The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-11-14

TURNING GRAY
 .(McmOries ef Broadway in the 192Os)
 In Mark HeIlinger's new film hit. "The Roaring Twenties," a charac- ter is said to have been inspired by Larry Fay, who was shot dead during the Texas Guinan era Fay, driving his car one night, acc cidentally ran over a boy He rushed the victim to the nearest hospital, paid all the bills, and when a tranSfusion was necessary Larry gave his blood The boy re- covered and told Fay he needed a job Fay arranged one for him as cashier in night club owned by pal Hey" shout ed the pal one day over the phone, 'that kid has been stealing money rom the registerl" Fay burned to a crisp "You ungrateful punkl" he told the boy, "you turn crooked after all I've done for you. even gave you my bloodl"
 Maybe" was the indifferent re- buttal, that's whyl"
 The most popular group of male singers were The Texas Rangers, in the ziegfeld show "Rio Rita" They became famous along Broad- way as the most he-mannish chorus of all And. then the illusion was melted when a notice appeared on the backstage bulletin board, reading: Lost: A slave bracelet Please return to Joe Doakes of the Texas Rangers. Reward a big, big hugl"
 One of the few odd streets in New York that is eastbound is 61st street between Madison and Park avenues The reason the street became east Walkers favorite restaurants was located there, and the management told him they felt it would be ad- vantageous to their business if the direction of traffic could be switched One of the meanest of the revenue agents was an ex- chorus boy, who trapped unwary Prohibition violators by posing as an actor The original Helen Morgan Club (which later became the Chateau Madrid) occupied a three-floor building. The club used only one floor at time. When- ever the club was padlocked, t moved upstairs or down, to another floor The Chateau Madrid was the only night club in America that had machine gun on It's roof.
 Charles B. Dillingham;, the pro- ducer, owned house in Palm Beach. Ziegfeld once took a trip to Florida and Dillingham; gave a party for him, to which he invited all the To- cal swells. Ziegfeld was very much impressed by the affair, particularly by the food served at dinner. At 3:30 in the morning, Dillingham; walked into the kitchen and caught Ziegseld trying to hire his cook! . A Vest Side mob kidnapped a bookie, who had no dough himself but had a wealthy brother. They tied him up in a room in the West 4Os and made him write note to his brother telling him to turn $50,000 over to the mob for his re- lease. The brother flatly refused More ransom notes were sent, but the brother continued to show in- difference to the mob's demands After four weeks of writing the kidnapers got discouraged and sold the bookie to rival mob for $5,0O0i
 Guy LOomis, a Broadway spend- CT then, once tried to pick fight with Legs Diamond, the mobster in a night club-just to make an impression on half dozen chorineS who were with him. He came ur to Diamonds table and Sneered "I'd like to see how tough you arel' Diamond never moved from his seat but calmly picked up quart bottle of soda and draped 1t over Loomis skull. The doctors put six stitchc; in his head Another Broadway character was "The Baby" a chorus doll so called because sine always had her mother with her and pre-. fixed all her sentences with, Mother says" 4. When the show, "Gay Paree" opened in Boston, the gane decided Gas a gag to scare the kie One of the men in the show called her hotel, while the others hovered around the phone. Int prankster, trying to sound tough shouted, Hello, Baby? This is thu house detective. Get that man ou of your room!" The ribber! almost tainted when they heare "The Baby" squeak: "Okay. righ Rway!"
 Feet" Edson had the rep of be- ing the fastest talker who eveI lived, and he well earned it. Feet once neglected to pay off a bet, ant a mob decided to take him for ride A guy stopped him oi Broadway and 18th street and showing a gun into his side nut tered, "Start walking west!' .. Fdson obediently went along Before they reached the mob's hang out on Tenth avenue, Feet had no only talked his captor into lettinI him go-but he had borrowed twent, bucksi
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