Imperial Valley press., 1927-01-03
NIGHT LIFE IN
MEXICO HURT BY
ECONOMIC STRESS
Hy Tnited Press Leased Wire

MENlCO CITY, Jan. 3.-Econo-
mic conditions have 50 changed the
night life Of Mexico City that with
in the comparatively short space of
two years what was capital fam
ed for its carcfrce gayctv has be-
come Il city so modest in its diver
sions as to approach puritanic stan
dardS.
Where two wears ago four more or
less prctontious cabarcts, two of
which offered American jazz, were
fiourishng, today only one remains
open in the city. Just outside the
city proper another gives weekend
entertainment.
What was the most popular caba-
ret in the city two months ago had
an American orchestra. But local
musicians unions had something to
say about the money being paid the
American boys and the result was
a termination of their contract, fol-
lowed almost Immediately by the
closing # She cabaret.
American residents who enjoy
dancing much prefer the more spirit
, ed JAZZ rjsic to the slow and ap-
parcnt}v los rythmiral tunes cvolv-
ed by the native musicians. Hence,
the cloSin" OF their fayorite caba-
ret has reduced their attendance
at dance halls to q minimum.
Mcxieo is following the tradition
al course in turning to gambling
during the period of economic stress.
Until just recently three protected
gambling houses were in full swing
in the city, with roulette wheels,
bacarat and poker tables, and seve-
raj tables of a Spanish card game
similar to the American-montc. One
manager has now been given IN ex-
elusive right to operate, paying, it
is understood, seven thousand pesos
gold for the privilege against the
bid of five thousand BY q rival.
This one gambling house is in the
heart Of the city, only a block and
Il half from police headquarters. 1t
is TIE first time in years that open
gambling has been permitted and
hundreds nightly visit the tables.
Taxi drivers quarrel over the privl-
legc Of driving the patrons home at
the end of their play.
Gambling Is Popular
For six months of the year the
game known in Mexico as fronton,
which is the local name for the
Spanish j j'alai, is running. 1t has
hundreds of patrons from the Span
ish colony in addition to the native
contingent and the betting on this
interesting and exciting game runs
into thousands the three nights a
week it is played The players have
Just left for the season in Havana
and Spanish towns.
Even the barrooms are feeling the
pinch Of economic pressure and eX,
iecept for q few operating in the
| heart Of the city are making little
more than enough to pay their rcn.
| tails. Several of the more popular
! ones remain open until one 0 clock
IN the morning, eleven O clock be
ing the closing hour ftr many with
cheaper licenses.
Theaters and movie houses are
still fairly we'll attended. The Ca-
tholie hoyeott against the govern
! ment s religious regulations FOR \
time tended to decrease the at
! tendance in both theatre and movie,
but waning spiri, among the
faithful has brought the attendance
nearer 20 normal. Opera, such as
once flor:ishcd in Mexico. is no
more.
Restaurants :n1 cafes Lave also
felt the chang in economic condi-
tions and the excellent cuisines that
prevailed in Mexico City years ago
are now only memories. Some Of the
smaller cafes afford the better
menus. with venison, quail and duck
in season, and at prices amazingly
low.