Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-28
Clubs Fading
Fast From
u. s. Scene
Fort Worth Group One
Of Few Still Thriving
BY DAMON RUNY0N

II Nv H ny llANlV pdilllliilSl
= that has just come to hand
that Anon Carter. famous news
paper publisher and first foot
ball fan of Fort Worth, Tex,
has been reelected for his
twenty-third term as president
Of the Fort Worth Club.
Moreover that the club, a So
cial organization for the bust
ness gentlemen of Fort Worth,
is in thriving condition, eco
nomically, though of course
those who know Mr.. Carter will
deem the fact of his reelection
and the thriving condition men,
toned as practically synony-
nous. Anything Mr.. Carter is
identified with usually thrives.
observe that the club has
Installed an air cooling system
AT cost of S150.0O0. state
ment that causes me 10 reflect
on the comfort | might have
enjoyed in a couple of my old
clubs in New York had they
been able 10 survive the big
blow that struck in 1929 and
carried on into the 30'S.
II is my conjecture that the
Fort Worth Club is one of
few survivors on a scale that
permits il 10 keep up with the
times. of that era when the
club social, fraternal or bust
ness, was a noble institution of
our national life. Many of them
are part of our national life.
Many of them are part of the
wreckage of the depression.
FHERE must have been thou
L sands OF clubs in the United
States when the hurricane hit.
Many OF them had fine buildings
Of their own. with swell libraries
and dining rooms, and all that
and boosted exclusive member
ships. You had 10 have gilt
edge references and lmpecc9ble
background 10 get in some OF
them.
Among the clubs that -four
ished prior 10 the big bust were
swanky country clubs devoted
mainly TO golf. and professional
clubs that harbored only mem
berS of certain professions. and
college clubs which required de-
greeS of members.
Then there were lodge clubs
and athletic clubs and bridge
clubs Put them all together
and they must have represented
a total of billions in property in
veStmentS
The decline of the club imme-
dlately followed the depression
Most men considered clubs a
luxury and stopped paying dues,
some were unable TO take up
their back accounts. During the
early 30'S. large number Of
clubs lost their property 10 the
mortgage holders and had either
10 move 10 less impressive quar-
terS or GO out OF business alto
gether
THOSE that managed 10 sur
Il vive by taking IN members
they would not have touched
with fire tongS in pre-depreSSion
days. had a tough struggle. You
see, a club is rarely Self-Suppor.-
ing, especially one that main
tainS a dining room. No matter
how large or how affluent tie
membership, a club requires e.
cellent business management 20
keep afloat even in good time.
Club membership is toucky
about being deprived Of ar y
conVenienceS il enjoyed i'm better
day. In fact. a club member
ship is a touchy period. | once
had something 10 do with the
management Of club, 50 !
know. and not every club can
have an Anon Carter At its heal
for % years steering II clear ct
tho shoals
would he willing 10 wage r
that there arc not half dozen
clubs in the United States that
have been able TO afford the
luxury OF S15O.000 cooling
system or of any other improve
ment approximating that figure
in 10 years. Most of them re-
main in old quarters that once
impressed as grand and gay but
that now seem gloomy caverns.
The war has enlivned them
10 some extent because most
clubs now give privileges TO the
service men who gladly take
advantage Of them and lend a
little excitement TO the~Scene,
but in general the average club
is not what il used 10 be, and
never will be again unless We
can dig up enough Anon Carriers
10 60 around.
Copyright 1912. by King Features
Distributed nv international News Service