Evening star., 1940-01-01
Capital Greets
1940;Mercury
Drops 10 II
Merry Crowds Don
Furs, Heavy Goats
For Midnight Fun
pictures on Page B-1.)


Washington rang in the New
Year enthusiastically but with more
than usual restraint during the
coolest weather of the winter.
The merrymakers came out
equipped for the cold. having been
warned by the Weather Bureau.
The mercury sank to II degrees
early today, new low of the season
and the city was mantled in the
light snow left over from last year.
People who milled about on down.
town F street at the stroke of mid
night were clad in furs,. heavy over
coats and muffiers.
The cold which arrived with the
new year probably will be intensi-
fled tonight, when new low of IA
is expected. The forecast calls for
fair and continued cold tonight and
tomorrow" The 17-degree tempera-
ture was recorded at 7 o'clock this
morning. At 10 am. the reading
was 20.
The bells, horns, whistles and
shouts which announced 1910 lacked
their usual dismal accompaniment
of automobile crashes, fist fights,
riots and arrests for intoxication.
1t was New Year week end
tempered by Sunday Celebrators in
the public places had only two hours
of hard liquor drinking, from mid
night until O'Clock this morning.
Many Night Spots Close.
At least a third of the city,s
night clubs an hotel cabarets were
closed, and in the places which were
open only beer and wine could be
served until midnight.
Young couples were seen embrace
ing quite frankly in public places.
observing the custom of kissing
in" the New Year Many long
kisses were exchanged at midnight
to the amusement, chagrin and
envy of the spectators.
The crowd packed downtown r
street in Washington's traditional
public welcome to the New Year. A
blast of whistles at the stroke Of II
was the signal for general noise
making Couples danced and shout
ed, tossed confetti and paper hats
INTO the air, and blew tin horns.
Movie Fans Swell Crowd
The downtown crowd was en-
larged by moving picture fans going
to four midnight shows. One Of the
biggest crowds ever seen on F street
assembled between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth street N. w. The gay
mob raised the loudest shout in the
city at the turn of the year.
Several hotels whose public rooms
were dark entertained private par
ties. The hotels and night clubs
open to the public were crammed to
capacity. Taxicab drivers said their
business was almost as good as last
year.
At II o'clock last night theater-
goers were lined up. Members of
special details of police returned the
New Year greetings shouted at them
from the crowds.
Several celebrators carried port
able radios as they strolled along F
street. Hundreds loitered in store
entrances. watching the passing
throngs. The greeters cheered and
waved as photographers in office
building windows and on ladders set
off flash powders and bulbs.
Railroad Yards Popular.
A rebirth of a once-popular New
Year Eve pastime-listening to the
railroad engines salute to the New
Year-was evidenced on New York
avenue NE. Several score auto
mobiles were lined up beside the
yards, the occupants taking delight
in attempting to gain recognition
from the engineers. The accom-
modating railroadmen responded
several times by blowing the same
series of "toots" on their steam
whistles as were sounded on auto
mobile horns.
AS midnight approached, night
club bartenders worked furiously in
popular spots to prepare supplies
of the more frequently requested
cocktails
The Cartoons Shar Fad Room and
the Russian Troika drew many of
the Capitals social lights in diplo-
matte circles while the Lounge
Riviera of Hotel 24OO commanded
the attention of the city's younger
set, plus several members of Con-
greSS. At the latter rendezvous
dozens of debutantes, sub-debs and
post-debs cavorted on the dance
floor, with their escorts, many of
them college men home for the
holidays.
1,000 at Shoreham Dances.
At least 1000 guests attended
dances in the Shoreham Hotel and
similar number celebrated at
Wardman Park Hotel. In the Blue
Room at the Shoreham an hour
long floor show began at II pm. and
again at am.
The crowd filled the blue room
and overfowed into adjoining
lounges. The favors distributed in
cluded fancy paper hats, horns,
noisemakers and compact for each
lady engraved with her initials.
Lights went out at midnight, and
a din Of noise filled the big hall.
Couples kissed the New Year in"
(see NEW YEAR, Page A-5)