Evening star., 1941-01-31
President S Birthday
Parties Attain Their
Greatest Success
More Than 10000 Join
In Celebration, Helping
Fight on Paralysis
(Fuu Page of Pictures on Page All


dents Birthday Ball celebration, the
crippled children of the Nation gave
their thanks today.
The celebration here last night,
officials said, was the greatest flnan-
cial success since the parties were
started to raise funds for the fight
on infantile paralysis six years ago.
The greatest crowds ever seen at
the functions packed into local
hotels to participate in a gay eve
ming for a stirring cause.
Mobs gathered on the street cor
ners and screamed at the sight OF
even a half celebrity, as upward of
10000 turned out to participate in
the charity. Sirens screamed and
red warning lights blinked. A couple
of hundred thousand dollars worth
of Denmarks crown jewels Waltzed
around town unnoticed. Mrs. Roose-
welt set new track record.
1t was quite an evening, and at
4:42 am. they we're coming through
the windows at the Carlton Hotel,
where the $25-a-cover gold plate
breakfast was being held.
Touch of Romance.
Speculation was rife, particularly
at the gold-plate breakfast, as to
the status of the once -publiciZed
romance between Lana Turner and
Tony Martin, one of the handsomest
of the current crop of Hollywood
croonerS.
Mr.. Martin, who was supposed to
be in Hollywood, dashed across the
continent by plane, arriving at 6
o'clock last night just in time to
join the stars in their parade about
town. They, Miss Turner and Mr..
Martin, nodded at each other along
the way, but when they could have
gotten together, at the gold-plate
breakfast, La Belle Turner's press
agents stepped in and wouldn't even
let photographers bring the pair to-
gether. People wondered.
This drama was the big heart
throb in as hectic an evening as this
town has seen in quite awhile,
Things got off to a good start yes
terday at the District Building re-
Ception when Kay Aldridge was
caught fat-footed taking her shoes
off at the civic reception. She ex-
planned that shoes made her too tall.
The merry-go-round for the stars
started whirling at an accelerated
pace when time for the dinner at
the Willard rolled around.
Reception Before Dinner.
There was a reception before the
dinner. Photographers singled out
Paul V. McNutt, the platinum
haired Federal security administra-
tor. to pose with the movie queens.
AS the banquet guests arrived,
1t became apparent that it wasn't
their fault if there we're any silver
foxes or minks left alive in the
world.
Every star was surrounded by a
solar-5ystem of autograph seekers.
Charlotte Greenwood. the come
dienne, raised money for the in
fantile paralysis fight by selling her
autographs at two-bits a throw.
The banquet hall was filled with
about TOO persons, who paid $50
per plate for the privilege of MUNICH
ing celery and steak in the same
hall with the visitors.
The photographers got their hcks
in during the first few minutes of
the dinner. and at the rate the
binding flash bulbs we're popping
in the stars faces, they couldn't tell
the olives from the parsley potatoes
until after the salad course had been
served.
Nyes Find Usurpers.
Senator Nye and his wife arrived
late. and found that a couple of
hungry newspapermen had usurped
their seats and done away with the
first two courses. The Nyes came
in strong on the fllet mignon, how
ever.
Clifton Fadiman, the lion-tamer
of the Information Please" pro-
gram. acted as toastmaster at the
dinner, and paid his respects to
Hollywood. Tommy Harmon, the
all-America football player, made
his only Washington appearance al
the willard. He left afterWard tt
attend birthday parties in Balti-
more.
When the stars entered the hotel
mob awaited them on F street anc
Fourteenth. The crowd had swellec
by the time they left the Willard t.
start their round of the dances
Police were hard put to hold bacl
the more than 1000 persons WHIT
lined the sidewalks.
The stars scattered to the hotels tt
begin their round of personal ap
-pearances. George Raft, Wayn,
Morris and Maureen O'Hara wer,
rushed to Baltimore to make Quicl
appearances, and then returned t,
go around the Washington hotels.
Mrs. Roosevelt joined the crowd o
stars and drew big hands whereve
she appeared. The Presidents wifi
started her itinerary at the Wash
ington Hotel at 1890 pm.
She was back at the White HouS
to hear President RooseveltS speecl
at 11:24-having made the hote
rounds and participated in tn,
chCllS VI q SupCl -OlL Illudy SdhC d
the Wardman Park Hotel.
The carving job was the high ligh
of Mrs. Roosevelt's tour. 1t tool
three weeks to prepare the cake,
period on which the hotels chef
Abraham Grob, and Pastry Arts
Lorenzo Dennis, we're on tenter
hooks.
Weighed 12O Pounds.
The cake was embellished will
flowers and flags, made of spun
sugar and was further decorated will
photograph of the President OF
the front. 1t weighed 120 pounds
and when Mrs. Roosevelt sank /;
silver knife into the top layer, tn
crowd sighed as if they had seel
a great tree topple.
Deanna Durbin and Lana Turne
were on hand for the cake cutting
which also was witnessed by tn
newsreel men. Miss Durbin licket
her dainty lips as Mrs. Roosevelt