Evening star., 1939-01-31
Record Crowd Puts
Birthday Ball Here
Over the Top
More Than 10000
Flock to the Hotels
To Celebrate Event
Pictures on PAGE BIZ

pictures on Page BIZ
With an apparently larger crowd
than ever before and more movie
stars than it takes to make a Hol-
lywood premiere Washington last
night did its part to make the ma
tional campaign against infantile
paralysis a success.
Despite rain and fog more than
10000 celebrants packed seven ho-
tells and attended midnight shows
to add their dollars to combat the
dread disease.
1t was jovial crowd that f1ocked
to the celebration with police re-
porting only one disorderly conduct
charge.
Beginning with sparse crowds in
the early evening, the apprehension
of the Birthday Ball Committee was
relieved when celebrants poured
into hotels as the evening proceeded
No estimate of the number of tickets
sold was available today but officials
generally conceded the sixth annual
observance of the Presidents birth
day through Nationwide balls was
successful.
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a
cerise gown, embroidered with beads
of the same color. braved the crowds
at her seven stops, managed to be on
time throughout her route and was
still smiling just before 1l:30 o'clock
when she cut the birthday cake at
the Wardman Park Hotel and re-
manned to hear her husbands ad-
dress.
Dancing and merrymaking ceased
while the President, broadcasting
from the White House, emphasized
the necessity for national co-opera-
ton in stamping out infantile pa
ralysis. Mr.. Roosevelt expressed his
appreciation for the campaign work
of thousands in counties and States
Emphasizes Research Needs.
The President explained the setuI
whereby the funds from the March
of Dimes and the Birthday Balls
are divided between the National
llOIl lOl 4lll dlllllC I olE
and the local chapters and stressed
the necessity for scientific research
as well as individual treatment in
combating the disease.
The strains of Paul Whiteman's
orchestra brought perhaps the larg-
est crowd of celebrants to the May
flower Hotel, where the dance floor
was so packed that the majority OF
guests merely listened to the Or
chestra and awaited the arrival OF
celebrities.
The corridors leading to the main
ballroom were lined with spectators
who stood behind roped-off lanes
for hours to catch a glimpse of their
film favorites. sThey were disap-
pointed, however, as all "specia.
guests arrived and departed by
way of side alley.
When Mrs. Roosevelt was intro
duced to Mr.. and Mrs. Enrol Flynn
at the Mayflower, hundreds taxed
the balcony railings surrounding the
ballroom and scores of gallants
hoisted their partners to their shoul-
ders in order that they might bet
ter view the proceedings on the
platform.
Hundreds who jammed the ball.
room and lower lobby of the Shore
ham Hotel were given an added
treat by the microphone appear.
ance Of Riley Smith erstwhile quar-
terback of the Washington Redskins
who was described by the master
of ceremonies as more handsome
than the stars here tonight
A phalanx of newsreel cameras
and dozens of newspaper photog-
raphers nearly came to blows at the
Wardman Park Hotel to get the
first shot of Mrs. Roosevelt cutting
the birthday cake. The President's