America For Me (ca. 1950s)

[Music] you're missing The Garden of the Gods huh over there that's pik's pee ahead of us is balance draw that's Steamboat Rock on the right oh the rocks are all so red that's how the state gets its name this tour to write a thesis for Miami's degree in our state teachers for traveling so you can teach geography better so we can teach everything better the more we get around and see the country the more we know what makes America tick do you know that man over there hasn't opened his eyes for hours sh he'll think you're trying to to well I am Mr Williams yes ma'am did you see the balance Rock back there no ma'am I must have dozed off we ought to stay awake you miss a lot such as what ma'am well they say there are a lot of wild Indians around here well I'll see plenty of wild Indians when we get to gallop if the tribal dances are still on [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] there are tribes here from all over the [Music] weste oh look there's an another kind of dance I wonder what kind that [Music] is excuse me could you tell us what dance that is butterfly dance man they think butterflies are the spirits of their departed ancestors [Music] [Music] he where are the two girls that were sitting here well I think I know where they are I'll get them thanks that's the sun moon and star dance hm gets them all in at once huh they're not taking any chance of slighting any of them it's their prayer for abundant crops long life and [Music] Happ excuse me you gals better get a move on if you don't want to miss your bus oh our bus [Music] so you're going to Spokan yeah and you're going to Pendleton to be in the rodeo yes ma'am round about like I had to see a man back in G you boys like traveling yeah especially this way you can see a lot you can always catch a bus so I noticed but I thought a cowboy always rode his horse every place he went they do ma but my horse is a regular home body so I make the long trips by myself of course I send him postcards along the way [Music] [Applause] there'll be a 30- minute stop here for lunch folks you know ma'am I was right pleasantly surprised what do you mean you actually smiled a few moments ago on you it look [Music] good thank you I careful man [Music] ah honey I just know what I'm talking about he likes you that's silly side he's too fresh hello mind if we share the table oh of course honey to's company thre is a crown Force just right well move over M you thanks hey what do you eat raw grapefruit tastes good I've never heard of it before well you ought to come down down our way and has some spice conquart where's that on the way down from Miami to Key West there's where you go to Sea by bus it's a fabulous Highway shooting right out over the ocean for more than 100 miles like I told Amia she's just got to have that in that theme she's riding Bridges carry you from one tropical island to another keys they call them I don't know why key is a Spanish word for Ireland oh well halfway down is Greyhound key that's a nice spot to stop off especially if you like deep sea fishing the Post House there serves the yummiest dishes like baked Bone Fish and key lime pie I've eaten in post houses all the way from New England riding a bus you get to sample the special dishes of the country you travel through well I ride a bus because it's more fun right now I'm on an expense pay Tour on a tour where's the rest of your party oh well that's the way they do it with Greyhound you can travel alone or in a group and go where you please you see the whole trip is planned before you leave they even make hotel reservations if you like of course I was practically raised on a bus you see I was born in Minnesota that's where gryon started between two little towns Alice and Hibbing up to then the fair was a dollar and a half one way so they started this first bus line and charged 15 cents doesn't surprise anyone up there how this bus business is grown greyhounds run in every one of the 48 states now and Canada too I'm putting that in my thinge whatever gave you the idea for this theme you're writing well one of my favorite poems is Henry van Dykes it's home again home again America for me my heart is turning home again and there I long to be in the land of Youth and fre beyond the ocean bars where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars so my thesis is titled America for me Well ma'am you're sharper and unto yeah give us an educated for instance well for instance I've written up one of the oldest festivals on Earth and it's celebrated in this country the martig GR it started 5,000 years ago among the Greeks and Romans to welcome spring when the early Christian Church decreed the 40 days of lent it was made the period of fun and feasting just before lent since it comes just Ash Wednesday it was named Fat Tuesday by the French who brought the celebration to this country Fat Tuesday in French is Migra I don't know when anyone sleeps that whole week but it's something you'll never forget the rest of your life while you're talking about shindigs don't forget the big Rose Festival up our way you mean a fad Dina no dog gonet I mean Portland Oregon the city of roses it's right next to Mount Hood they can put on a Rose Festival and a ski Carnival the same day you haven't seen America till you've seen the Northwest I was sure going to see part of it on our way to the Canadian Rockies say TX haven't you got anything to brag about in your part of the country well now ma'am that's a right ownery thing to say to a man from Texas the state so big that some of the counties are bigger than some states now you take my hometown San Anton about half our town is as Mexican as Chihuahua half is as Western as a Chism Trail and just across the street is another half as North American as Chicago isn't that three Hales ma'am in Texas everything is big enough to have three Hales and of course we have the Alamo you you know the old saying Remember the Alamo we remember it with a Santa Ceno Fiesta every [Music] year yes that's pretty but do you know what I remember most of all about San Antonio it's that little old twisty river that winds in and out all through the town and you made the best looking soldiers San Anton's been an Army Post for several hundred years anyway I met one and we went for a boat ride on the river it was terribly romantic oh you and your romance hey we better get back to our bus well I guess we won't be seeing you boys tomorrow am me and I are going to stay over when the bus stops at Sunset and take to 8:00 in the morning AR we that's funny uh we're going to do the same thing yeah what a coincidence [Music] morning ma'am you're in the wrong seat aren't you life up here the young lady like to sit with Chuck this morning hi hi good morning morning morning [Music] yes ma'am it's a big [Music] country yes ma'am it's a powerful Big Country it's a little overpowering I prefer New England you know I never been to New England the furthest East I ever got was [Music] Michigan isn't Michigan a long way from Texas don't you try to get a long way from home for your vacation you know they call Michigan the water [Music] Wonderland whether you're skimming along in a boat or lazing on the bank or or fishing for some of their game fish now that's my idea of a vacation it's nice but I still prefer New England well now ma'am if you tell me about it maybe I'd agree with you well up there you have the feeling of being at the birthplace at the beginnings of America that's where the pilgrims landed on that same Stern and rockbound Coast when George Washington established the Li House service the first lights were built in New England it's a fascinating thing to take a tour of these famous landmarks so many visitors come up there from all parts of the country lighthouses are so friendly and reassuring and at the same time so ageless and along the way the woods and templed Hills the same that watched the pilgrims gathering for the first Thanksgiving and Ethan alam's boys marching to meet the Red Coats you eat in places that were old before there was a United States such as Lyman house Red Horse Tavern later it became longfellow's Wayside in once this was the first overnight stop of the stage coach out of Boston it was a day's run then in today's coach it is only a matter of minutes through its hospitable front door Travelers have been entering into its welcome for for almost three 300 years ma'am you're you're downright poetical that sounds like right nice country I didn't mean to get carried away hey looks like Tex is finally melting down your friend a little uh I have a lot about New York in my [Music] theme in fact I could have done a whole paper on it just to stand on top the Empire State Building and look down to me it's another Grand Canyon up our way teachers take their pupils down to New York every year in charter buses another favorite spot to take them is Washington DC in my theme I say one of the best times to go is cherry blossom time when all the buildings and monuments are given a fairyland [Music] quality the spot I like especially to go is Mont Vernon no matter how often you go from the moment you step on the ground you you actually feel the presence of Washington the house and grounds look today exactly as they did when George and Martha lived [Music] there say do you sleep in those specks I beg your pardon I mean can you see without them of course I can I only wear them when I travel why they're pretty what are your ass see you know I'll bet if you cut or fluffed up your hair or something be powerful handsome hey TX your next chance to send your horse a postcard will be San Francisco yeah will you see San Francisco I'll show you how to open up that Golden Gate and what a sight it is the Golden Gate Bridge and Oakland B you know it's like a fell said once these Americans they think everything they have as the biggest or the longest or the tallest and it usually is I think some of us brag much our country Shucks I don't it's just our way of telling her we love her you know when I get married I'll be telling my wife that she's the sweetest little woman and the best cook in the world you think she ain't going to like that well as I was saying about San Francisco ma'am you'll want to be sure and see Twin Peaks Telegraph Hill it wouldn't be San Francisco without in [Music] Chinatown Fisherman's Warf is one place she'll have to go when you see how they dish out the shrimp you'll know for sure this is the Land of Plenty and there's Market Street with the ferry building at the lower end for a real view of the city you got to go way up to the top of the mark and speaking of something High I suppose you know that tomorrow we'll be seeing the oldest and the highest well anyway we'll be seeing the Redwoods then you say what they are aren't they huge hard to believe aren't they there a dog gone big I don't see why they ain't in Texas well honey if they wasn't Gone Big we'd show enough mov them for you well now thanks partner if one of you girls had chained seats with one of us we could see how big they are on both sides all righty no thank you Amilia honey I don't understand you at all he's so nice and well you're not very nice to him he's too forward I don't like that type of man well you won't have to put up with him much longer he's changing for Pendleton tomorrow well I'm really not interested in what he does but he [Music] [Music] morning Teck hi uh what time's bus leave Tex oh pretty soon now did you see those Indian earrings I wanted to buy they were very attractive oh well look they're the [Music] boys well hello there honey ma'am Tex was wondering if he'd see you two before he left oh I'm awful sorry you have to leave T So Am my Taff excuse me well that's the most cold your brush off I ever had in my life well man I I will leaving the party soon Goodbye Mr Williams I don't know why but I sure seem to rub you the wrong way if I've said anything wrong I'm downright regretful but I'll tell you one thing I've seen a lot of females but you take the silverplated Spurs for being the cardist put that in your theme [Music] Amia honey have you written anything about the Columbia River in your theme uh no not yet say I can help you with this part we're following the old Oregon Trail people say it's the most picturesque 70 miles of highway in the United States when I hit this stretch I know I'm almost home you girl staying in Spokan tonight yes the Greyhound bus people made reservations for us we like to stop overnight and travel Day times you see so much more that way tomorrow we go to Canada oh I can hardly wait why do you United States before will you send me a postcard let me know how you like it okay I will say that's just like text writing postcards to his horse wasn't that cute [Music] how does this sound to me I wrote it to Chuck dear Chuck have been riding through Canada all day long and the scenery is scrumptious tomorrow B and Lake Louise having a wonderful time love Taffy you do have a wonderful time don't you Taffy well I aim to [Music] Lake Louise oh it's all I ever imagined it to be pretty [Music] oh the water is absolutely dreamy it's nice but what's the matter with you what do you mean look honey we've been here for 3 days and what have you done absolutely nothing but sit around on moon all day well you haven't written one word in your theme you know what I think I think the teacher ought to sit in the corner for being such a dunce I don't know what you're talking about you know exactly what I'm talking about look you cut your hair why don't you let it down oh Taffy I knew I was but I just couldn't do anything about it somehow we always got my goat I'm going home tomorrow I guess I miss this the bus along I wish I could thank you tathy but there's nothing anyone can do now it's been wonderful tassy oh Amia I wish you could stay all week with me I do too but I have to get back I want to see my aunt in Chicago before I go home you be sure and write me you here of course I will Telly goodbye goodbye and good luck goodbye maybe something good will happen I said maybe something good will happen before you get home bye bye [Music] hello Hello Operator he's connected with the rodeo there in Pendleton oh you have him hello Tex this is taffy Michigan Avenue next stop Greyhound terminal Chicago Loop [Music] I'm sure sorry man excuse me excuse me what's the matter boss this your bus is it 2:30 in from the West yet yes sir and unload it was there another section coming in today not today sir and I guess you're right I sure missed the bus did you miss me too meia oh wait wait wait a minute you don't get away from me again but how did you come on let's get out of here where we can talk [Music] [Applause] so when Taffy founded me in Pendleton I knew I had to H you off I still wasn't sure about you but when I saw your hair all fluffed up and no specks I knew I was right oh you were right Tex now my Ranch ain't the biggest I mean isn't I have to watch my English now that I'm marrying a school teacher well it isn't the biggest in the world but it's all mine with you there to help me it's going seem a lot bigger but what about my teaching my Master's Degree my thing well you can teach me from now on honey and you won't have to ride a theme we're going to live one just as soon as we can get a license against I mean mared [Applause] and you sent Taffy a wire telling her about us sure did even sent my horse another postcard from Niagara Falls telling him we were on our way home we rolling along the highway there is Merry Adventure in every wonderful mile we're gliding along the heart andam sky as travel over the countryside there romance and fun end seeing places and GRE new faces and you will find a friend it's a wonderful happy along the high there's the open road in view every mile there's something new to make your trip a happying thing to do you see that good old USA in the most convenient way it makes a glamorous FY holiday we're rolling along the high on the wonderful [Music] we the am for me