The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-09-08

planned to a
friend that he was hurrying back
to put on new edition of "Hellz-
Apoppin." His friend assured him
that he would not have to bulge
from the Champs, Elysees to stage
q spectacular siege Of "HellzApop-
pin" Although the embattled folk
of London and Paris recognized
the inevitability Of conflict, Dow
ling confided, they never dreamt
that 1t would come so soon.
Only three weeks ago, he in
sists, well-informed friends of his
in London were confident that it
would all pass over; that Hitler
would back down.
U-BOAT SIGHTED"
IN TINY CREEK
The war, naturally, tinges the
life of New York. Even as comic
relief, it was difficult to laugh at
the hysteria of Long Island po-
liceman the other day who fran
tically telephoned his superior
that he had sighted submarine
in the creek.
II can see the periscope," he
breathlessly reported, "the thing
they look through when they
shoot
So a battalion Of police by land
sea and air rushed to the scene
and discovered only a block of
wood afloat. The offending patrol
man claimed that he must have
been misunderstood. what T
meant" he said, twas that the
mosquitoes around here are as
dangerous as German subs and as
big as their bombers!"
But with the fateful weekend,
the hostilities abroad have over
Swallowed innumerable things.
With conspicuous lack of tact,
bands have started to play martial
airs at night clubs. I have pro-
tested to more than one nocturnal
impresario - and Sherman Bill
Kingsley in particular-that such
martial numbers should he omit
ted from the repertory around
here.
The throngs below the electri-
fled news bulletin at Times Square
have multiplied many times since
the declaration of war, anxious
crowds standing silently and pa
tiently for the scant news. 1t is all
they talk about in the gathering
places adjacent to Wall Street and
in the financial canyon itself, Of
course, the war excludes other
subjects. The producers Of plays
met the other day to discuss their
relations to the European con-
flagration.
What kind Of shows does the
public lap up in times as crucial
as these? Comedies, was the gen.
eral verdict. Anything with q
frank and unabashed laugh. So
an inspection was made in the ar
chives Of what entertainment
went best during the First World
War. And 1t was found that spy
thrillers and melodramas thrived.
But there aren't many of that
species of drama around these
days. Besides, the showmen have
decided to concentrate on laugh
ter, anyway.
CHEERFUL GUYS.
GEORGE AND JIMMY
George Jessel revealed this to
his press agent the other night
and he, in turn, revealed it to us.
Back in those halcyon days when
Jimmy Walker was in City Hall
and Jessel was won't to roar into
town with a motorcycle escort,
the Mayor and he were steadfast
pals.
At the time they made a verbal
pact: If Jessel were to die first,
Walker was to deliver the funeral
grafton at his grave - and the
same stipulation held for Jessel,
If Walkers demise were to come
first. Though times have changed,
the pact still Is valid; Jessel and
Hizzoner (ex) renewed it the
other night.
TUNE , ChAZx,
BUT AUTHOR ISN'T
There's one man in Tin Pan
Alley who doesn't rack his brains
rhyming June" with Moon"
That's Jimmy Cavanaugh who has
discovered new route to riches
from songs. Jimmy is the culprit
who last year presented the world
with a senseless ditty entitled
THE Umbrella Man." Perhaps you
recall the lyrics.
Roughly they went about like
this: "Tr-r-r-r-toodle-aye-ay," re-
peated two dozen times or more.
Jimmy drew quite a little fortune
from 1t. So recently he sat down
and composed a successor. It Is
labelled 1.-THE Man With the Man
dolin" and Is equally surrealistic.
1t is well on its way to becoming
a hit. Let the other fellow rhyme
Love with Dove, Jimmy declares,
he'll stick to lunacy.