1946 15 Minute Radio Transcription
Converted to text by Christian Willis, June 1, 2001.
http://www.songofthesouth.net

[Introduction: Johnny Mercer singing "How Do You Do?"]

["Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" instrumental]

Announcer: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, and before long all America will be whistling
and singing that song. A great song from a great picture. Of course, it's Walt
Disney's new technicolor hit Song of the South. One of the most tuneful films
he's ever produced. With a gay, heart-warming story based on the tales of Uncle 
Remus. Featuring the talents of Hollywood's finest actors, and Walt Disney's 
newest animated style.

Johnny Mercer: Hello, y'all, this is Johnny Mercer, ready to start the proceedings 
on quarter-hour musical preview of Song of the South. And introducing to you 
some of the wonderful people from its cast. First, meet the sweetheart of the 
Disney lot: seven-year-old, blonde, and very beautiful Luana Patten...

Luana Patten: Hi there, Johnny. 

Mercer: ...Bobby Driscoll, a nine-year-old who gives such a grand performance...

Bobby Driscoll: I guess that's me.

Mercer: ...and there's James Baskett who will shortly be known everywhere 
for his wonderful screen portrait of that renowned storyteller, Uncle Remus.

James Baskett: Yessuh, I got all kinds of stories! Mostly about the most 
outdoin'est, bodacious critter in the world: Brer Rabbit.

Mercer: ...and, of course, the man who produced this outstanding picture, the 
man whose popularity is a claim throughout the world, Walt Disney.

Walt Disney: Well thanks, Johnny. But I thought we were here to listen to the 
music score from Song of the South. 

Mercer: Right you are, Walt. But first, I'm sure the listeners would like to 
know a little more about your picture.

Disney: Well all I can say is it took a lot of time, plenty of hard work, but 
I loved every minute of it.

Mercer: Yes, I imagine making Disney picture is as much fun as seeing one. 
Incidentally, Walt, how did you happen to choose the tales of Uncle Remus 
as the story for Song of the South?

Disney: Well, Johnny, I first heard the stories of Uncle Remus when I was a 
boy down in Missouri. And since then they've been one of my favourites.

Mercer: Your favourites, and a million others'.

Disney: That's right. I believe no folk stories have been better loved that the 
Joel Chandler Harris tales of Uncle Remus. I've always wanted to do a picture 
of them. But I had to wait for the development of our new film technique before 
I attempted it.

Mercer: New film technique, Walt?

Disney: Yes, where we combine live acting with animated characters. You see, 
in this medium, Johnny, we can do practically anything.

Mercer: And believe me, friends, in Song of the South Walt does things you never 
thought possible.

Disney: Now Johnny I think it's about time we hear some of that music you've promised.

Mercer: Alright, Walt, just name your favourite. 

Disney: Well how about that song Hattie McDaniel sings in the picture, you know, 
"Sooner Or Later," by one of your Capitol record artists? And by the way, speaking 
of Capitol Records, I heard that Uncle Remus album you made, Johnny, and it's wonderful. 

Mercer: Thanks, Mr. D, I hope it'll become a collector's item. And a neat little item 
now is June Hutton who steps out of the Pied Pipers to sing "Sooner Or Later."

[June Hutton proceeds to sing "Sooner Or Later"]

Mercer: Well that sounds real satisfactch'll to me, how 'bout you, Walt?

Disney: Say, that sounds like a genuine Southern accent you were usin' there, 
Mr. Johnny, for sho'.

Mercer: Well you're not forgettin', Walt, I was born and brought up in a Savannah 
briar patch, just like Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit.

Disney: [laughs] Why, I'd never know you were from the South.

Baskett: Well bless my soul, Mr. Mercer, I knew you was from my part of 
the country all the time!

Mercer: Yes sir, Uncle Remus, I was from the Georgia Mercer South, where 
Brer Rabbit probably used to nibble on my grandpappy's sugar cane.

Disney: That little critter certainly got around, didn't he Uncle Remus?

Baskett: Yes sir, he sure did get around. And if I had time I'd tell y'all about 
the story of Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby.

Disney: I'll tell you what, let's settle for a song.

Patten: Good! Sing "Uncle Remus Said."

Baskett: Just for you, honey, I'll do it.

Mercer: Alright, Jim Baskett, just what did Uncle Remus say?

[Baskett/Pied Pipers proceed to sing "Uncle Remus Said"]

Mercer: That was wonderful, Jim Baskett, and what Uncle Remus said won't 
soon be forgotten, neither.

Baskett: I just hopes the animal kingdom will forgive me for tellin' those 
stories on 'em!

Driscoll: Mr. Mercer, want to know what my favourite is from Song of the South?

Mercer: I'll bet I can guess it, Bobby.

Driscoll: Betcha can't.

Mercer: Let me see now... with that twinkle in your eyes it could only be one 
tune! The Laughin' Place song?

Driscoll: Nope, you missed! That's Luana's.

Patten: Uh-huh! That's my favourite. Every time I hear it it makes me laugh.

Mercer: Well if it makes you laugh, why don't you sing it right now. Okay Bobby?

Driscoll: Okay, ladies first.

Mercer: Very well, you announce it, Luana. And I'll give it my extra-special attention.

Patten: Alright. Everybody listen. Johnny Mercer's going to sing "Everybody's 
Got A Laughing Place", a very cute number from Song of the South.

[Mercer proceed to sing "Everybody Has A Laughing Place"]

Patten: Thank you, Mr. Mercer! Just for that I'm going to get the Capitol Uncle 
Remus album just to hear you sing it again.

Mercer: Ooh, that's a great song, isn't it? Say Walt, where do people get all the 
ideas for songs like this, all you people?

Disney: Well you should ask that, Johnny. I've often wondered where you've 
gotten all your ideas.

Mercer: Yeah, but I never came up with one like this, this Laughin' Place thing.

Disney: Well that's part of an Uncle Remus story, Johnny. You see, Uncle Remus 
believes everybody's got a Laughing Place. You have, Luana has, I have, it's all 
a matter of finding your own. Your little hideaway for your special little place to laugh. 

Mercer: Well, I know where mine is, then.

Driscoll: Where's that?

Mercer: Bobby, it's in any theater where they're showing Song of the South. 
Man I got a million laughs out of it.

Driscoll: Mine's in the corner listening to Uncle Remus tell us stories.

Patten: That's my Laughing Place, too.

Mercer: And I'll bet Walt's place is over on the lot with Donald Duck.

Disney: Heh, well I can't think of a better place. Now, Johnny, since you've 
sung our favourite from Song of the South, we'd like to hear yours.

Mercer: I like them all, Walt. But there's one in particular that I favor over all the rest.

Disney: Which one is that, Johnny? 

Mercer: Well it's the one I think you can be sure will be one of America's 
favourites. It's that catchy, happy-go-lucky piece "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah."

Driscoll: Gee whiz, Mr. Mercer, that's the one I like best too!

[Mercer proceeds to sing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah", fades out]

Mercer: Well folks, that's all we have time for now. It's been a lot of fun singing 
all these brand-new tunes from Song of the South, and we hope you've enjoyed 
hearing them as much as we've enjoyed singing them to you. So from Walt Disney,
 Luana Patten, Bobby Driscoll, and James Baskett, this is Johnny Mercer saying 
goodbye, and reminding you, if you want to see the gayest, happiest movie of the 
year, when you latch on to see it at your favourite theater when they show Walt 
Disney's musical new hit, Song of the South.

Announcer: You'll want to see it again and again. It's Walt Disney's technicolor 
classic Song of the South with new songs for a nation. 

[End with instrumental of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah"]

--End Transcription--