The First Traveling Saleslady

Plot

Corset company owner and independent-thinking suffragette Rose Gillray has her wagon struck by a 'horseless carriage' in 1897 New York. This early automobile is driven by Charlie Masters, who tells her it's the transportation means of the future.

At work, Rose is helping singer Molly Wade into a boldly designed new corset when she gets the idea that using it for Molly's costume on stage would help to promote sales, but instead the show is shut down by the police.

With her business failing, Rose owes money to Jim Carter, whose steel business manufactures the metal used for a corset's stays. Jim takes a shine to Rose and offers her a chance to sell his barbed wire, which is not selling well out west, where his salesmen get run out of town - or worse.

Ending up in Kansas City, accompanied by Molly and followed by Charlie, a cattlemen's association convention seems a good place to try to sell the barbed wire. But cattle rancher Joel Kingdon gives her the runaround, attracted to her personally but warning her against peddling wire. She tries his home state of Texas next, but once again, Joel interferes, putting the women out of business temporarily.

Joel and Jim both end up in love with Rose and proposing marriage, but she rejects both. Charlie, though, comes along offering a ride to California, where he's got another new notion that he wants to explore: machines that fly.

Cast

Production

The film was based on an original story by Stephen Longstreet. It was Ginger Rogers' first movie at RKO for a number of years. "It's a very cute story," said Rogers. "It's for the whole family and I was delighted to make a family story."

The movie marked the film debut for Carol Channing. It was Barry Nelson's first film in five years. Clint Eastwood was under personal contract to producer-director Arthur Lubin, who used him in a number of films. James Arness was under contract to John Wayne and had just established himself in the TV show Gunsmoke.

The movie was part of a $22 million slate of 11 films announced by RKO for the first half of 1956. Others included Back from Eternity, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, Stage Struck, Bundle of Joy, A Farewell to Arms, The Syndicate, Cash McCall and Is This Our Son. (Ultimately RKO would only make a few of these films).

Filming took place in January and February 1956.

RKO's head of production William Dozier signed Carol Channing to a five year contract at two films a year. It was to begin with a musical remake of Stage Door but then RKO went out of business.

Reception

The film was not a financial success. According to a history of the studio. "the picture quickly faded into oblivion. RKO Teleradio needed a box-office rocket to blast off its first program of movies; instead, it tossed out a fizzling cherry bomb."