Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-24
After Dark
News and Comment of the Night Clubs
BY the Spectator,
Registered, o. s. Paent cnnce

I'VE had fun in the good old days
OF the '90s and we can have fun to-
day by re-creating those same
scenes"
Thus does Col James j. Lake utter
his latest artistic conviction, which
went into action last night at the
colonel's Gay Nineties Club" SIT
Ninth street NV.
AS the advance notice puts it:
"Col. Lake, for more than 80 years
an outstanding figure in the local
sports and show world and one of
Washington's most popular masters
Of ceremonies, believes he has the
answer to what entertainment-hun-
cry Washington is seeking"
OF policy, the announcement has
this to say in the smiling words of
the colonel:
We'll have singing walters with
handlebar mustaches, candlelight
and guest stars to revive memories
Of that glorious era the old trouper
beamed. For our opening we had
hoped to bring in Evelyn Nesb't, an
accomplished night club performer
and the former wife Of Harry K.
Thaw.'" Miss Nesbit couldn't make
1t. but Harland Dixon, ex-Ziegfeld
man. has come from years stand
at Billy Roses Diamond Horseshoe
to do the honors instead.
In opening his Gay Nineties Club
coincident with his golden anniver-
sary In show business, Col. Lake
declares: II believe many old
timers would like to see some of
these famous stars Of the past again
and that many youngsters who have
heard about them would like to see
them for the first time" Col. Lake
Is confident: This same idea has
been successfully carried out in other
big cities and I see no reason why
Washington should be an excep-
ton"
The communique also gives bio
graphic pause. noting that Jimmy,
the unoff1cial mayor Of Ninth street,
whose name Is synonymous with the
show world in Washington, has
played with many famous personali-
ties OF the past and present at his
Gayety Theater."
tive seen the best Of Them he
unused. I recall when 4 wise crack
ing. gum chewing cowboy named
Will Rogers was a hit there, and
later when a freckled little upstart
named Mickey Rooney vowed Gay
ETY. fans. Among others there were
Clark and Mccullough, Fanny Brice.
Grace La Rue, Joe Jackson, Lew
Kelly, Abbott and Costello, Jimmy
Cooper, and, Of course, Beef-Trust
Watson, he continued. There were
many more just as famous, whose
names I can't recall just now"
No difference, Jummy, so long as
good old Beef Trust" was not over
looked.
I'm not pulling away from the
glories Of old Ninth street. he says. |
I intend bringing EN- back. I think
our Gay Nineties Club will turn the
We'll try!'"
Thus, just below the intersection
Of F and Ninth dawns a new epoch.
Another Inauguration, but Of a
different sort, has also hit the Con-
necticut avenue circuit. In the
Wardman Parks Metroonome Room
people are all talking about the re-
Gently installed supper menu, If
they're not too busy talking about
other things This is Francois Ia
Fuerne's department, Francois being
hailed as one of the few American
born chefs alive today who has
served an apprenticeship at Colo
RADIO Springs Hotel Broadmoor,
which Is famous.
Chef Ia Fuerne's Metronome menu
lists such items as Emmince of
Chicken. Italian Antipasto and
Onion Soup au Gratin, but other
wise seems quite substantial.
One more innovation and We will
have done with such things for
today.
The Crossroads contributes this
one, which is really assimilation
into regular policy Of the gift
night" feature in the establish
ment's first anniversary celebration
last week. Henceforth, every Thurs
day will be gift night" with only
the ladies of the company receiving
(a) 325 War bonds, 90 IS in War
stamps, Co bottles OF sparkling, de-
lightful, effervescent champagne.
BAndman Ralph Hawkins will
preside over the awards, for the