Evening star., 1942-06-04
After Dark
News and Comment Of the Night Clubs
BY the Spectator.
Trade Registered O. q Patent once

is a highly gratifying form OF per-
sonal service to ones country. And
such . small service, Miss June
Pickens will reiterate, considering
the stakes to be one. To sing. and
by singing, to encourage purchases
of those $18.75 guarantees for the
collapse Of the Goth Century Rep
rehensibles Is an extra-special
lark, albeit sort Of abstract lark.
On the other hand, take the
Army camps. These are the places
an entertainer can actually see
and feel the effect Of her efforts.
A singers patriotic instincts seem
to become enlivened by the spec
tacle Of several hundreds of regu-
lar guys in uniform fondly bel
lowing an old song. or sitting back
satisfied to hear one sung by their
guest. This, at any rate, Is Jane
Pickens' reaction. She wouldn't
trade her recolleotions of Army
camp performances for all the 9TH
ers Of her varied singing career.
Miss Pickens, currently to be
heard in the Del Rio, recalls per-
haps most fondly the trip she
made last year In an Army bomber
through the Caribbean area in
company with two other bomber
loads of miscellaneous show tai
ent. This was the jaunt which
| touched a large number of new
American outposts-Dutch Guiana,
| Trinidad, Panama, etc.-and which
brought more apparent Joy TO the
hearts of isolated fighting men
than any she has witnessed, be-
| fore or since.
1T was the same at each stop
off," the songstress relates. so
many of our boys, living to them
selves on these little islands and
patches Of jungle, just going a little
wild at seeing people from back
home, and knowing we had come
especially to stage little treat for
their benefit"
But even 50. I think they en-
joyed talking and eating and dane
ing with us at the barracks as much
as they did listening to our acts"
Miss Pickens adds. "I know I did.
You learn what fine men they are
so much more thoroughly when you
get down of the stage and mingle
and talk with them"
She remembers typical example,
that OF husky. hard-bitten officer
"A military man through and
through-with whom she talked in
the camp canteen following a show.
He had a wife in Idaho; she used
to be singer, and she always used
to sing Melancholy Baby" for him
when an indigo mood descended
upon him. He was in one of those
moods now-would Miss Pickens
mind singing his favorite for old
times sake7 She complied, and ever
since has felt weepy when she hears
or sings the tune.
That's the way 1t is with most OF
the boys" says Miss Pickens. They
love an old tune which seems to
have cemented some bygone associ-
alton IN their memory. They are
continually asking for the old love
songs, and even such standbys from
the last war as Long. Long Trail
and Long Road to Tipperary."
How can you help but be willing
and anxious TO give up some of your
time for people like that?"
| The latest bulletin which flashed
over the wire at sunset yesterday
read that the Hawkins Crossroad-
sters and the Abbott Mayfair the
wells were deadlocked 37-37 at the
end Of the fourth inning in their
epic softball clash on Clancy's field.
Hawkins fast ball was working fine,
we understand, having slain three
spectators IN the first-base stands
up to the fifth inning. And Abbott's
soaring bunts were drawing awed
praise from every quarter. End
flash.
1t is a deeply respectful and en-
thusiastic crowd which has visited
El Patio since Monday to hear the
music of the redoubtable Adrian
Rollini Trio. Scores of new faces,
furthermore, are lowering over the
tables In Johnny Longo's place.
why, don't know IS of the
people here tonight" remarked
Johnny night before last. AS a re-
mark, it was kind of joyous COM
plant.
The reason for this state of
affairs obviously is that Rollini's
music is powerhouse. It's the same
Adrian on the vibraphone, WELD
ing those four hammers With ire
mencous speed and always har-
moniously. It's the same Adrian,
If not better one. whacking the
chimes to unforeseen melodious
effect, If a truly sizzling number is
on order. "Limehouse Blues" for
example.
AS if you didn't know these things.
They are as amiable as their
bodies are underslung, their heads
sleek and their ears soft. They
look at you with a profound eye
that clearly implies intelligence.
You have only to tryst with them
and to watch them perform to be
impressed by these qualities. The
Woolfords, Fred and Mana, will be
only too pleased, moreover, to tell
you how their precious dachshund
charges get that way. Anytime and
anywhere, such as in the oven which
Is the dressing room Of the Shore
ham Blue Room.
No one could be 50 callous as to
ignore the seven barrel-chested,
elongated little pure-breds lined up
placidly on the back-room bench
waiting for their cue to 60 on. The
other night no one did. In a con-
slant stream bandmen were drop
ping by to fondle few ears, walters
smuggling in pieces of choice, juicy
steak complete with parsley, dancers
leaning over to coo incomprehensible
| t,a 80