Evening star., 1936-03-08
ROOSEVELT JOINS
REPORTERS FROL|C
Other Dignitaries Attend
White House Correspond
ents' Dinner.

out for nights fun at the fifteenth
annual dinner of the White House Cor
respondents Association.
The grand ball room Of the Willard
Hotel, the scene of the banquet. was
gayly decorated and besides the Presi-
dent, there were on hand to join in
tn festivities, Vice President Garner.
Speaker of the House Byrns, members
of the Presidents cabinet and many
others prominent in the official and
political life of washington.
The White House Correspondents
annual dinners are noted for O num-
ber of things, one of them being q
ban on speechmaking. Even Presi-
dent Roosevelt was denied this priv
ilege. The only exceptions to this
iron-clad rule of many years stand
ing were the brief words of welcome
on the part of Albert L. Warner of
the New York Herald-Tribune, re-
tiring president of the association:
Frederick A. Storm of the United
Press. newly elected president, and
Walter Trojan of the Chicago Tribune.
the new vice president, who merely
said sort of howdy-do in response
to their introductions.
Fun Making Rules.
AS is the custom of the White
House Correspondents dinners, the
greater part of the evening was given
over to fun making, entertainment
and travesty on New Deal affairs.
One Of the outstanding features was
the ceremony incident to the in
auguration of the newly elected off,
GERS of the association. Besides Presi-
dent Storm, Vice President Trojan
the other new officers who figured in
the limitations last night were Robert
Henderson, Central News. secretary
treasurer; Franklin Waltman, jr.
Washington Post; Fulton Lewis, Uni
versal Service, and John O'Donnell
New York News.
AS part of this feature of the pro.
gram, a glowing tribute was paid to
Guss larry of the Wall Street Jour.
nal. retiring secretary-treasurer, which
office he has held for eight years.
The entertainment program in
cluded leading stars of the radio
screen and stage, most of whom were
furnished by the National Broadcast
ing Co. Frank Fay, comedian, who
acted as master of ceremonies ano
who gave his famous burlesque ora.
ton on Economy" was introduced
by Lenox r. Lohr, president of the
N. B. c.
Gladys Swarthout Sings.
Among those who contributed tc
the entertainment besides Fay were:
Gladys Swarthout, prima donna OF
the Metropolitan Opera. who has alse
distinguished herself in the motion
picture and radio world; Ethel Mer.
man, one of the leading exponents
OF torch" songs; Jimmy Savo, prom.
inent mimic and pantomime artist;
Mario Cozzi, noted operate baritone;
the Westerners, four men and a WON
an, singers of ranch songs; Rafael
artist on the concertina; JENNA HUI
rok, gfpsy baritone; Neila Goodelle
pianist and vocalist. The N. B. C.
Orchestra was conducted by Frank
Black.
George O'Connor, honorary mem
Der of the association, veteran en-
tertainer of Presidents and others OF
prominence in Washington for many
years, who has sung at every White
House correspondents dinner since
the first one, was again on the pro-
gram with a list OF songs. He was
accompanied at the piano by George
c. Wilson. Occasion was taken, wher
OConnor was introduced, for the
members of the White House Core
sponders' Association to pay tribute
to the memory of the late Matt Horne
who had been O'Connor's piano ac-
companist for more than a quarter
of century.
Burlesque News Reel.
Another feature of the entertain.
ment was a burlesque news reel pro.
duced BY the Fox Movietone News
arranged by Truman Talley and di.
rected by Arthur De Titta. This fea.
ture was a satire on events of tn.
Roosevelt administration and was in.
troduced by Lowell Thomas, radio
news commentator. One of the scene.
showed the Supreme Court coming out
OF the White House Described by tf<
pictures voice in the language of 9
foot ball game, with the various de.
clsions on the N. r. A., T. v. A., etc.
1t was woven into radio sports an.
nouncers narrative.
President Roosevelt's arrival in the
banquet hall was signaled by hand.
clapping, cheers and the playing OF
Hail to the Chief" by the United
States Navy Band Orchestra, led by
Lieut.. Charles Benter. After the
President had been seated a detail
from the newly organized Navy School
OF Music marched to the banquet hall
to the stage, wearing blue sailor uni
forms and playing Anchors Aweigh.' y
Incidental music during the dinner
included the playing of the Roosevelt
March," composed by the late viii
Woodin, President Roosevelt's first
Secretary of the Treasury.
The evenings entertainment was ar
ranged by Vice President Trojan
chairman of the Entertainment Com
mittee. and George E. Durno, Inter-
national News Service, ringmaster,
larry was chairman of the Commit
tee on Arrangements.
Guest List.
Members and guests present were:
A
Adams, Phelps Ambrose Harro,d r
Aihr,a9Int george Andersen. Jonas C.
1niiortsnI: Eooert Z, Anderson. Paul Y
Allen, Robert s. Atchison. T a.
Alvord. e. c. Atkins waiter II
Baillie. Hugh Bomar EE
Baird, Joseph H. Boone. Il i
Baker. Joseph L. Branch, Hsrllee
Baldwin James w. Brandt. Raymond
Bargeron. Carlisle Bray w. j
Barkley. Alvin W. Brayman. Harold
5aIIon. carter Brown. Harry s.
Beale, w. H. Jr. Brown, Lou
Beatty; j. Frank Brown. Robert g.
5ei, Ulrlc Brown. Col. T. II.
Belt. irving Brown, Walter
Bennett. Andrew w. Brown Can't wilson
Benson George Browne. James ri
Benter. Lieut. ChaS Browne, III. 1t
Berkeley. K. r. Bruner Feiix:
Bif1e. Lesley BRYANT George "A
Biondi Count Buel Walker
Black, Lorng NJ Burke, DR. J. C.
BledSOe. Samuel RirkfnShau N,iI