The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-02-15
In New York
By GEORGE ROSS


 New York, Feb. 15.-Beatrice Lil- lie leaned against the bar, sang one of her famous ditties and Broad way columnist passed the hat among the table-sitters.
 In ten minutes, two hundred dollars had been collected for the American Red Cross to help the flood sufferers. Then Lady Peel sang an encore by way of saying Thank you" and passed on, with her good samaritans, to other cases.
 Not only Miss Lillie but other stars have gone from their days work upon the same philanthropy ic errand, helping to fill the emer- gency coffers for Americans Stricken in the catastrophe. With out much fanfare or excessive ballyhoo, big cafes have donated the days proceeds to the Ameri- can Red Cross and many head liner has pitched in half weeks salary to the magnificent cause.
 A little back-slapping on the behalf is not amiss now, for Broadway rarely has responded with such great celerity to mis- sion of mercy. Most of the Rialto successes volunteered special per- formances on behalf of the flood sufferers in which managers, &C., tors, stagehands and cashiers con- tributed their services and time. Katharine Cornell, Helen Hayes, Margalo Gilmore, George Ab- bolt and William Gaxton are among the notables who have worked for the afflicted in inun- dated areas. Charity Begins on Broadway
 Then, under their own auspices, theaterfolk, screenfolk who happen to be in town and the radio satel- lites put together Million Dollar Talent Benefit Show.
 John D. Rockefeller contributed the Radio City Music Hall for the monster vaudeville. And volunteers from every branch of the amuse- ment world hurried to lend their services free. ..t
 The galaxy of talent donors reads like the honor roll of the world of entertainment. Marta Abba, Lucrezia Bori, Noel. Coward, Grace George, Floyd Gibbons, Ruth Gordon, Philip Merivale, Fred War ing, George Jessel, Luise Rainer, Deems Taylor, Francine Larrimore, Jimmy Durante, Gertrude Law renee, Igor Stravinsky, Ethel Mer- men, Ernest Truex, Roland Young. And numerous others.
 It is not the first time Broadway has mobilized at the call of the distressed. Nor will 1t be the last. Gotham's Changing Scene
 A transient who has not been to Manhattan for decade returned to the Gotham scene the other day and saw a considerably revived sky line, an altered town, what with its motorized avenues in place of old, rattle-band trolley lines, its Empire State building and Chrysler tower And foremost among the sights Radio City, of course. Broadway, he confided to his guide, didn't seem to be different from what 1t was ten years ago. But his chagrin was at beholding 42nd street.
 His last vision of Forty-second street, which bisects the Broadway hurly-burly across town, was that of 8 thoroughfare glittering with the gem names in entertainment. For it wasn't too long ago that Margaret Anglin starred in plays on that street and had tanbark spread in the pavement to insure quietude while she was acting. @
 Now he strolls through a mo- rass of burlesque shows, flea cir cuses, dime-a-grind movie em- poriuns, hot dog stands and stand-up cafeterias. Once the aristocrat of Rialto's sidestreets, he now duhs 1t Broadway's Hardened Artery"