Evening star., 1937-12-18

Continued From First Pase.)

declared, he might be able to an
nounce collection estimate as re-
ports come in from outlying districts
the Tivoli, Ambassador, Savoy, Ava
Ion, Uptown, Calvert, Sheridan, Col
ony. York, Penn, Apollo and Home
Theaters.
Hopes were high at campaign head
quarters that every child in Wash
ington who has been told recently
that Santa Claus might miss him this
year would awaken Christmas morn
ing to find that the patron saint Of
Christmas had been there after all.
Stacks in theater lobbies contained
gifts and playthings of every descrip-
tion-crying dolls and teddy bears that
squeak, Charlie Mccarthy dolls, sweat
ers, trucks, wagons, mechanical trains,
balls and bats, picture books and pic
ture puzzles, shoes and building blocks
Washington had responded again.
The toy matinees, as always, were
made possible by the cooperation Of
the Washington Local 224 of the In
ternational Alliance of Theatrical Mo-
ton Picture Operators and Local a.
of the International Alliance of Theat-
rical Stage Employees, who contributed
their services without charge.
Go 10 Distribution Center.
Immediately after the performances,
Star trucks began hauling the gifts to
Parent Teacher Association campaign
distribution headquarters at 42l Elev-
enth street NV, where PIT. A. men,
bers already have begun the colossal
manual task of sorting and wrapping
the gifts for distribution to needy
families. 1t is job that will take
number of days ard for which all Of
the labor Is donated, according to Mrs.
Walter B. Fry, president Of the Dis
trict Congress Of the PIT. A., and
Mrs. c. D. Lowe, supervisors of the
work. Fathers are being enlisted for
assistance all day Sunday. The pres
ents go to needy children listed after
weeks Of work on the part Of teach
ers and mothers and cleared by the
Council of Social Agencies, and to
charitable organizations concerned
with young people. Donations are still
coming in and are accepted until
Christmas.
Santa Arrives by Plane.
Christmas was both on and in the
air last night when the Shoreham
toy ball took place as a part Of the
campaign and Santa Claus made a
really flying trip to town in an Ameri-
can Air Lines plane to be guest OF
honor at the party. The National
BroadcaSting Co. had these festivities
on the air from II pm. unit! mid
night.
Hundreds of adults and children
gathered at Washington-Hoover Air
port to Cheer Santa Claus when he
landed, and as he was officially re-
ceived by Maj. Ernest w. Brown,
superintendent Of police, Santa In
formed his pilot, H. w. Susott, that
a 1000 horsepower motor does every
bit as well as reindeer, and then he
entered an open car provided through
the courtesy of Oscar Coolican, presi-
dent Of the Packard Washington Mo-
tor Co., to be whirled up Connecticut
avenue to the Shoreham. The scream
ing sirens of a motorcycle police es-
cort preceded him on his way.
At the Shoreham, where the toy ball
was already in progress with heap
Of contributions for the poor around
the Christmas tree in the lobby, Santa
Claus was given the keys to the Capital
by Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen.
Then he mounted to throne pre-
pared for him on the orchestra plat
form and the show was on, with Bar
nee, director of Maxim loves Shore
ham Orchestra, acting as host and
Monte Blue, movie star and Earle
headliner, presiding as master Of cere-
monies.
The crowd was gay and the broad
cast entertainment q whirl Of variety.
AL Mogul, he Of the "x-ray mind"
read Santa ClauS mind. Mary Dees,
the lovely young woman who replaced
Jean Harlow in Saratoga" was In
troduced. The Chevy Chase Chanters
(Wsshington's OWN and the Eight
Vireinians from the Earle sang. Alma
Metcalf played the violin and Frances
Woods and Billy Bray presented BALI