- In the days of King Arthur, they lived in Camelot, A source who entertained the royal court with miraculous feet south, magic high above the castle walls, the ancient necro meets with members of the magic round table.

Come with us now to the secret room of, - Oh my, that, that smoke is terrible.

I, I've never had that happen to me before.

You know, as, as Merlin, the magician, I do many tricks here in the secret room for King Arthur, but I've never had the magic billiard ball turn into a a 20th century automobile.

And I, I, I entertain King Arthur a lot and I instruct the children.

And I just don't know what to do with this strange car.

Perhaps if I just had a magic wand, well, this is a windshield wiper according to my crystal ball.

I think I'll just use this for a magic wand.

I know it's magic because it sticks to my fingers.

You see, I know this is, I think this is a rear view windshield, maybe with the wand and the windshield.

I could get an idea for our little talk today.

I'm going to tap the wand against the windshield and see what happens.

Fiddly die fiddly d magic trick take place for me.

There is a letter S and a letter A, but it's upside down.

I'm going to turn this a right side up.

Now you come back up.

In fact, I'm gonna leave you upside down.

You turn around down in there and come up the right way.

That's much better.

Sa f All this card came up backwards.

Hold it there.

A little rascal.

I'm gonna put you down in.

He doesn't like to show his face.

You turn around and come up and show your face.

Come on.

SAFE.

One more.

Isn't that amazing?

T And what does that spell, do you imagine?

Well, let's put them on the windshield right over here.

SAFO.

I'm getting an ID now.

E-S-A-F-E-T. And this is the letter right here.

This is the letter.

What is it?

Well stay up there.

You little rascal.

Don't fall down.

This is a letter Y-S-A-F-E-T-Y Spells what?

Safety.

That's what we'll talk about today.

Safety, traffic driving, I should say.

And pedestrian safety.

And I'll use this windshield wiper wand because it's Oh, oh, I think it's getting very weak.

Look, oh, and just when I was getting used to this magic safety windshield wiper, I'll throw it over here to my friend, Chauncey the clown.

Thank you, Chauncey.

I don't have a wand that works anymore, but maybe I could use this.

Oh, well maybe I could use this luggage rack right here.

This, it looks more like a cane.

Speaking of safety, you know anyone that uses a white cane is either blind or he or she doesn't see too well.

So that means you should take care of them and help them cross the street.

I know your mother and daddy will, this is a white safety cane, but it's a very special magic one too, because when I let go of it, it sticks right to my fingertip.

It won't let, let go of you.

Little rascal.

Even when I try to throw it away, comes right back again.

Isn't that amazing?

And I think now it's full of electricity because this safety cane is starting to rise into the air.

And it's floating.

It's floating.

Come down.

I'm going to give this to my friend Chauncey the clown too.

What else could we do about safety?

Many people are killed each year because they're not careful.

Perhaps if I had my my crystal ball, it would, it would gimme some ideas.

My magic round crystal ball.

This is how a magician produces a crystal ball like this.

That is - Just - Lovely white crystal.

Oh, it's starting to blink now.

I see some words in there and it says it's now time to charm a snake.

And there just happens to be a snake basket right here.

Don't drop the crystal ball.

I also happen to have a snake charmer's pipe.

Let's see if it'll happen.

This is a very special snake according to my safety.

Crystal ball, Don't bite me.

They have serums for this sort of thing, but I don't, he has sharp little teeth.

You know what this is?

This isn't really, this isn't really a snake.

You know what it is?

It's a safety belt or a lap strap.

And every time you go driving, the first thing you do when they get in the car is to put that lap strap together.

That's the sound of safety.

Tighten it up, make sure it fits securely.

And then if there's an accident, you won't be thrown out of the car.

I'm going to put this right back in our safety sedan.

You like another safety idea?

Well, let's try the headlights.

We need good headlights, good visibility to see, don't we?

Very good visibility.

And I know at least I've been told by my good friends that there are five rings in the chain of safety, the chain of life.

And I have here five solid steel rings.

1, 2, 3, 4, and the fifth ring.

Watch these safety rings come together.

Two are linked together right now and three are linked together.

And right now I have five safety rings linked together.

And I want you to look closely, closely in the first ring.

What do you see?

What do you see?

Well, it's just what we were talking about, right?

The safety belt.

The first thing you get do when you get into your car is buckle that safety belt, that lap strap.

L-A-P-S-T-R-A-P, lap strap button.

It buckle up for safety's sake.

And then I see within the second ring to you, what is that?

Can you read that?

Lock all doors in your automobile.

The second thing is push that button down, lock the door and you won't be thrown out.

And in the very middle, take a good look.

What does that say?

Practice car discipline.

Don't fool around in a car with your brother and sister and make loud noises and get in front of the back mirror so daddy can't see out or make mother or daddy nervous because you just might talk them into an accident with your poor discipline and misconduct.

Same discipline you have at home or at school.

Practice car discipline and mother and daddy will drive better.

And second, from last.

Our chain of life is stay within the car.

That sounds silly, doesn't it?

Stay within the car.

But I mean, keep all parts of your, of your body within the car.

Don't stick your hand out.

You might hit a fence or a telephone pole.

You'd be badly injured.

And lastly, number five, look when the car stops, this is most important.

Even though the trip is over when the car stops, don't touch the controls.

You know what might happen?

You might accidentally touch the, the, the brake and the car rolled down the hill and you'd be killed or kill somebody else.

Or you might start the ignition five chain of safety.

Here.

They, well, they vanish from my hands, but they won't vanish from your mind.

Will they always remember them?

And when you get out of that car, now you become a pedestrian because you use your feet or your pedal extremities.

There are three rules when you get out of the car before you cross any street, do it at the crosswalk.

And first, let's look at this one right here.

First stop.

Don't run over the curb.

Stop.

Then what do you do?

Beg your pardon.

Right?

Here's our little Camelot license plate.

But it tells us the secret stop And what's next?

Look, see these eyes looking.

Look to the right and then look to the left.

You might just look in time to save your life.

And then use your ears.

Use as many senses as you can to stay alive.

Stop, look, and listen.

Those are the three signs of pedestrian safety.

When you're walking.

This automobile can be a wonderful thing for traveling, but it can be a dangerous weapon.

Just as dangerous as a gun if aimed at someone by a careless driver.

Or if you are a careless pedestrian.

You know, a little while ago, I, I made that safety belt, that lap strap come out of the basket.

Now I want you to meet my, my very good friend here, Betty the bookworm.

I'm gonna see if she'll come out if I play the magic Hindu strain.

See what she can tell us about safety.

She's a bookworm.

Studies a lot.

Reads a lot.

This will make her come out, I think.

Here we go.

- Merlin.

Whatcha doing?

What's better?

I got a snake.

Merlin, I'm a worm.

Don't you know the - Difference?

Oh, I forgot.

You - Always get me so upset.

- You insult - Me by calling me a snake.

- I'm sorry.

You're not a snake.

You're a bookworm, right?

What do you know about safety?

- Oh, well Merlin, I know lots and lots about safety.

- Tell us, - Oh well, well Merlin, did you know that in what they call the 20th century - Yes.

- That more accidents happen within 25 miles of homes.

- Right close to home.

Why?

- Right close to home?

Well, because people forget one big thing.

- What's that?

- That's to buckle up with their seatbelt.

Keep them strapped into the car.

Merlin.

- Oh, that makes good sense.

Buckle up.

No matter how short the trip - Buckle up for safety.

- Tighten the lap strap.

Buckle up for safety.

That's a good slogan.

Don't fight my nose.

Watch it.

- Right?

- What's next?

What's next?

- Well, well Merlin, let's see.

You know, they say in Old England and I think this is something that, that the people in other continents should remember.

- What do they say in Old England?

- Well, they say snap the lap strap chap.

- That's har.

Wait a minute.

Snap the lap strap.

Well snap the buffalo, the - Buckle snap the buckle merlin.

And it keeps you tight in your seat and you won't fall out.

Yeah.

And you know what?

When you go on far trips or, or long trips or short trips, you should also keep it snapped when you're in the car and done snapping when you get out of the car.

But if you don't have it snapped when the car stops.

Hmm.

You may not stop and go right through.

You'll the keep right on going with the 20th century - Windshield.

Yeah, - Right.

Merlin, you'll just go P - But that strap could save your life and hold you right in the seat.

- Yes, it will.

Marlin.

It keeps you right in there.

So wear a seatbelt all the time.

- That makes very, very good sense to me.

Very good sense to me.

- Well, I'm glad you like the advice, Merlin.

How, I just wanna get it clear to you.

- How about this matter of, you know, keeping your, your hands inside the car.

- You know, that's pretty good.

And I think we ought to really remember that arms or, or legs or feet or anything else that's sticking out.

Because you never know how close you're liable to come to a bridge or, or a tree and go.

- You don't have that problem with, with the - Arm.

No, I don't have that problem.

'cause I don't have any arms or legs.

- One mo don't, don't you bit my nose last week now.

Please be careful.

Well, I just, - I get so excited.

Melon.

- Look.

Wait a minute, Betty, something happened to my car.

It's gone.

Excuse me.

Just a moment.

It turned into a magic carpet.

I'm gonna sit down here.

Excuse me, Betty.

Excuse me.

I'm gonna sit down here now.

- Well, now Merlin, if you take a ride in that magic carpet, I want you to make sure that you take good care of all safety precautions.

Don't fly under bridges.

And, and I don't want you to run into any rain.

I won't do any low flying.

Watch out.

Careful the flying surfers.

- Careful.

I'll be careful.

- William Merlin.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

I, I, oh, goodbye.

Now Betty.

Hey - Merlin, you forgot something.

What?

I, - I forgot to turn on the mission key.

- Merlin.

- What?

- Buckle up for safety.

What do you mean?

I get so up.

- Snap.

All the very thing you were talking about.

My safety belt.

- My lap strap.

The lap strap chap.

Remember, - It's so easy to do.

It is so easy.

You lift the lever, push the buckle in and that's it.

I'm going now turn the key on.

Goodbye.

Yep.

Goodbye Merlin.

Bye.

Goodbye Melon.

See you.

Watch - Out for that bridge.

Melin.

Look out Merlin.

Be careful.

Merlin.

Look out Merlin.

Goodbye Betty.

The Bookworm was portrayed by Helen Siglin.

Merlin was produced in the studios of Ohio University Television, Athens, Ohio.