Evening star., 1936-12-19
TOYS FOR NEEDY
STACKED HIGH IN
THEATER LOBB|ES
Thousands Trudge Through
Snow to Aid Christmas
Campaign.
GIFTS ARE REPORTED
FINEST OF CRUSADE
Cinema Managers Announce Rec.
ord Pouring In of Presents
at Annual Matinees.

Shows from heaven fell for the
Warner Bros. toy matinees this morn
ing as thousands of Washingtonians
trudged through it with their children
TO II theaters all over the city.
Thousands more rallied to the cause
of the forgotten than last years, the
first snow of Winter seeming to bring
them forth on behalf of the needy
rather than stop their onrush.
Finer gifts than have ever been pre-
sented before in six years Of STAR
Warner BroS-N. B. C. Christmas toy
campaigns were received at all the
theaters as the admission prices, man
ayers report.
Swamped With Gifts.
The Earle Theater reports that an
early count there indicates that this
theater alone has received more than
two and half times as many gifts
for needy families as were brought to
the theater last year, with more pack
ages continuing to flow in as the day
progresses.
Charles Grimes. manager OF the
Earle, was about the happieSt theater
manager in town, as more than a
thousand boys and girls, bringing
their parents along, braved the rain
and snow and filled the big downtown
movie house to the back rows.
We are swamped, Manager Grimes
said. I'VE stopped our count at 5000
packages. We know we've got 5000
gifts for the poor, and before the day
Is over we'll have many more. as we
are permitting patrons who missed the
early show. on account of the weather,
to come with their toys to later per-
formances in the afternoon. All they
need bring is toy for admission"
Exceed Last Years Total.
The Metropolitan Theater reports
about $500 gift packages with the
count incomplete. This" says Man.
ager Madden. lis about one and half
times more than were received at this
| theater last year. 1t is a marvellous
showing" he said, "in view of the
inclement weather. We had fewer
children in the house than last year,
Odb 4IOlll l1lC QONuS
town shopping districts"
Fred Thomas. manager Of the COL
ony Theater, received between 800
and 900 toys at the morning perform
ance-approXimately 200 more toys
than last year. Despite the inclement
weather. patrons came to the theater
this morning, and at 1915 more than
800 persons had passed through the
turnStiles, each bearing gift to some
poor child in Washington. The toys
were far beyond the average in price.
Mr. Thomas said. 1T looks as II
we'll have a great Christmas for what
might have been forgotten children"
Toys Pile High.
UnhappineSS was svamped IN q
mountain high tower Of toys at thea
ters downtown and up, while Warner
wickets all over the city accepted the
generosity of young and old as tickets
for well-planned performances.
1--WE never seen anything like 1t
before" said John J. Payette, general
zone manager of Warner Bros, as he
watched new toys and clothing collect
ing in astonishing numbers at the
Earle Theater lobby at 9 o'clock this
morning. Its impossible to estimate
yet, but I should think at least $4,000
gifts have been received this morning
alone"
Crowds began assembling at an early
hour, as mothers sent their boys and
girls to the morning performance Of
neighborhood houses, equipped with
contributions for the unfortunate.
Downtown at the Metropolitan and
Earle larger proportion of older folk
were present, but all II theaters were
filled to capacity.
Gifts have been pouring into the
(See TOY DRIVE, Page A.2)