Evening star., 1939-12-31
District Will ProIonQ
lis Gay Welcome
To New Year
Preliminary Parties
Held Lost Night os
Eve of 40 Falls Sunday

Washington's gay welcome to the
infant 1910 began early and prom
ises to last late
There was preliminary beating
of the drums last night, but the lid
won't blow off until the advent of
the New Year lifts the Sunday
liquor ban this coming midnight.
Hotels and night clubs reported
a flood of reservations for their
public parties tonight, and big pri-
vate parties are being held in sew
eral downtown hotels whose caba-
rets and cocktail rooms will be dark
because New Years Eve fell on
Sunday this year.
Merrymakers out tonight should
be prepared for the coolest weather
OF the season, the forecaster said
The mercury was expected to fall
we'll under the 24-degree low pre-
dicted for early today.
The forecast issued late last night
said cloudy today, much colder
tonight. and tomorrow fair" A
thaw yesterday cleared city streets
of most of the slush and ice de-
posted by two snowfalls. The out
lying districts. however. remained
blanketed under a light snow, and
ice conditions existed on many high
ways.
Downtown crowds will be swelled
by midnight shows at the Capitol,
Palace, Columbia and Earle Thea
tiers. lasting until about 2 am. AS
usual. the focal point of the public
celebration probably will be the
south sidewalk on F street between
Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets
NV.
A Spontaneous Assembly.
This spontaneous assembly in the
center of the theater district occurs
year after year. apparently for no
other reason than it's convenient
meeting place for Washingtonians
who want to welcome New Year
where there's the biggest crowd, the
most noise, confetti, paper hats and
cloWning celebrants.
Half hundred extra policemen.
benevolent guardians of the peace.
if not the quietude of the New Year.
have been detailed to the area.
The downtown police patrol will
be reinforced between II pm. and
l a m. by some 300 additional officers
in various sections of the city. Of
hcers in the busiest precincts were
ordered to remain on duty an hour
after their usual midnight relief,
while policemen usually coming on
duty at IL were to report an hour
early.
Il don't know why it u.s." said a
veteran lieutenant at No. l pre-
clnct, who has stood by at more
of the celebrations than he cares
to remember, but I'm convinced
that at some time on New Years
Eve every man, woman and child in
Washington manages to pass along
that F. street sidewalk"
Night clubs and hotel dance
places were jammed last night with
merrymakers who celebrated the
holiday before the New Year Eve
prices, ranging from $3.50 to $3.50,
go into effect tonight. Most of the
prices include dinner, a few cover
breakfast as well, and others are
mlnlmumS for food or drinks.
Ban Lifts at Midnight.
Dinners are being served at all
hours tonight, mostly beginning
around 10 o'clock. Beer and wine
only can be had on Sunday in the
public places, with midnight lifting
the ban on the sale of hard liquors
until am.
Advance preparations indicate
that many a legal toast will be
lifted at the stroke of IL. The 2
o'clock curfew, however, will be
strictly enforced in Washington.
The current week end will be q
gay one for some 125,OOO Govern
ment employees rejoicing in another
three-day respite from toll, even
though they will not receive their
semi-monthly salary checks until
they return to work Tuesday.
Dinner dances, special floor shows,
favors and noisy reception to the
New Year are being offered at
many places here.
Some of the larger establishments
are:
Bamboo Gardens, dinner, floor
show, dancing, 81 minimum; Hour
Glass, dine, dance, $3.50 minimum;
Lotus, dinner, floor show, dancing,
$3.50 minimum; Madrillon, dine,
dance, 81 minimum; Metronone
Room (Wardman Park HoteD. serY.