The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-10


here certifices me as an official
Tinker in the Tinkle Club and
upon closer scrutiny, this turns
out to he an organization founded
by the songstress. Hildegarde, and
consisting of members who sit
around bar rooms beating on their
highball glasses with glass swizzle-'
sticks.
There Is no indication that this
society is exclusive and no sign
that the Tinker card will have
influence on the traffic cop or the
ticket-taker, so it is going into
the waste-basket. Along with:
DUNKEE
DEVOTEE
A credential from the National
Association of Dunkers which
authorizes me, in public or in pri-
vate, to hold the donut twixt the
thumb and forefinger, dip lightly
and hoist up.
It is good, according to the
membership drive committee, to
the last drip. The card offers inn
munity from outraged persons
who are shocked by such ungain-
ly conduct in the home and res
taurant and my fellow members,
the accompanying brochure says,
are legion.
SYMBOL
OF SCREWINESS
A metal tag from the Society
of Screwballs, which when worn
on the lapel, Identifies its wearer
as a person of mad halter attrib-
utes, permits him to stroll Broad
way in his shorts, remove the tops
off manholes, sing Three Little
Fishes" in a fake soprano at Fifth
Avenue and Forty-second Street.
In this case, the symbol Of the
club offers immunity from the OBJ
seryation ward of Bellevue Hos
pital.
SWING
SILLY
A tin blotch which looks as if
1t may have been stamped out to
resemble a musical instrument, is
labelled the "Dipsy-Doodlers." I
am Dipsy-Doodler and did not
know it, which proves how many
honors may be heaped upon a
modest man and take him un-
awares.
A Dipsy-Doodler is an offspring
of Maestro Larry Clinton's special
brand of swing music which, as
it naturally follows, is known as
the dipsy-dodle and members
meet no other requirements other
than a susceptibility to any press
agents highjinks.
HIGH PRESSURE
PLAYWRITING
Some Rialto raconteurs were re-
calling the flamboyant personali-
ties of the previous era and, of
course, Wilson MINERS name came
up and so did willard Mack's.
would like to re-tell q story of
the latter, David Belasco's favorite
dramatiSt.
Mack was a last-minute play
write, a headline" dramatist, who
like many fourth estater, did his
best work against the gruelline
pressure of a clock. Belasco had
been after him to finish play
for the new season, but with char
acteristic laxity, Mack had no,
even thought about it.
One day, however, he decided tt
placate the bombastic Belasco and
called him up. "I've finished a
play" he said, land it's wonder
| full" AS a matter of fact, he had
not seven started play, nor hac
he a plot.
Bring it up in an hour" Belasce
said, land read it to mel"
An hour later, Mack was in the
clustered Belasco office. Under
his arm were 100 manuscript page:
all blank. In his mind was 6
day notion for drama. He frs
warned the white matched, tur.
bulent impresario, I'm going tt
give this a dramatic reading
| 1OtCAAAO4. OOAA VAIN W AAuAA
through it. 1t may take as Ions
to read it as to play it"
II have all day." said Belasco
''go ahead"
So, for four hours, Mack fiippet
the blank pages and read off &C
ton, dialogue, stage directions
with all the gestures, infections
bombast, pathos, at his command
And when he had finished, Belas
CO shouted, tits SUGGEST"
| Mack urged him to hold off ;
day or two while he revised tn
manuscript and then went hom'
and scrubbed down all that he re
called from his improvised recital
The play turned out to be sue
cess. One of the most memorable
of all Belasco dramas. 1t was 9TH,