In
the aftermath of World War II, there were many ex-G.I.’s recuperating from
battle wounds in military hospitals; a percentage emotionally paralyzed, despairing
of readjustment to civilian life. Having tapped the resources of Truth or Consequences to assist in the
war effort, there was now a fresh opportunity to help in a post-war era. Little
did he know that a “good gesture” act for one particular contestant, physically
crippled, would ultimately lead to the creation of another successful
radio/television program, This is Your
Life.
“Shortly after
the end of World War II, General Omar Bradley, impressed by our bond efforts,
asked if we could help with the disabled veterans, particularly the
paraplegics,” Ralph Edwards later recalled. “The hospital doctors told us many
were afraid to go home for fear they wouldn’t be accepted and properly cared
for.” Known as the “invisible wounds of war,” the result of prolonged exposure
to combat-related stress, many of the wounded were depressed and reluctant –
ashamed – to have family and friends see them in their debilitating condition.
Edwards had multiple discussions with Al Paschall and the idea men to create a
means by which the radio program could offer a second chance for veterans to advance
their lives beyond a hospital bed, and double as a public service message to
radio listeners from coast-to-coast.
A
paraplegic at Birmingham General Hospital in Van Nuys, California, Lawrence
Tranter, was selected as the first honoree. (It was at the suggestion of a doctor at the Rehabilitation
Department of Veterans Hospitals, that a soldier paralyzed from the waist down
be selected.) The doctors and psychiatrists were in full support that the radio
program try to encourage paraplegics to talk about their past, and welcome
their new future. The public needed to know the reason why the wounded, in both
heart and body, were fearful of returning to their home and native communities
because they felt a lack of acceptance. “We selected a paraplegic soldier from
a Navy hospital in California, researched his story, and had him brought to our
stage in Hollywood in a wheel chair,” Edwards later recalled. “We decided to
present a young ex-Marine, Lawrence Tranter, of Murray, Utah, on Truth of Consequences and surprise him
with a show of love and pride from all his family and school pals, his boss at
the drug store and his favorite teacher.”
On the evening of
April 27, 1946, 21-year old Lawrence Tranter, weighing a mere 91 pounds,
confined to a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down as a result of wounds
he suffered on Luzon, appeared on stage as a contestant. Mentally, prior to the
radio broadcast, he was close to death. Physically, he wasn’t much better. His
only control was over his fingers, which he could move freely. As usually
happened when a special contestant had been “set up” in advance, he couldn’t
answer the question and therefore had to pay the consequences: an emotional
revisit of his past. One by one, old friends, family and neighbors, were
reunited with him on stage – beginning with the chief clerk of his draft board.
The profile of a returning hero was dramatized through a series of dramatic
flashbacks with leading events and personalities who played a part in Tranter’s
life from his high school days, through his induction into the Army. One scene
dramatized the day of his birth. The appearances of friends and family were a
complete surprise to Tranter. Mrs. Louise Erickson of the Murray, Utah, draft
board at the time when he was inducted in 1943, spoke to him in behalf of the
late Mrs. Glen Howe, who was chairman of the board when Tranter was called, but
had since died. Mr. Varion Morteson, the High school principal who gave Lawrence
his high school diploma spoke praise of the student who impressed his teachers.
Irving Olsen, Junior Madsen and Orlan Parker, friends who Lawrence used to “gang
up” at Hammond’s Ice Cream Parlor back in Murray, Utah, recollect Lawrence’s
job as a soda jerk in 1940. Lawrence’s brother (Leonard) and sister (Mildred),
made an appearance. Mildred was now married and has a young daughter. Dr.
Warren Shepherd, the physician who brought Lawrence into the world, back in
1925, re-enacted Lawrence’s first day on Earth. Frank and Lorene Tranter,
father and mother, reunited with their son.
After the reunion
on the stage, Lawrence was given a glimpse of his future… While Lawrence was in
the hospital recovering, he was studying watch repair and had often said that
he would like to make a life business of repairing watches.
Prior to the
broadcast, Ralph Edwards made arrangements with the Bulova Watch Company,
located at 630 Fifth Avenue in New York City, to receive complete free training,
plus a regular weekly salary, while attending the Joseph Bulova School of
Watchmaking for Servicemen in New York. John H. Ballard and Arde Bulova, along
with their associates, through the Bulova Foundation, had established the
school for people like Tranter. Alex Cohen, in charge of public relations at
Bulova, helped work out the arrangements for this radio broadcast. A place to
live would be provided for Lawrence during his attendance at the Bulova School.
He was also asked to choose the city in which he would like to open his own
business for a jewelry store and watch repair shop… And that store would be set
up for Lawrence Tranter, completely stocked with the merchandise he needed to
open business, all the tools of the watch-repairing trade, and rent paid for
one year in advance for the store. Meanwhile, until arrangements for Tranter’s trip
to New York’s Bulova School were completed, he was provided a few days to spend
in Hollywood with his family and friends who came to visit him for the radio program.
(Edwards closed the ceremony by informing “the gang from Murray, Utah” to be guests
at a private supper at the expense of Truth
or Consequences – and, so that Lawrence would not be late for any of his “future
appointments,” he received a pullover wristwatch.)
In New York, the
Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking had been established to teach a craft to
veterans who needed a new field in which to earn a living. Since Tranter had
not yet recovered sufficiently from his injuries for the hospital to allow him
to travel to New York immediately following the program, Gen. Omar Bradley and
the Veterans’ Administration requested the Bulova School to open a branch at
Tranter’s hospital. Once he was well enough, he would go to New York and
complete his studies. Between tears of joy, the war veteran accepted the
proposition. And, according to two separate accounts from staff members who
were involved with the surprise consequence, there wasn’t a dry eye in the
audience.
Edwards closed
the act with these words: “This is a great example of what an industry can do
to help the disabled veteran. Boys paralyzed as Lawrence Tranter or otherwise
disabled in battle. The Veterans’ Administration hopes other industries will
set up similar rehabilitation programs for veterans in hospitals. Training
courses such as this help speed the recovery of these disabled G.I.’s and it
may start them on a new career as it did Lawrence. Those boys didn’t forget
you, folks. Let’s not forget them.”
On Truth or Consequences, surprising a contestant with family
relatives was done a number of times, especially for soldiers stationed at
training bases during the War who longed to see their mother, wife and/or
children. The war might have been declared over, but the urgency of family
reunions was still essential. Emotions rose on stage and in the studio
audience, attesting Edwards succeeded beyond anything he and his crew expected.
If there was any question whether the quiz program succeeded in delivering a
public service message, there could be no doubt by the letters, telegrams and
feedback, numbering in the thousands.
“I
have been advised by our Radio Director, Mr. Brechner, of your help in
preparing the Truth or Consequences
radio broadcast of April 27 involving a patient from the Birmingham Veterans
Hospital. This outstanding broadcast, which I thoroughly enjoyed, was a fine
contribution to our Medical Rehabilitation Program. Will you please accept my
thanks and extend my appreciation to Mr. Al Pasqual and other members of your
staff who helped prepare this worthy broadcast.”
--
Omar N. Bradley, General, U.S. Army,
Administrator
of the Veterans Administration
“I
listened to your very fine program on April 27, 1946, and I want to express my
great appreciation to you for your fine work in the rehabilitation of Lawrence
Tranter, Murray, Utah. This young, according to your introduction, served in
the Philippines and was wounded there while taking part in the Liberation of
the Philippines. It gave me a great sense of pride to learn that he had
received a disability that would perhaps handicap him for the rest of his life
The great deed that you have performed in his rehabilitation and of other young
men deserves great praise and I hope that you and others will continue the good
work for the men who have given all they had for humanity.”
--
Joseph P. Hyman, National Commander of the
National
Society – Army of the Philippines
“I
listened to Truth or Consequences Saturday
night and still can’t get the show out of my mind. I’ve heard many human
interest spots before, and during the war had occasion to handle a number of
them myself, but can honestly say that I have never heard anything done so
well.”
--
Warren Lewis of the National Broadcasting Company
Ralph
Edwards did not forget Lawrence Tranter. Almost two years later, on the evening
of April 24, 1948, the same chair was wheeled up to a microphone on the Truth or Consequences stage. Tranter had
begun a new interest in life. He became mentally stimulated because he had
found something to occupy his alert mind and supple fingers. He learned a trade
and improved physically. Tranter had completed his course and put on 45 pounds.
Edwards moved over to Tranter’s microphone to bestow his promises: a lease for
the store which Tranter then signed; a check for the first year’s rent; an
inventory of the stock guaranteed in writing; and a $1,000 check to open the
store’s bank account from John Ballard and Ardie Bulova of the Bulova
Foundation. Edwards then informed Tranter that a group of Salt Lake City
jewelers had formed a committee to help him with the number plate for his
store: 4881 South State Street, in his hometown of Murray, Utah.
With
the formalities over, Edwards walked back to his own microphone and said, “Oh,
Lawrence, there’s just one more thing. You can’t get in the store without a
key. Here’s the key, fellow… come and get it. Remember, two years ago they said
you’d never be able to get out of that wheelchair. This is the future,
Lawrence. This is your key to the store. Come and get it.” Slowly, Tranter rose
from the chair. Leaning on a large table, the ex-Pfc. made his way across the
stage, slowly walking, and took the key. “I had purposely encouraged this to
demonstrate the tremendous rehabilitation that had taken place in the boy’s
previous physical and psychological deficiencies,” Edwards later explained. “The
audience stood and applauded.” Tranter could now get along with crutches.
 |
| Bob Barker and Ralph Edwards |
It
was during this broadcast that Tranter had a surprise for Ralph Edwards. He
announced that he had gotten married four months earlier, and introduced his
wife, Dorothy. She was the lovely red-haired lady who served as his nurse at
the Bulova School of Watchmaking. Together they stood on stage for the official
presentation of his diploma from the Bulova School of Watchmaking, made by
former head of the Veteran’s Administration, Chief of Staff of the Army,
General Omar Bradley, speaking from Washington, D.C.:
“Hello,
Lawrence. I’m going to step out of my job as a soldier for just a minute this
evening to back to those days when we were working for you in the Veterans’
Administration. I like to recall them because they were busy and productive
days when we could do a little for those of you who did so much for us.
Tonight, as you leave the Bulova School, as you put the hospital behind you to
take your place as a business man in your home town, you are helping to prove
what millions of veterans everywhere have claimed when they say to the American
people, ‘Give us the chance – give us the opportunity – and we will make good.’
Lawrence, the burden of proof is not so much upon you as it is upon us, the
American people, to whom you have come back. For it us up to us to show you
that democracy is the measure not only of a man’s personal freedom but his
economic opportunity as well. If only we will remember that this great country
of ours is peopled by young men like you, men and women with the spunk and
courage to make it an even better place in which to live, we will make
democracy mean a great deal more to our children – yes, and to the puzzled
people who live tonight in nations around the world. Again, congratulations. My
good wishes to you and Mrs. Tranter for a full and happy lifetime.”
Ralph
Edwards thanked General Bradley and then spoke the works he was to repeat many
times to millions of radio listeners: “This is your life.”
Behind
the scenes, the Decker Jewelry Company, wholesale jewelers, supplied the
opening stock for the store. As promised on the broadcast, Tranter was given a
completely-stocked jewelry store, including electric sign, all interior
fixtures, window trims, a watchmaker’s bench, a safe, interior work, and other
necessities. The merchandise itself, the bill of goods, was given to Lawrence
Tranter. The Bulova Watch Company agreed to underwrite his credit, but Tranter
had to pay for the merchandise. His stock, like any business, was to be paid
for out of his profits, since, of course, he would be selling the goods and
realizing the difference between the wholesale and retail price. Edwards
explained this to Tranter on the evening of his initial consequence, and
reminded on the evening of his return to the program, and Edwards himself
agreed to underwrite his credit to the extent of $500. When it was discovered
that $500 would not even complete window dressing for one of the two display
windows, the Murray City Chamber of Commerce got involved and explained to
Edwards that tentative dates set for the grand opening of the store had been
pushed back to ensure the store would be fully furnished as promised on the
program. As a result, Bulova extended Tranter with $2,000 worth of credit.
His first customer was supposedly Gov.
Herbert B. Maw of Utah.
The Lawrence
Tranter broadcast was so overwhelming that Ralph Edwards discussed the proposal
of doing a weekly “good gesture act” covering the life of an exceptional
individual who deserved more than verbal gratitude. A few months later Truth or Consequences featured a consequence imposed on Lester
Hansen, who was asked to “act” in a little dramatization in which he was
assisted by radio actors Jack Moyles and Iva Green. The dramatization portrayed
the actual heroism and experiences of the veteran, but the contestant was not aware
until he read the “script” that he was acting out his own story. For his
efforts as an actor and in recognition of his exploits during the war, Lester
received a $1,000-diamond engagement ring (and wedding band to match) to give
the girl he was marrying soon; a complete wardrobe for civilian life including
two Hart Schaffner Marx suits and top coats; and all-expenses-paid for equipping
his new car (he already had the car) so that he would be able to drive it
without using his disabled limbs. Truth
or Consequences arranged this special equipment for the car through
consultation with the vet’s hospital.
Lester Hansen, 28, was paralyzed from the hips down. An
artillery lieutenant in the war, Lester Hansen was wounded in the back in a battle
on Biak Island, a dot in the Pacific Ocean off New Guinea. After two and a half
years spent in army hospitals at Walla Walla and Los Angeles, he was discharged
from the army as a major. In 1947, he was 28 years old, busy laying out a
doctor’s career for himself. He was living in Los Angeles with his wife, Ethel,
whom he married less than a year prior after meeting her in the Walla Walla
hospital, where she served with the Red Cross. Doctors were puzzled by Hansen’s
ailment, saying they knew no reason why he could not walk, except that nerves
had been shocked. And, they claimed, another great shock might undo the damage
and enable Hansen to walk again.
Two days later, on
October 6, 1948, an audition disc was recorded (never aired) focusing on the
life of Lester Hanson, a paralyzed war veteran from Spokane, Washington. Hosted
by Harry Von Zell, who would obviously be replaced by Ralph Edwards when the
radio program premiered in November, the demo was played back for potential
sponsors. Hanson played the role of a “surprised” guest, with full
understanding that his demo could convince a sponsor and a network to feature a
similar program on a weekly basis.
The first radio
broadcast of This is Your Life aired
on the evening of November 9, 1948. Sponsored by Philip Morris and broadcast
over NBC, the premiere episode was modeled after the Lawrence Tranter show,
which was the forerunner of This is Your
Life. Paul Jackson, a paraplegic, was chosen to be the first “victim” of
the new radio program. Jackson was wounded and buried in the snow in the Battle
of the Bulge. A medic tripped over him and saved his life. Jackson never knew
who the medic was so Edwards and his crew ran down the files and presented to
Jackson the young man responsible for saving his life. For his future, they
provided complete equipment for a gun shop in a place he was starting in
Tulare, California.
And now the good news...
A complete inventory was recently made on the scripts, along with Ralph Edwards' personal scrapbooks, newspaper clipping files, photographs and loads of other materials pertaining to the radio version of This is Your Life was recently unearthed and digitally scanned. Unlike the television version which glamorized celebrities, the radio version for the most part focused on every day citizens and until now proved a challenge identifying exactly who each of the "contestants" were -- until now. Crossing fingers, all of this material may go to print in book form within a year or two. Again, crossing fingers...
