The Washington times., 1937-03-23
THE VOICE OF
Broadway
Louis SObOl-

~
Newspapermen'S favorite OF
many years, Barney Gallant re-
turned to the Village last week
with a brand new and somewhat
elaborate night place. Scores OF
his cronies flocked in for the
opening and it is something TO
record that the first drink sold in
the house went for $150-the pa
irons insisting upon bidding for It,
Miss Helen Hughes, of Universal
Pictures, gulped down that first
drink-the costliest, no doubt, in
all repeal days.
It was reported-and not per-
sonally observed by us-that at
one of the popular drug store
fountains, a very fussy madame
after studying the menu for about
IS minutes, gave the soda clerk a
detailed order for the type OF sand
wich she desired. The bacon
must be tender, not crisp-the
tomato firm and ripe-only the
choicest heart leaves OF lettuce
were to be used and she would
anpreciate a thin coating OF Rus
sian dressing and a sprinkle OF
relish-all to go between th1n'
crisp toast. A few minutes later
the epicurean's delight was placed
before her. She glanced at H.
lifted I'D one of the bread layers
shifted disdainfully and snapped:
"Take it back-the toast is too
brown" Whereupon the clerk
raised his eyebrows and, with cut.
ting politeness, said in clipped
tones: Madame. why don't you
come in Wednesday-tor a 1lC-
ting"
Unwittingly - even unwilling
Iy-ye have suddenly acquired a
urotege-and don't giggle IN my
face-a strip tease gal! We refer
To tiny Alma Bray, who was
unite content until few weeks
ago to be . pretty cigarette girl
Then one night while we were
at the Mirador surveying the
charms of Margie Hart and Chl-
ouita, Alma approached us with
her great idea. She was also
going to do a strip-tease-but
on q trapeze! What did we
think of the idea? Sensational,
we observed, absentmindedly-
and the damage was done. She
opened at the MiradOr Tuesday
night-doing her strip on
trapeze high above the heads Of
the patrons-and the reports are
that, unconSciOusly, we had been
prophetic. 1t appears the re-
suits we're more than sensational.
Miss Bray in appreciation has
lust wired me startling and ex-
elusive information - intimate
facts which she had never re-
yealed before, we presume. Her
pappy is Chief White Wings Of
the Cherokee tribe of Orlando,
Fla.-and her nanny was OF
English nobility! With that back
ground and a facility for drop
ping her frOck while swinging on
a trapeze, who can forten the
future in store for 90.lb. Alma
Bray!
Vague reports drift in that the
greatest indoor stage spectacle OF
all times-"The Eternal Road
may droop within the fortnite
because of disappointing attend
ance. This would be nothing
short of tragic-for If project Of
such startling magnificance must
perish because of anemic support,
then inspirational theater and dar-
ing threaten perish, too-and we'll
have to content ourselves with the
frothy isipidities which Scamper
on our stages today-filling houses
with people and box-office Golfers
with money.
Years ago, a cOlOrful character
in many Of FIeyd Gibbons cover.
age stories of the Philippines was
Felipe BuencahinO, fiery young
fighting idealist. Gibbons limited
he might not be able to Onclude
BuencahinO's name in many
more dispatches for the fellow
was reckless and was sure to die
in one of the many skirmiSheS.
Monday night, while drinking
beer with Vincent Lopez, hand
fell heavily on his shoulder
hand belonging to the fighting
idealist. A serene, middle-aged
chap nowhere with President
Manuel Quezon as a member of
his cabinet.
From Hollywood comes the story
that the Daryl Zanucks had Doug
las Fairbanks and Lady Ashley,
Gilbert Roland and Constance Ben.
nett as their guests at their Palm
Springs home. The guests sug.
gested a visit to the Dunes, the
gambling place, but Zanuck vetoed
the idea. You get in there" he
said. "And you'll lose your shirts.
Well stay at home and have a
poker game" The following night,
Zanuck led the entire party to
the Dunes. He had lost most of
his shirt to his guests-and sug-
gested the Dunes, where he might
recuperate some Of his losses. The