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  • [music]

  • >> Alice [narrating]: It wasn't really a plot against George Peters but I'll admit it might

  • have looked that way the morning his wife Jane

  • stopped by for coffee.

  • We had just been in our new house two weeks and I was still ecstatic over everything,

  • especially my dream kitchen.

  • >> Alice: Well, how do you like it?

  • >> Jane: There's only one word for it: terrific.

  • >> Alice: You know I'm so proud of it it's almost indecent of me.

  • I can hardly wait to show it off a week from Friday night.

  • >> Jane: You go ahead and be indecent.

  • A gal's got a right to enjoy her first housewarming party.

  • Sure wish I was having one. Having many people?

  • >> Alice: Well, not a mob if that's what you mean.

  • Just you, the Crawfords, the Slagles, the Martins, and a couple of others.

  • Hey, why so sad?

  • And this isn't the first time I've noticed it.

  • >> Jane: Oh, nothing really.

  • >> Alice: Not very convincing Jane girl.

  • Whatever it is I've got just the cure for it.

  • There's a sensational sale going on at Watson's.

  • A new hat would be the ideal tonic for you.

  • I'm going down this afternoon for a small spree.

  • How about coming with me?

  • >> Jane: I wish I could but it's just impossible.

  • You've no idea how much I've got to do.

  • Remember, I haven't got your dream kitchen to make things easier.

  • Mine's strictly the nightmare type And I wish George would do something about

  • it.

  • All he's done so far as talking and not with any real enthusiasm.

  • About moving you mean.

  • We looked at a couple of older houses but that's no improvement.

  • We've got an older house.

  • If only there was some way of really selling George on the idea.

  • >> Alice: The fifth freedom maybe.

  • Freedom from unnecessary drudgery; freedom to go shopping when the urge hits

  • you or when there's a sale going on.

  • >> Jane: Sale or no sale, I'm swamped.

  • Besides, my mother's been quite ill in Cleveland and I've been thinking about

  • taking the weekend off to visit her.

  • >> Alice: Got to get my clothes in the dryer.

  • I'll show you a couple of my prize beauties.

  • This setup makes any day wash day for me.

  • And I can do my drying in any kind of weather: with a gas dryer it couldn't be easier.

  • Completely automatic.

  • >> Jane: I remember seeing this washer in the magazine ad. Automatic too, isn't it?

  • >> Alice: That's right.

  • >> Jane: Isn't there a little colored guide light that follows the operations through

  • the various stages?

  • >> Alice: Yes.

  • I know exactly what's happening I don't even have to watch a clock.

  • Wait a minute, you say you're going to visit your mother

  • this weekend?

  • You know Janie, my girl, this might prove a very fortunate trip for you.

  • And just for kicks, don't get too far ahead in your housework.

  • Now why should you have to lay out everything all nice and ready for George

  • and Jimmy down to the last egg and can of salmon.

  • >> Jane: Oh no, I couldn't.

  • I'd have to make things easy for them. After all...

  • >> Alice: After all you've been going through this might be the awakening for friend George.

  • The big bright dawn.

  • It might do him a world of good to be left all alone with Jimmy for two or

  • three days in your kitchen.

  • >> Alice [narrating]: Well Jane finally got off the Cleveland still not too certain she

  • was doing right by leaving George and Jimmy by themselves

  • even though George was absolutely sure they'd get along just fine.

  • That's what he said: "just fine."

  • [whistling]

  • >>Jane [narrating]: Of course when you leave a man to his own devices

  • he's apt to think of something fancy like curried chicken with rice.

  • But in this case George not only should have done a little more thinking about

  • his recipe, but should have kept his eyes on the stove as well.

  • Now if he just let his rice simmer instead of boiling.

  • But frankly, I doubt if George knew how to bring things to a simmer.

  • Well, maybe it was the mess, or maybe it was just the temperature outside

  • but George thought he could use a little cooling off.

  • A nice icy lemonade would be just right.

  • >> Jimmy: Hey pop.

  • When am I going to eat?

  • >> George: What's with that ice tray here?

  • There's no ice in it.

  • >> Jimmy: Oh, I guess I forgot to fill it.

  • >> Alice: Sometime you might ask George how far is a mile.

  • He would tell you it's the distance from his sink to his backyard garbage pail.

  • Now like many men tackling a problem, George was very efficient.

  • Very.

  • The smart way to do dishes was two meals at a time.

  • [music]

  • >> George: Jimmy! Did you have to take a bath at this time of day?

  • I haven't got a drop a hot water in the sink!

  • I've got a stack of dishes a mile high!

  • I'm gonna be here til midnight! What's the matter with you!

  • >> Alice [narrating]: Jane had been away for all of two and a half days but the way she

  • was welcomed back by George you'd think she's been gone a month.

  • >> George: Well?

  • >> Jane: Oh, we'll be there early enough.

  • The others aren't coming till seven.

  • >> Alice: Look, I still have a couple of little things to do but it'll only take a minute or so.

  • >> Jane: Ooh, you're famous sweet potato casserole.

  • >>Alice: Only this time with shredded pineapple instead of orange juice.

  • You two go over and sit at the table.

  • Don will be back in a few minutes, George.

  • He's doing some last-minute shopping for me

  • Oh hey! I almost forgot the big news.

  • I went out to Pond Ridge with Helen Baker today and I broke 50 for the first

  • time on nine holes.

  • >> George: Hold on now wait a minute Alice.

  • You mean to tell me that with this big shindig staring you in the face

  • you still have time for golf?

  • Nothing to it.

  • With this kitchen it's a breeze.

  • Come on over look at some of the evidence.

  • By the way, did you know that this kitchen won an award from the Woman's Home Companion?

  • >> George: Huh.

  • >> Alice: And really they thought of everything.

  • I just love the convenience and modern styling of this built-in gas range.

  • >> George: Hey Alice, aren't you going to light the oven?

  • >> Alice: I don't have to it's completely automatic.

  • You'll never guess what this sauce is for the baked ham.

  • Equal parts of grape jelly and light mustard blended and simmered.

  • And this burner it does it without scorching.

  • Anyone care for a spot of grapefruit juice to tide you over?

  • >> George: Yeah.

  • >> Alice: This is going to be one of the things I love about this refrigerator

  • is that it turns out ice circles and puts them in a bowl for you.

  • all by itself.

  • >> Jane: Continuous ice circles

  • >> George: Yeah?

  • Really?

  • >> Jane: But you're taking a chance staining that counter with fruit juice?

  • >> Alice: No danger with Formica.

  • Won't ever stain.

  • That's the greatest help George; hanging the things you need where you need them.

  • In fact this whole kitchen was designed for efficiency and convenience.

  • >> George: That's what I like, solid 30 inch steel.

  • >> Alice: So easy to keep clean too.

  • >> George: Hey what's this?

  • >> Alice: Oh, automatic flour dispenser. Very handy.

  • Here I'll show you how it works.

  • >> Don: What's going on here?

  • >> George: Oh, hi Don, boy.

  • >> Alice: I've been showing them around.

  • >> John: Good darling.

  • Hello Jane.

  • >>Jane: Hi.

  • >> Alice: Oh Don, will you get rid of these for me while I start this stuff?

  • >> Don: Well, you might have pressed ol' George into service.

  • Come on George show you how it works.

  • This is really for me, chum.

  • >> George: What is it?

  • >> Don: Well it's a simple gas disposer.

  • It takes care of all the waste.

  • The brightest, shiniest bride could use this gizmo.

  • >> George: Yeah?

  • That's great!

  • >> Don: And that also goes for this automatic water heater.

  • Two temperatures in the same tank at the same time.

  • Now, and this pipe here, it gives you hot water for the bathroom and for the kitchen sink.

  • But the other pipe, this one gives you really hot water for clothes

  • and dishes to make them really clean.

  • Both any time you want.

  • Now look, George if you're really interested in this layout,

  • the man who set up for us is a good friend of ours, Ed Stevens.

  • >> George: Yeah?

  • >> Don: He's gonna be here tonight and just in case you have anything to ask him.

  • >> George: Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

  • >> Alice: Well all I want to say is that Don's little suggestion turned into a rather

  • interesting and provocative conversation, and Ed Stevens is a handy man with figures

  • and ideas.

  • It certainly looked like progress was being made when we peeked in on them.