Arizona republican., 1919-07-07
WHEN NEW YORK
 MADE MERRY ON
 LAST WET NIGHT
Gay White Way Fell Down in Celebration-An Ordi- nary Monday Night-But Many Mourned Fall of Booze

 country, the mecca of the thirsty. feii down on it's job June 30, when the na- tion went dry and the famous thor oughfare went dry with it. Instead Of the promised night of wild wet rev elry that would eclipse "armlstlce night" or New Years eve in New York's white light section, the last night of booze was an ordinary night and the great celebration did not ma terialize according to the New York Tribune.
 But the night of June 30 was an in tereSting night along Broadway even if it didn't come up to expectations. Gaiety was rampant and liquor flowed plentifully. Drunkenness was scarce, however, and much of the buying of liquor was for future, and not imme- diate use. The Tribune's account of | the last night of booze in New York city follows:
 | farewell to alcohol last night with a celebration far surpassing the revelry of armistice night, fell down on it's job
 The celebration did not materialize. | There was gaiety along the White Way. Liquor flowed plentifully. But there was no more gaiety and no more liquor than on any other Monday night for l the last six months.
 Made Big Preparations
 Hotels had made elaborate prepara- tions for farewell festivities, but few came to say goodby. Bars of the hos telries were crowded early in the even ing, as they always are, but there was no appreciabe spirit of rejoicing or mourning.
 At about theater time a reporter vis- IL .~1-. .-..- part of the White Light region At none of these was the bar crowded or the bartenders overworked. Only two drunken men were seen in a walk from Thirty third to Fiftieth streets along Broadway.
 At several theaters, announcement was made that the curtain would be 4 held five minutes longer than usual be- tween the acts, so that patrons might have more opportunity to drink. Many men responded, but more sat still
 Some of the saloons along the thor oughfare were crowded, but these were places which were selling out theii case goods. Buying here was heavy but it was almost entirely for the fu- ture rather than the present
 Fitzgeralds Caf., at Times Square had a large cloth sign draped above it's door displaying the final prices fol liquor and wines. Before this a re- spectable sized crowd gathered anC many ventured inside, not to drink, bu' to buy
 The Hotel Biltmore stopped selling liquor to the general public at S:3, o'clock. While crowds were still goini into the bar. John O'Brien, the wins steward, suddenly announced:
 No more drinks will be sold until to morrow"
 No explanation was given other tha,
 that the hotel did not wish to have 5 demonstration. The patrons of tn l hotel in their rooms were served al ! usual.
 - Merry making crowds in the lobby
 on finding the bar closed, formed il
 groups and walked about, singing Open up the bar!''
 Business Better as Night Wore On
 Later in the evening, as theaters be , gan to discharge their crowds, tn . business of consuming liquor for tn last time in public became more ac ' tive.
 man was stationed in front 0 Murray's bar, on West Forty -secon, , street. proclaiming dolefully, No us . to go in.' The flood of after -theate patrons was lined up before the ba
 three or four deep, and to handle tn . crowd it was announced that mike drinks would not be sold
 At the Hotel Astor bar the thron ' became so large that the manage
 ment adopted the plan of admittin 0 customers in relays. Crowds also file :. the Knickerbocker and Claridge bar. I The rule against serving men i ]. uniform seemed to be definitely aban T doned in most cafes. Soldiers, sailor S and marines experienced no difficult V in obtaining all the liquor they de l sired.
 1t Off the beaten track of Broadwa d the night was more than normal e quiet in the hotels. Few persons wer ,, at the bar in the Plaza or the Penn