The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-08-30
In New York
BY GEORGE ROSS
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 New York, August 90. - The Opening Night season Is upon uS' It started the other night With the Gala Premiere, as they call It, of the motion picture, Dead End" There was more mob scene on the pavement than on the screen, though q less skillfully directed one, Your correspondent escaped with bruises and got out too late to offer eyewitness testimony; but he b told reliably that though the author, Sidney Kingsley, had the protection of e police wedge, they well.nigh ripped off his tuxedo trousers. Other celebrities fared as badly.
 A continuous drizzle beat down upon the city, too, at the time, throwing . damper not only upon the occasion but upon the mill- ing, fighting fans. They stood their ground, without umbrellas, until the Slaughter was ready to take place And thus they gave unqueStionao9e signs of their stamina this season !; neither rain nor sleet will daunt them aS the opening nights roll n and c blizzard will not deter the autograph hounds,
 Tn this splendid determination. that curious mob does not Invite the displeasure Of the film moguls who stage gaudy demonstrations. For 1t has become the fashion - nay, the standard custom - to flood talkie premier with pow. erful klieg lights from across the street Those blinding arc lamps serve to attract the mobs just as moths are drawn toward flame,
 So, fair warning to the visitors from Hollywood and elsewhere who plan to Dc conspicuous ct Broadway first nights this season: don't use the side exits if you like to be the center of attention,
 Sums Amid Citadels
 A note, in passing, on Dead End; It Is as stirring melodrama in cel- luloid form as the Kingsley play was on the stage during It's long run ct the Beiasco. The New Yorker, naturally, will view it with greater personal feeling than the outsider for it's locale and melodrama are close to home, And should there be any doubt in your minds about the authenticity Of the setting, which sets slum and fancy citadel side by side, dispel it; for Samuel doidwyn's film has reproduced Q section Of New York with admir- able vcracity.
 Tn this city Of paradoxes that region near the East River pre-. sentS the most striking contrasts, Luxurious apartment dwellings stand ct right angles with pig.sty tenements, yachts anchor. adja- cent to tugs in the murky water; urchins of the gutter scream up derisiveiy at the poor little rich men; and rags and satins are within q needle.stitch of each other,
 Meet TEE Tony
 Tony Soma, THE Tony by the way, still presldes oyer the hangout which bears his name, where actors, writers and other artists congre- gate until the late hours of the night.
 They call him THE Tony because Of the confusion that existed in prohibition days, At least 200 Afl- tonios ran Bpeakeasies and when- ever . date was arranged at Tony's the invariable query was, (Which one?" The most authentic place, however, was THE Tonys, and to this day his name Is pFeflxed by the capitalized article,
 No ordinary proprietor, Tony M addicted to raising . distinguished beard twice annually and shaving t off when the jokes fly too thick and fast He has Q penchant for creative work. Last year he took up standing on his head for Q career aild became 70 accomplished in thii feat that he was made to perform t for every patron.
 THE Tony also Aspired ct ono time to an operatic career and spent, his wife complains, much oi the profits paInpeflng his voice Now Tony's customers plead with him not to sing.
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