Imperial Valley press., 1936-03-12

NEW YORK, MarCn lz.-Jllfliily
Durante could win in a walk, the
RialtoS Worst Dressed Man Sweep
stakes. For time Hollywood almost
caught him in its Sartorial stride.
He was reported as being seen now
and then in collegiate blazer and
little boy pants. Even leading po-
lice dog.
But back in New York once more
he returns to the habiliments of his
piano pounding days in the Coney
Island Joints. He wanders the the
atrical district in loose fitting
hand down. his collar half open
and looped with carelessly tied
four in hand.
His wisp of straggly forelock is
combed each morning by flick of
the hand. Jimmy could hop into
the drivers seat of passing truck
without change of costume. But
the comedian is entirely uptown in
gastronomic tastes. He lunches and
dimes in the more expensive cafes.
And like the tabled buSman, he
relaxes amid clamor of the type OF
noisy cabarets where he attracted
his first following. Much of Dur
ante's illiteracy is entirely profess
sional. He is said to be a good talker
and a fair student of world affairs.
90
Two of the favorite beauX OF the
top drawer set are Milton Holden
and William Rhinelander Stewart.
Smartly dressed, handsome elegants
who fit the society journals COM
poSite of the perfectly hammered
worldlings, at home at Palm Beach,
the Long Island Hamptons or on
private yacht. They were spawned
by the same sort of social units OF
various eraS that produced E. Berry
Wall and Frank Crowninshield. So
cial units, indeed, that many vanish
with the present era.
90
Incidentally, many wonder if the
passing of Mrs. E. Berry Wall on the
Riviera will not end the 30-year-ex-
lie of her husband. The fashion
plate of his Gay go day, he fled New
York because of it's growing vulgar
ity. Nearly all expatriates who be-
longed to his circle have long since
abandoned France. He is the long
sentinel in a devastating havoc OF
American ariStocarcy abroad, SYM
boil of the tragic consequences so
often Detailing those who abandon
their native land in pique. And
sometimes return kneeling.
90
Spats seem to be doing an over
the-river ia ia along with that other
famous accoutrement, the walking
| stick. There are not enough canes
on the avenue these days to kindle
a CRATE fire. Even the visiting Brit
ish author is caneless. Spats have
been supplanted by clothtop shoes
| Such dandies as Jean Patou in Paris
and william G9Xton over here have
been sporting them. Kyrle Bellew
a handsome dog in his day, was the
| first person l ever saw in spats, a
| snowy pair which he affected at q
Billie Burke opening night at the
Empire. They so daZzled Actor
Davies. the critic, that he wrote his
review about them instead of the
show
The most initiated actress of
stage, especially among the boarding
school girls, was an actress whose
vogue seemed short or they cam
find the proper play for her An
other reason for her appearance
may be that she is well fixed ant
does not need the money. / speai
of Hope Williams. Her draggy, higi
tonsiled talk, coupled with slouch.
leyee swagger were taken up b.
thousands Of girls who frequentet
fashionable watering places as wei
as the basement counter maids ant
five and ten ladies. Miss Williams
slowly intoned "Goo-oo-o-d bye
aver and shiftless mosey acros
stage appealed to feminine you'll
more than anything since the day
Geraldine Farrar inspired the ger
ry-flappers."
Bagatelles: George Jessel was tn
Palm Beach crowds fayorite winte
clown =. Leo Marsh, to help Will
away the tedium of slow GONZALES
ence, wrote a play Martha vii
chinski, once needing $25 in a hurry
wrote and sold poem to magazin
in 80 minutes Nick LongWortl
was one Of Americas most accom-
plished amateur violinistS Blu
only his close friends heard hin
play q. ID. Billy DeBeck has trunk
ful of loud ties he's scared TO wea
-. Harry Evans is the only socialite