Smyrna times., 1933-07-05
SIDE LIGHTS OF
NEW YORK CITY
Told By Walter Trumbull in
His Own Immical Way
of DOings in City
INTERESTING SKETCHES

Beverly Bayne, all in black and
with bit of black velvet about hel
throat, was the one who asked
Have you a reservation and on
being told none had been made, re.
piled, I'll find place for you. Buy
tickets at the desk, please" SO ]
turned to the cashier, whose face
was vaguely familiar, and asked
for three dinner tickets. "Three
dollars, please" he said as he
pushed the slips through the wicket.
Then | recognized him. He was a
former Broadway box office man.
But he had changed. He smiled
when he said, You are feeding
three Others" Thus the introduc-
ton to the Actors Dinner club now
in the Hotel Great Northern on Fif-
ty-seventh street between Sixth
and Seventh avenues.
Petite, pleasant, piquant Jenny
Wren was the waitress at the table
at which we we're seated. She had
danced in the Metropolitan Opera
house ballet and for two and a half
years played in "Abie's Irish Rose" 1"
Unemployed, she is helping others
of the stage who are also unem-
ployed. Whether she serves paying
patrons or those who are eating free,
she doesn't know. That is one Of
the fine things about the Actors Din
ner club. There is no way of tell
ing who pays 81 or nothing at all.
Each gets exactly the same meal
an excellent meal, too. And the
great and the near-great mingle on
terms Of the strictest equality.
Herbert Rawlinson, now playing
in when ladies Meet" acted as
master of ceremonies. In proper
style, he introduced some
of the celebrities present-that be-
ing a nightly feature Of the club
including, Leon Enrol, with the
funny legs; Cornelia Otis Skinner,
darkly comely and an actress not
only by inheritance but in her own
right as well; Conway Tearle, now
playing in Dinner at Eight" and
his wife, Adele Rowland; Sophia
Tucker, who never grows old, and
others. Each took a bow and then
resumed eating, served Of course, by
ladies Of the stage and screen, with
gentlemen Of the stage and screen
acting as bus boys.
A program goes with dinner at
the Actors Dinner club. It's diff
ferent program every night, but the
cast is always all-star since those
of the stage give freely Of their
talents. So, while we finished or
coffee, Leon Enrol gave an imita-
tion Of an inebriated gentleman en-
deayoring to mail a letter with
many, many laughs, though never
before had he played to an accom-
paniment Of knives and forks. Miss
Skinner followed with a portrayal
of@an American woman on the eve
of sailing to Paris, and the Tlirth
muscles of the audience never got
a chance to rest. Then came Sophia
and her songs. SO, 1t may
be seen, dining at the Actors Din
ner club is high adventure. And il
can hardly be called charity because
so much is given for the small in
yestment.
Trees grow on Broadway at
street. They are or
naments of a penthouse on the top
OF the apartment on the southw est
corner.
Possibly it's due to small-town up
bringing-at home we used to go
down TO the Big Four depot every
day to see No. Z come in, but still
get something Of thrill from Grand
Central terminal. The excitement
Of the hurrying hundreds is conta-
gious. The confusion, the porters
staggering under loads Of baggage.
suggest far-away places. But multi
tude OF porters and bags gives no
clew to destination. A distinguished
looking gentleman, with convoy
OF six well-laden red caps, was going
only as far as Albany.
No matter how touching, not all
the farewells are real, either. New
York Is not kind to romance. There
are no shady lanes for trysts. But
at railroad terminals nobody pays
attention to embraces and even lin
gering kisses.
q. 1898. Bell syndicate-wNU Service.
O D1