Show Boat

Originally Aired: May 28, 1940 Cavalcade of America #189, "Show Boat," presents the beloved American musical following the adventures of Captain Andy Hawks' floating theater on the Mississippi River. When the sheriff forces leading lady Julie Laverne and her husband Steve Baker to leave the showboat due to Mississippi's laws against mixed-race marriage, Captain Andy faces a crisis: how to put on that night's show without his stars. Into this turmoil steps young Magnolia Hawks, the captain's daughter who dreams of acting, and the charming Gaylord Ravenel, a mysterious wayfarer who has just swept Magnolia off her feet on the levee. The couple becomes the showboat's new leading team, performing night after night along the river to enthusiastic crowds. When Gay proposes, Magnolia accepts, and they leave the showboat behind to build a glamorous new life together in Chicago. As the 1893 World's Fair brings excitement and change to the bustling city, Captain Andy and the formidable Parthy arrive to visit their daughter and son-in-law, discovering how far Magnolia has traveled from her humble beginnings on the river.