The Washington times., 1934-01-18
Times Haze Changed.
The Champion ArriUes,
But So Does Mr.. VGLIee
By BILL CoRUM

NEW YORK, Jan. 1S.-
Romance is what gets EN-
now. 1t was not like in the
old days. The arrival of Primo
Carnera, I mean. In case you
need to be reminded, Primo Car
nera is the heavyweight cham
pion of the world. The very
large heavyweight champion Of
the world.
Signor Carnera was returning
from Italy on the liner Conte di
Savoia, but the excitement, the
hoopla, the crowds, the swirl Of
reporters and photographers was
over the other side Of town,
where Hubert Prior Vallee was
arriving at about the same time.
Hubert Prior Vallee-Rudy to
you, no doubt, my dear-iS a
singer Of songs.
He was returning, I believe,
Santa,Fay. But 1 am only a
headline reader at best, and
may be mistaken on that score.
In case you need to be remind
ed, Mr.. Vallee is a personable
young man, eX-of Yale, who has
gained notoriety via the saxo-
phone, megaphone, microphone,
and more recently the telephone.
Which reminds of an old song
I used to sing myself when I
was younger and in voice:
On the telephone, can hear
you,
And it seems, Ny Own, as if
I'm near you.
When Mr.. Vallee finally ar
rived at Grand Central he was
trying to hide his light under
q bushel, better known in our
set as Judge Hymie Bushel. But
there was bunch of beautiful
babies there all rigged up in
sailor outfits, and singing: "Your
Time Is My Tinle," the last line
Of which may be, for all I know,
but the dough goes in the bank.
So it turned out to be a sort
of public festival and homecom-
ing after all. Only Mr.. Vallee
didn't seem to be somehow
greatly pleased with it. I could
MT find out why. Those 'lassieS
from the Hollywood didn't stay
up all night to meet me when
I came back from California.
But from where I was stand
ing yesterday, it looked to be
the sort of homecoming a fel-
low might picture himself get
ting in his dreams.
Champ in Ship News
But where does the heavy
weight champion of the world
wind up? Back in the ship
news, that's where. And he
brought his valet with him, too,
poor guy.
It was bad day for us old
timers. I can tell you. Here was
a heavyweight champ, COM
pletely equipped with a valet,
and few indeed to welcome
him, and snap his picture, and
his valet's picture, and I in
quire if the Wallets name was
Brooks or Meadows.
Yes, here was the champ"
back from Europe and very
much in the flesh --272 pounds,
in the flesh, to be exact-and
a STRIPPING Of a troubador was
stealing all the red fire and
headlines Sad, sad, sad.
It was not always so, I re-
peat. This was a he-man's town
once, and when John l.. Sulli-
van came down from Boston
to honor us with visit, and
beat his big fist on the bar,
and beloved: set 'em up
again, Tony" the whole town
listened. Who gave tinker's
damn who Lotta Crabtree went
riding with? The champion
was here to do Broadway, and
that was news, big news.
Quote Story
Listen, I quote you from
Sullivan's own story by r. F.
Dibble:
He would come staggering
and Swirling into some fav-
orite saloon and Whoop:
'T'll lick any man in the
house, right here now! Them's
my sentiments! John L. Sui
Ivan, that's me-"
Then he would go tearing
around, smashing all the glass.
ware in the place and after.
ward gently pay for it; or ne