The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-12
In New York
By PAUL HARRISON

New YorlS.--Meanderin used | to imagine that Dorothy Parker, to whom are attributed many of the | rncier gags, must keep parties in
 stitches. As Q matter of fact, she's
 Q much better listener. Es-
 tello Taylor, singing at the Slmplon these nights, could match her at
 wisecracking. But don't ask, here.
 what Estelle said ....
 Ethel Barrymore never writes
 letters. But her telephone bills
 are fabulous George Gersh- win pounds a punching bag almost
 as much as his grand pianos. And
 is in better physical shape than any other gay-way figure l know
 ... .Strangler Lewis, back from
 Mexico by plane Che flies every-
 where) says a wrestling match down there will draw 6 larger
 crowd than any bullfight. Kay Francis, I'm told, doesn't like to
 live in 0 house unless the number Gaige, the producer, is the son of
 the postmaster of Skunk Hollow, N. Y., and one of his hobbies Is making perfumes.
 What with repeal here and cheap dollars abroad, Joe Zelli, the
 Paris hot-spot man, Is coming back l to Broadway. And there'lt be a | lot of foreign tourists here this summer. Seeing Morris Gest in the elegance of the Ambassador reminded me, by contrast, of how he once stained his body and ap- peared as Q caged wild man in Q show in Boston. .. Dick Nancy used to be a stage property man. Harry Sobol once sold ladies un- derwear. Charlie Washburn was a bicycle rider. And now they're
 all theatrical press agents.
 P0ochess--Pozms and Poodies Park avenue is taking up French poodles. And did you know. inci-
 dentally, that they're clipped that
 way because poodles once were the ! clown dogs of the French court :? There's a sudden vogue for dalmations, too those spotted coach dogs. But Mrs Thomas +.
 Manville, ST, mother of the much-
 married Tommy, still likes pom- eranians. Has twelve in her Fifth
 avenue hotel suite, and a special room for them to occupy.... One of the funniest things Bert Lahr does is initiate Clifton Webb, who, in turn, initiates half dozen famous people in his current re- vue. Seeing Rudy Vallee's imi- tation of Maurice (of all peopleD Cheva1ier reminds me that there's mighty little premium on origin ality these days. New customers
 at the Merry Co., Round always
 nudge each other and whisper: Look, there's Mayor LaGuardia!" They're wrong, though. It's Nick Doria, proprietor of the club. But he looks 50 much like the city's head man that he actually has posed for a LaGuardia portrait while the mayor was too busy to
 be bothered.
 Lost: A Good Name
 The rinit0, where hundreds of performers use assumed names, ts chuckling about the two young actors who have been using the
 same one. Some years ago one of them was 8 star in college theat- ricals, with bright promise of a professional career. But his name was a long and awkward one, so he began looking about for a sim pier handle.
 Use mine," suggested his room- mate, who planned to be Q small
 town banker. "And if you ever bee come famous on Broadway I'll al-
 ways be able to prove that I used to know you"
 So the name was borrowed, and
 under it the actor did very well for himself, popping into one play
 after another, then to Hollywood,
 and finally hack to an important
 role on Broadway. Meanwhile though, Q series of circumstances
 had thrown the former roommate
 into the management of theatri- cal stock company, and finally he decided to become an actor him.
 self. He came to New York. made
 the rounds of the producing officess
 and very eurtly was shown tho door in each 0ne.
 Finally somebody explained f0 him that ali the officials thought he must he q little crazy t0 try to usA the name of such 6 well-lsn0wn actorI Knowing he'd never be Blv- on a chance 10 tell the whole story, he has had to think up different |