Evening star., 1937-12-31
GAY CELEBRATION
SET FOR TONIGHT.
New Year Eve Events
Planned in Hotels, Clubs
and Churches.

Thousands of Washingtonians will
seek "a fresh beginning" in the Capt.
tails hotels. clubs and churches to-
night as the year 1888 Ammo Domini Is
ushered in at the stroke of IL. Even
more thousands will greet the new year
at private gatherings or at home;
many will be sleeping soundly on lust
another Friday night"
Principal attention, Of course, is
focused on the public celebrations,
with the downtown hotels vying with
each other for novelty of entertain
ment, quality Of food and all-around
seductiveness of their music. Vir-
tually all these gay spots reported near
capacity reservations today, but all
were emphatic in giving assurance that
desirable accommodations still are
available for late comers.
Occasional rain tonight and early
tomorrow was expected to inconveni-
ence the celebrants. The weather
should remain warm, however.
Quiet Roosevelt Party.
While thousands planned to dance
or to attend midnight performances
at downtown moving picture houses,
perhaps an equal number of WASH
ingtonians prepared to attend services
In churches throughout the city.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt
will celebrate at quiet family party
In the White House. They probably
will put through telephone calls to
their daughter, Mrs Anna Boettiger,
in Seattle. and son, Elliott, at Fort
Worth. The public receptions at the
White House on New Year long since
have been discontinued.
What bids fair to be the city's biggest
private party will be given by Mrs.
Evalyn Walsh Mclean, who will en-
tertain some 600 guests at her estate,
Friendship. on Wisconsin avenue.
Lights spelling Happy New Year" will
greet the guests-most of them social,
financial and artistic celebrities. Mrs.
McLean's annual New Year Eve party
started more than 80 years ago.
An informal party will be held at
the British Embassy, with the guests
TO sing the traditional God Save the
King" at the stroke of midnight.
Transit Schedule Extended.
Local transit schedules will be ex-
tended into the early morning hours
on important suburban lines to accom-
modate the holiday crowds, it was
announced. Traffic lights will remain
on later than usual and the police
force will be augmented by special
details on extra duty.
The theaters planning midnight
shows include the Columbia, the Cap
itol and the Palace. Many churches
will hold watch" services.
Local officials of the National Broad
casting Co. have decided to keep WRC
on the air all night. The program
will feature name dance bands un-
til 5 am. when Timekeeper Gordon
Hittenmark will take the microphone,
beginning his morning broadcast one
hour earlier than usual.
No New Year eve services will be
held at the Washington Cathedral,
although worshippers will attend a
special service at 1880 am. on New
Year Day.
Top prices and one of the tops in
promise of good time are advertised
by the Shoreham Hotel. with parties
y,1ornoI iv, Diva NJ
the main dining room. An augmented
orchestra under direction of Barnee
and elaborate" food being prepared
under direction of Chef Jacques Haer-
niger are in store for patrons at $3.50
and SO per head
Reservations Limited.
The Mayf1ower promises IAN exciting
but uncrowded atmosphere" with res
ervations limited strictly to the every
day capacity of the lounge. The fee
OF 81 per person includes tax n
everything" Sidney will play.
The Carlton is Turing customers t,
Its recently unveiled Shar-Zad Room
at figure of Sc per customer. At
the Pail Mall Room of the Raleigh
there will be an Oriental atmosphere
induced by fancy smoking set favors
for the ladies, but the party Is being
billed as an old-fashioned "harum-
scarum" affair.
Pete Macias reports an expected "in-
innate" gathering It the Heigh-Ho
Club, with dancing until dawn and the
$3.50 tariff to include breakfast. Rus
sian music, Russian food and Russian
entertainment are in store for visitors
ct the Troika and the Volga Boatman.
The Wardman Park, the Madrillon.
the Chinese-American spots and the
Cocoanut Grove are prepared to stay
open until the customers drop in their
tracks, or anywhere else. Those who
want to drive out of town a bit NAV
celebrate at Boulevard Farms, Griffth
Farms and the Maryland Club
Gardens.
At National Press Club.
The National Press Club reported
about 400 reservations today, all for
members or their guests. Most of the
country clubs were providing similar
havens for their members who may not
desire to compete with the downtown
oelebrators.
Among the privately sponsored
parties will be the of Grande Voiture
174 OF the Forty and Eight, fun So
ciety Of the American Legion, at the
Mayhower from 10 pm. to closing.
Grand Conductor w. H. Hargrave is
handling arrangements.
Several Of the city,s churches ere
planning watch night services, most
OF them featuring musical programs
At the Church OF the Immaculate
Conception their first observance of
this nature will be featured by q
musical program presented by the boy
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