The Washington times., 1935-10-29

washington night CLUBS, WHICH
use more musicians. dancing acts
and show girls than do the
movie theaters. In fact If it
were not for the after dark en-.
tertainment spots many perform
ers would be on relief or close
to starving.
Washington's nighteries are
being subjected to a campaign
of glass smellers and snooperS
much more annoying than the
prying sleuths of prohibition.
The Alcohol Control Board seems
to feel that something like pro-
hibition enforcement is in order.
Particularly is it hard in its
Saturday night restrictions.
When most night club patrons
are beginning to enjoy the party
they must be warned it is after
midnight and they can drink no
more. Not even If they bring
their own.
Somebody should apply the
rule of reason, for one Of the
most responsible and respectable
night club proprietorS informs
me that the strict and unreason-
able regulations have brought
back the bootlegger and all the
evil that goes with him. He
offered to take me to one popul-
Gus circle where at least six
liquor peddlers would compete
for pint bottle patronage.
Before half of the Washington
after dark spots close up because
ABC is driving away customers,
Rudy VaIlee might do something
about it. In fact the Washington
night clubs propose to bring the
matter directly to the attention
of President Roosevelt whose lib
eral views brought about q wet
nation. Rudy would not be mix
ing into a purely local problem
without justification. He is the
recognized friend Of the musician
and the entertainer end they are
really menaced by policy which
lessons their opportunities for EN-
ployment.
Powers Good Role
Leona Powers will have an i'm.
portant role in Ernest Trucks new
play, Whatever Goes Up" Cros-
by Gaige is producing and it would
be nice if it could open here. For
I agree with many others that
Leona Powers is as clever and fin
ished an actress as ever trod the
E. Street boards k a t h ! cen
Moran is out of Pride and Predu-
jice," which is one of the heart
breaks of show business, no mat
ter whether you're an heireSs. The
few lines she had to speak as Be-
linda went out in the revision and
so she turned in her notice rather
than play a walk-on part. She Is
now flirting with a Sam Goldwyn
offer for the movies. Thank you,
Mr.. Thomas Saltz for your very
nice letter. Also thanks to Sunny
Peterson for making me an hon.
orary member of the Myrt and
Marge Mike Rites. Now will have
to listen to Myrt and Marge. :.
Barnee of the Shoreham is the
latest to go radio with Sunday
afternoon interlude for an auto
corporation. All he has to do is
catch Phil Lampkin, whose Tues
day night session is generally re-
garded as the lest radio program
originating in washington.
London Situation
Over in London the vaudeville
situation is also acute. It seems
that the musical halls have been
adopting a double features policy
and an entertainment program
that takes up four hours or more
without actors in the flesh.
The English variety artists are
really campaigning against it.,
using the columns of the ERA, to
voice their grievances. They con-
tend-and I think rightly-that
four to five hours of screen fare
is enough to give anybody screen
indigestion. They want the shows
limited to three and one half
hours-which seems to me enough
show in one dose for any normal
patron-with at least an hour
given over to the flesh and blood
entertainer.