Memo To Mars (1954)

[Music] You are now entering the offices of Martian Planetary Products Incorporated, Lunar Venusburg, Marstown, Jupiter Heights, Saturnville, other branch offices, and all larger galaxies. >> Hi, Sally. >> Oh, good morning, sir. Why, what a nice tan you have. Did you have a good trip? >> Okay, >> I understand it's very st this time of year. >> Uh, it's quite I never have been able to sleep on a saucer, even those new double-deckers. And they gave me a room at right over the jets, naturally. >> Oh, that's too bad. Can I help you off with your things? >> Please do. [Music] Well, how's the boss? Grumpy as usual. >> Oh, no. He's just fine and very anxious to see you. >> Huh? Okay, let's go. [Music] >> Well, that's funny. I was sure he was here a moment ago. >> I'm over here with this lunar contract. I don't want to be disturbed for at least an hour. Unless, of course, our Earth's own district manager gets in this morning. >> Oh, but he has come in, sir. He's right here. >> Mac, [Music] you owe so and so. >> Morning, Chief. >> Awfully nice to see you, though. >> Awfully nice to see you. >> Come on up here. >> You know, Mac, you're going to have to forgive me, but I've just fallen in love with this little gadget. Ever seen one like it? >> Mhm. >> You can make yourself disappear anytime you want to. Complete privacy any time of the day. Get twice as much work done. >> Oh, I know. I took one along with me on this trip. >> I wanted to get as close to him down there as I could, Chief. You know, get right in and get the real sales picture on the QT. >> Of course. Of course. Sit down. >> Thanks. Because, as you know, they still haven't the faintest idea. We've been observing them all these years from the sky and using television and I didn't want to upset that naturally. Not well without this baby I couldn't have accomplished half as much chief. >> Ah so you did accomplish something then it was worth the trip. >> Yes it was. I think in a way. Of course it'll take me a day or so to get all my notes together. Get something down on paper you know for the committee meeting. >> Of course. Of course. You've just arrived. boy. Naturally. Naturally. But say uh you could give me sort of a well uh breakdown now, couldn't you? Uh just to fill me in on the broad picture before the big meeting. >> That's just what I intended doing, Chief. Because frankly, I'll need your help in planning this report. The committee is going to be a little disappointed, I'm afraid. >> Oh, they'll have to wait a bit longer on this Earth project than they'd hoped. We're just not going to be able to market that convertible Jet 16 down there right away. >> Really? >> What's the matter with it? That's a beauty of a car. I drive one myself. >> I know. I've got one of my own at home, but Well, >> oh, to invest one, eh? Can't take anything that fast, I suppose. >> No, it isn't that. Be surprised at the advances they've made since our people first began looking into that field. At least the area I was in. No, that's not the trouble. As a matter of fact, chief, that model would sell like hotcakes down there. They'd be crazy about it. >> Really? And just what area did you look into exactly, Matt? >> Well, uh, you got a map? >> Sure. >> See, that thing is supposed to light up. Oh, heck. It hasn't worked right for a week. >> This is what I always do to mine. Ah, okay. Now, let's see. Here we are. M pretty big marketing area. >> Sure is. And from what I was able to observe, those people demand and get up totheminute products. All right. There are automobiles down there that knock your eye out. Good-looking, comfortable, they can go fast. It doesn't cost much to run them. And their tires, believe it or not, are better than ours. They've got almost everything you could ask for. and they're very receptive to new advances in design, better mileage, and so forth. So, I know they'd be really interested in our model, but there's a hitch to it, and it's not easy to explain. So, frankly, I thought the best way to get the situation across to the committee was to take some magnetic picture footage of just what goes on down there. >> Sounds like a good idea. Say, how's about running it off for me now? Well, okay, chief. But remember, I haven't rehearsed this. I'll be just sort of ad living from my notes. Just trying it on for size. >> Oh, that's all right. That's all right. It'll be in the way of a little preview, so to speak. >> That's right. >> Shall I set it for a projector? >> No. Got my own. Ever see one of these? It's a camera and a projector all set to go. Just put it down anywhere, aim it at the wall, and you're in business. Good heavens no. Looks like an ordinary briefcase. >> I know. Quite a gimmick. With that and this disappearing gadget, you'll be surprised what I was able to do. Got right into their homes. Even rode around with them in their cars without there knowing a thing. Took recordings of their conversations and everything. And brother, have they got a problem. In fact, chief, the one thing that in my opinion would make it a waste of time to try and push our models down there is well, you see, the way it is now, they can just about barely use their own cars. >> H frankly, Mac, I don't believe I quite understand that. I know it's kind of unbelievable when you think of some of the things they have accomplished, but uh maybe this report of mine will give you some idea. >> All set? >> Uh-huh. >> Shall I turn off the lights? >> Please do. [Music] Say, Mac, I thought you said you took motion pictures. This is just a still shot, isn't it? >> It only seems that way, Chief. See, they're moving. >> Oh, yes. They're moving, but not the cars. >> Not the cars. >> Engage in trouble? Gas? >> No. Just sit tight, chief. You'll find out in a moment. This is James Crosby Rosset. Jimmy Rosset, a salesman, nice guy. Nice home, comfortable, cozy, nice kids, Bob and Vicki. Nice wife, Millie. Nice dog, Skippy. Nice car and nice day for a picnic. Just the family. Relax. Take it easy. Forget the office. Forget the housework. In fact, you can forget the whole thing. [Applause] >> Hey, what? What's the matter with you? You in a hurry? >> Yeah, I'm in a hurry. Why don't you start moving? >> Get out and look around. You see anybody moving, >> fatthead? I'm going back and pop that guy. >> James Ross, now you sit back. You're just making everyone miserable. >> This is no picnic for me, you know. >> Looks like there'll be no picnics for us either, Daddy. You know, Chief, curiously enough, the suicide rate down there isn't as high as you might think. >> H, that is remarkable, isn't it? >> Yes. And what's even more remarkable, Jim Rosset goes through this same sort of thing every working day of the year, too. He gets off to a good start in the morning. But sooner or later, Jim the salesman is trapped. And so is Ed, the doctor there next to him. And Frank, an executive with a busy day waiting for him. And Helen, a housewife, trying for a little shopping in town. And in fact, millions and millions of others just like them. Farmers, truckers, city workers, all with the same problem. Now we run into the next problem. [Music] A curious social change has come about on this planet. Used to be having an automobile was something of a distinction. Now having a place to put it is a distinction. Well, Jim got the parking place, but a lot of other people didn't get it. shoppers, for instance, customers for all the stores on that block. If people can't park, they can't very well buy. However, Jim did get a parking place. But this was a very exceptional morning for Jim is in luck. Not only did he get a place to park, but this morning, what do you know? He's only gotten to walk a mere 4 and 1/2 city blocks to his first call. But just a moment, that luck may not last. [Music] Well, apparently Jim's going to be all right here. But really, there just isn't enough time in his day to stop and decipher signs like that. And this man's time is precious, too. >> Shut up. >> His name is Joe Maxon. That's a load of farm produce he's trying to get through this traffic. Or it might be furniture or clothing or baby carrots. The point is, Jim Rosset may not realize it, but his life and Joe's life are woven around their country's highways and around each other far more tightly than either of them think. Now, here's Jim returning to his car, ready to start for his next appointment. Jim depends on Joe for the food in that truck. The farmer who raised that food depends on Joe to deliver it. And they both depend on Jim. For if there aren't any gems to buy it, there's nobody for Joe to deliver it to and therefore no point in growing it in the first place. That's the kind of economy these people have. And it's a good economy because it makes for a mutual faith, respect, trust. >> Where you going, you halflet? >> What are you trying to do, you big ape? Well, we've seen how Jim starts a typical working day. Now, let's tag along with Joe for a while. Sure enough, stopped again. Of course, school children have to be taken across the street safely. That's fine. But if the highway didn't run right through this town, it wouldn't be necessary to tie up traffic this way. Incidentally, statistics show that there are five kids like these born every minute who are going to grow up, buy cars, and drive them or try to drive them. Imagine what that'll be like. Well, let's see how far Joe can get this time. Not very far, I'm afraid. And this will go on all the way down the block for all those houses while Joe just sits and waits. But somebody's going to have to pay for that waiting time. And in the end, it'll turn out to be someone like Jim when his wife buys the groceries Joe's carrying. Meanwhile, Jim has another call to make if he can find a place to park again. In city after city, downtown business is suffering badly. People in outing districts will shop there rather than buck this kind of thing in town. In fact, the cities are getting so crowded that millions of people are moving to the suburbs where they have to have cars to drive to their jobs back in the cities where there is no place to put their cars. But understand me, that doesn't mean things are any better in the small towns or even further on out. Let's look at some of the problems Joe the trucker faces in getting produce from the farm to the city. Here, the road surface had been damaged by weakened subgrades during the spring breakup. That repair work will be doubly costly because it will only have to be done all over again the following year. The road itself simply is not up to the necessary standard for the volume of traffic it gets. And of course, that traffic will be stopped while this repair work is going on. Most county and township roads are graded with materials from the vicinity of the rightway regardless of their suitability for road construction. These subgrades become soft when wet, and graveled surfaces are soon lost. Many bridges and culverts were built a long time back and are just too narrow for comfort. The same applies to these narrow underpasses. And that means too narrow for safety. Many of these roads are too curved. You just can't see where you're going or what's coming up at you around the next bend. And there are plenty of them. city worker, trucker, farmer, doctor, plant worker, practically everyone in this country goes to work by motor transportation. For in the final analysis, when all is said and done, the people want to ride in their automobiles. To be sure, there are vast stretches of countryside and ranch land and desert where motoring is still a pleasure and where there's plenty of room to park if you happen to live in the wide open spaces. But eventually, you come to this Mac, what? For goodness sakes, what is the reason for all this? It It doesn't make any sense. >> No, it doesn't. But there is a reason for it. Many of the roads they're using now were built years ago when they had about oh, say 10 million motor vehicles. No roads could possibly have been designed and built then for this kind of traffic. They're wearing out. They're just falling to pieces. They're too small and there's not enough of them. It's as simple as that. And they've built up their whole economy around their roads. The development of this country is tied in firmly and inescapably with their roads and highways. Yet the barrier to any further national progress is the bumper of the car ahead of them. These people are rapidly approaching the strangulation point right now in a great many areas. This nation can literally choke to death. All because of these absolutely inexcusable road conditions. Yes, it's even possible that somewhere right now, this could be happening in any rush hour on any day of the week. >> Now, this could be not so funny. You know what I mean? >> This stuff in my truck's going to be ruined before I ever get out of this. The whole load. Well, mine won't spoil, but mother what it'll cost before this is over. If this is happening all around here this morning, I don't know what this city's going to do for food. I just don't know. >> If this is happening all around here, the Thompson plant just ain't open today, brother. And it's a defense plant. >> Mommy, let's go home. >> Dear, I'm afraid we can't very well. Not right now. >> Well, I just missed probably the most important appointment in my life. Now, >> my wife took the car this morning. She and the kids are probably stuck in this mob by now. She was taking them in to get their shots. >> Isn't this terrible? I've never seen anything like it. I was supposed to be on duty an hour ago. >> Seems the traffic gets heavier on this road every day. [Music] >> This is a fine jam. Looks like the end of the road. What's What's the matter with those people down there? Are they Are they all insane to let this go on? >> No, actually, they're not insane. I don't think so. But incidents occurring in strategic parts of the country, and you know what could follow. Brother, they're in a jam. All right. Well, I guess we better just forget the whole project. >> No, no. After seeing that, I've got just one more little scene to show you, Chief. I think you'll agree the project is worth well sort of keeping on ice for a little while longer. There's some hope I think. [Music] >> Hi Ed. >> Hi. You get caught in that road mess back there? >> That was a brute and I never saw one like that. Just black coffee. You have to be pretty good behind the wheel these days or get into some other line of business. It's driving me half crazy trying to keep out of trouble on these roads and streets. Sometimes I think I will get into some other business. Oh, I can't take this much longer. Well, I like my business. I don't want to change it, but I'm going to change something else. I'm tired of being pushed around by this stupid road business we're all in. I'm the only one who can change it. [Music] I'm the only one who can change it. >> I'm the only one who can change it. And I'm going to start changing it right now. >> You're the only one, Jim. >> That's right. I'm the only one. And you're the only one. And everybody out on the streets and roads, they're the only ones. Everybody who owns a car, drives a truck or a bus or an ambulance or a fire engine in this whole country, every one of us has got to get in there and pitch. Sick and tired of not being able to drive my own car anymore. >> But Jim, where are we going to start? All of us. >> Well, the big headache is just a whole handful of all the smaller headaches all over the country. We got to start right in our own hometown. There's the Chamber of Commerce. I'm going to see the mayor and I'm going to write letters to all the people who ever asked me to vote for them. Local service clubs all over the country should be able to do something about this. If we want better roads, we've simply got to get together on the situation. >> Jim, really? Do you think it can be done? >> It better be done. Hello, Daily Express. City editor, please. Al Jim, listen. I'd like to have lunch with you tomorrow. I've got Huh? Well, can you possibly break it? That's right. This is very important. >> Helen, you know as well as I do, once the women get started on this, they'll be pretty hard to stop. Now, how about tomorrow afternoon? Well, you can just put it off. That can wait. >> State Highway Department. Let me speak to the commissioner, please. James Rossen call. >> Yes, I'll hang on. All right. Don't worry. >> But of course, it's a problem for the PTA, too. Every parent in town will be with it. And Louise. You do remember the trouble with the hot lunches, don't you? Well, we straightened that out, all right, didn't we? >> City manager, please. Hello, Sam. I'm calling from a phone booth down at Maine and Oak. I've just found a parking space after almost an hour. How'd you like to get on your hat and coat and come down here and take a look at this street? And bring your car. But Harry, we can be doing something about it ourselves at the same time. We can get up a committee representing groups all over the country. Of course, it can be done. You know it can. You're traveling all the time. You've seen it being done. There are plenty of places where people have gotten together to do something about this situation. Where good roads are being constructed, excellent highways and throughways, where you can cross the streets, where you can drive in the middle of town, where you can park near the stores. Because this is what we want. And this is what we need. And believe me, this is what we can get if we all go after it. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]