05:13.579 --> 00:05:17.587 in the station. Well, we certainly admire your courage. Susan in every way. 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:21.106 You certainly haven't deviated a bit since your accident, have you? You 00:05:21.139 --> 00:05:25.067 just well, you know, it doesn't really take courage when people are so 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:29.947 wonderful to me. What do you mean by that? Well, for instance, the first 00:05:29.980 --> 00:05:33.837 party I went to uh I wasn't well enough to sit up. So I went in an 00:05:33.870 --> 00:05:38.986 ambulance and it was my first party and I wasn't a ball. Oh yes, had it 00:05:39.019 --> 00:05:42.546 and gave it for me. And Lionel Barrymore was there in his chair and he put 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:45.587 me very much at ease. He said, young lady, I've been in this for years and 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:49.937 getting along famously and consequently I became very much of the, well I 00:05:49.970 --> 00:05:52.627 think that is wonderful when you get encouragement from a man like Lionel 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:57.656 Barrymore is his condition arthritic. Is that uh he's been very much 00:05:57.689 --> 00:06:01.767 improved like dates like polio. There's a great chance for improvement. 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:05.327 Yes, there is. And of course the National Foundation of infantile 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:09.156 Paralysis, as you know, is conducting a wonderful program, a research 00:06:09.189 --> 00:06:15.027 program in doing so very much to find the serum that will banish this 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:19.426 dread disease of polio. Our March of dimes campaign opened here yesterday. 00:06:19.459 --> 00:06:23.226 You know, perhaps you read about the mothers March last night in the 00:06:23.259 --> 00:06:26.346 paper. Yes, I did come to think about it. That was originated here in 00:06:26.379 --> 00:06:30.356 Arizona, was it? Yes. And now it's taking place all over the entire United 00:06:30.389 --> 00:06:33.767 States. We're very proud of those people as a matter of fact charlie 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:38.056 hoover down on the Arizona Republic and gazette and Dick Fitzpatrick 00:06:38.089 --> 00:06:41.036 dreamed the idea of and they have seen it through. It's been a brilliant 00:06:41.069 --> 00:06:44.697 success. And this year of course will be bigger and better than ever. Have 00:06:44.730 --> 00:06:48.027 you not been on radio Susan? Yes, I've done some radio but not in this 00:06:48.060 --> 00:06:52.116 last year. I've been touring. Have you planned any television shows? Yes, 00:06:52.149 --> 00:06:57.356 I did five that are at NBC now an audition. So wonderful. I should here 00:06:57.389 --> 00:07:00.786 before too long about that grand. Well then will you be television, so to 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:04.866 speak from the coast or you'll be in the east in the east. Well now aren't 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:09.377 you a mother? Yes. I have a 4.5 year old son who will go right along with 00:07:09.410 --> 00:07:15.986 me, timothy, timothy joined me on a tour last winter over the holidays and 00:07:16.019 --> 00:07:21.486 I tried to explain to him what I was doing when I went to work? So I had 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:25.176 my nurse bringing to the play and in the first act when the father is 00:07:25.209 --> 00:07:29.166 forcing me to drink quarter my son is very loud voices. What is that man 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:33.426 doing to my mother and I prayed that my nurse would take him off, which he 00:07:33.459 --> 00:07:37.726 finally did. And as I went off to make my second act change. He's coming 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:41.147 around the corner and the father is sort of leaning in the doorway and he 00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:44.866 balled up his fist and hauls off and hits him in the stomach. You can't 00:07:44.899 --> 00:07:48.257 treat my mother that way. Why did it take him aside and explain to him 00:07:48.290 --> 00:07:51.337 what it was like? But he'd never caught on MEREDITH still thought I was 00:07:51.370 --> 00:07:54.947 unhappy. Well, timothy must be a darling from what I've read about him. 00:07:54.980 --> 00:07:58.246 I'm sorry, I haven't seen him even though I've known you for some years. 00:07:58.279 --> 00:08:01.556 Susan and two, I think your better friend of my sister mary. Yes, I'm 00:08:01.589 --> 00:08:06.267 mary for a long, long time. You were both at MGm Studio Metro. We did a 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:09.647 lot of work for the USO together. Oh, did you? I didn't know that. You 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:14.337 know Deli has a new play now. His husband. Second threshold. Oh and we 00:08:14.370 --> 00:08:17.627 have a lovely girl here from phoenix sally brophy who's also in the play 00:08:17.660 --> 00:08:21.437 in new york. Oh, how wonderful. We're very proud of our phoenix little 00:08:21.470 --> 00:08:24.777 actress, sally brophy. What were some of your favorite movies you've done 00:08:24.810 --> 00:08:30.637 so many? Well, I think my very favorite was Random. Harvest Greer, Garson 00:08:30.670 --> 00:08:35.317 Ronald colman. Why would you say it was your very favorite? Well, to be 00:08:35.350 --> 00:08:38.266 quite honest with you because I was nominated for the Academy Award. 00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:41.116 That's good enough reason isn't and you certainly deserved it. It was a 00:08:41.149 --> 00:08:44.856 delightful part and then I enjoyed the last picture I made since I was 00:08:44.889 --> 00:08:50.126 injured, the sign of the RAM, the sign of a completely different type of 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:54.437 part that I've ever played was unsympathetic. You. That is true. You 00:08:54.470 --> 00:08:57.526 usually do play a sympathetic role even prior to your accident. Didn't? 00:08:57.559 --> 00:09:03.976 Yes, always Metro believes that all of their stars should lead happy lives. 00:09:04.009 --> 00:09:06.687 Well I certainly think so too. And not only stars, I think it's a lovely 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:10.817 idea for all of us. So what actor have you enjoyed working with the most 00:09:10.850 --> 00:09:14.636 would you say? Maybe on the screen? Do not answer that one. They've all 00:09:14.669 --> 00:09:18.827 been charming to me. No, isn't there one who is very fascinating all of 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:22.677 the Meritus that's putting me on the spot. What prompted your movie career 00:09:22.710 --> 00:09:28.407 ? It was purely by accident, I took drama as 1/5 solid to get out of 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:32.346 college and what this Hollywood high oh yes and I was working for a 00:09:32.379 --> 00:09:36.276 scholarship to go to Sanford to medical school and the day before I 00:09:36.309 --> 00:09:41.947 graduated I went in to get my card and I all but flunked drama and this 00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:44.197 man was standing there and I heard him say I'd like to meet this young 00:09:44.230 --> 00:09:46.787 lady and mr carter said oh you don't want to meet here, I just about 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:51.537 flanker so he did want to meet me and he was going to do a picture for 00:09:51.570 --> 00:09:55.266 solace or so I went to see saw and I was too young and I was given a 00:09:55.299 --> 00:09:59.907 scholarship to max Reinhardt and from there on in I decided to stay in it 00:09:59.940 --> 00:10:03.967 for three years and I'd make enough money if I didn't succeed to go on to 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:08.047 medical school and if I did, I'd stay in it. And I stayed in. I've been in 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:11.006 it ever since and here you are, right here in phoenix where we're so 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:14.217 thrilled to have You tell me this, what picture were you making at the 00:10:14.250 --> 00:10:18.246 time of your accident? I just finished keep your powder dry with Lana 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:21.657 Turner in the rain day. You just finished, you didn't have any retakes or 00:10:21.690 --> 00:10:25.837 anything else to do. It was on New Year's Day that I shot myself. We went 00:10:25.870 --> 00:10:30.707 , did you yourself? Yes, I picked up again. The stock was broken from the 00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:36.287 barrel and the man who belonged to it was so excited and that he put the 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:40.217 bullet back in the barrel and I picked it up. It was pointed towards me 00:10:40.250 --> 00:10:45.437 and it's caught on a twig and the gun went off and I'm paralyzed. Well, I 00:10:45.470 --> 00:10:49.437 must say you certainly have not changed your life in any way at all. You 00:10:49.470 --> 00:10:52.967 just proceed and I seem to do even much more than before, don't you? Well 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:56.837 , do you find you have more time to do more things? You know, I don't have 00:10:56.870 --> 00:11:02.077 enough time. I tell you there isn't enough time in the day for me. Why 00:11:02.110 --> 00:11:04.736 don't know how you accomplish all the things you do when the doctor first 00:11:04.769 --> 00:11:08.506 told you of your injury? How did he tell you? And what was your reaction? 00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:12.396 Well, he was particularly wonderful because it was the third day I've been 00:11:12.429 --> 00:11:17.976 injured and I regained consciousness and asked him if I'd ever walk again. 00:11:18.009 --> 00:11:21.266 And my mother had told him to tell me the truth. Because the one thing 00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:29.299 I've always hated was told him I too. So the doctor said MS peters. Um 00:11:30.039 --> 00:11:34.846 as a doctor, she said, I cannot ever tell you that you'll walk again, he 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:39.116 said, But miracles have happened. He said, I've seen them happen. So he 00:11:39.149 --> 00:11:45.226 said, anything can happen to you. So I believe that ever since and now 00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:50.177 after four years, however, the cord was crushed. Unless they find some way 00:11:50.210 --> 00:11:55.106 of spicing chords, then I'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. 00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:59.126 Well then you really don't feel that there would be any hope for you. 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:02.327 There's a new discovery for me. But of course it's very different from 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:06.106 polio. You know, there's always hope for a polio patient. Indeed there is. 00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:10.707 And particularly when there are so many people bending every effort and 00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:16.116 lending all of their energy to find a cause to cure polio here in Arizona. 00:12:16.149 --> 00:12:20.177 It's been a very heart rendering thing for me and working as a volunteer 00:12:20.210 --> 00:12:24.827 in the polio program to see how everyone is doing everything they possibly 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:29.396 can to help this March of dimes campaign. It opened here on the 15th and 00:12:29.429 --> 00:12:32.467 will last through the 31st. Perhaps you have a message for our polio 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:36.537 patients. We have about 652 right here, you know, and I know they'd love 00:12:36.570 --> 00:12:40.356 to hear from you particularly Susan only MEREDITH for them to go on living 00:12:40.389 --> 00:12:44.907 their lives as naturally and normally as they possibly can. But I'd rather 00:12:44.940 --> 00:12:48.516 give my message to the people around them. It's very important for their 00:12:48.549 --> 00:12:52.547 family and friends to treat them exactly the same as before they 00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:57.376 contracted polio. In other words, when there is a handicapped person, 00:12:57.409 --> 00:13:02.266 they're no different than No, we think anyone else the same as you do. And 00:13:02.299 --> 00:13:05.907 I want people to be just as nasty to be here, just as kind as they ever 00:13:05.940 --> 00:13:11.047 were. In other words, no sympathy. No, it's not necessary at all. Can't 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:15.307 use sympathy. No, Well that's a very nice and encouraging message. And 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:18.717 thank you Susan Peters, we look forward to seeing your performance this 00:13:18.750 --> 00:13:22.537 evening at the Sombrero theater playhouse at 8 30. The opening of the 00:13:22.570 --> 00:13:26.057 barretts of Wimple Street, in which you play the leading role. It's a real 00:13:26.090 --> 00:13:29.467 pleasure to have you on our program. And may I tell our listeners to tune 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:34.407 in at the same time next week when we will bring to the Arizona close up 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:38.346 robert Lawrence, the conductor of the phoenix Symphony Orchestra. This is 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:43.616 narrative Harlot saying good night, yes, join us again next week for Hanis 00:13:43.649 --> 00:13:47.417 Arizona close ups when mrs MEREDITH Harless will have his guest robert, 00:13:47.450 --> 00:13:52.276 Lawrence conductor of the phoenix Symphony Orchestra. Give it time, Give a 00:13:52.309 --> 00:13:55.787 dollar. That's what infantile paralysis victims are hoping you'll do right 00:13:55.820 --> 00:14:00.756 now, hoping you lend them a hand. By joining the 1951 march of dimes fight 00:14:00.789 --> 00:14:03.787 infantile paralysis 00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:09.146 in the Valley of the Sun. It's easy to get shopping done, visit Hanis at 00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:17.179 Adams and First Street for service and quality. Hanis cannot be beat. 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:21.190 This is K to R in phoenix.