Evening star., 1942-10-14
Lunt Shines
AS Fund Raiser
For Canteen
It's 'Jingle.Jangle'
OF Cash That Does 1t,
Actor Tells Press Uni
Bv Frances Lide.


If you've been thinking that Al
fred Lunt of the famous team OF
Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne Is
pretty good actor, you should see
him in the role of raising funds
for the American Theater Wing
Stage Door Canteen.
Members and guests Of the Wom-
ems National Press Club had good
opportunity to observe him in ac-
ton and, incidentally, to partic-
ipate in the performance, at the
clubs weekly luncheon at the VIII
lard Hotel yesterday. ~
Subject was Washingtons Stage
Door Canteen.
And Mr.. Lunt, who was presented
first, went straight to the point.
Everybody likes to work for the
canteen, said Mr.. Lunt, who does
his bit in New York as a bus boy
assigned to the garbage detail. But
the Jingle -jangle" Of the cash
coming in is what keeps the thing
going.
He didn't know just what could
be expected of the press in the way
of financial support, but he has a
list of ways and means" sugges-
tions.
Saving pennies or nickels or dimes
or even dollars, in a sealed card
board box which has slit in the
top large enough to receive the
money but small enough so that
you can't shake it out" is one way,
he said. Or club could try having
a milk and sandwich menu at one
of it's luncheons, turning over the
rest of the usual cost to a canteen
fund.
GO without something" he urged.
you look fine. 1t won't hurt you
Miss Fontanne Endorsed his posi-
ton that working for the canteen
is nothing for which to receive
credit. She herself has found it a
great personal excitement, like
seeing the greatest entertainment
in the world"
BY the time Mrs. Lawrence Langner,
director Of the canteen here, had
told how taxi drivers and walters
turn over their tips to stage per-
sonalities connected with the en-
terprise, the press women were in
a giving mood. Some one suggested
passing a hat and in about five
minutes it had collected $11526. 1t
was the general consensus that this
was a pretty good showing, without
advance notice.
BY the time Miss Fontanne and
Mr.. Lunt had added 500 each, the
days take" neared the proportions
necessary to provide an evenings
entertainment at Washington new
est project for the men in uniform.
Mr.. Lunt's assignment to kitchen
duty in the New York canteen was
his own choice. 1t was suggested
that he serve as an "em cee," but
he felt his talents lay with the gar
bage pail
One reason I took It," he con-
fided, "is because I wanted to find
out what the boys wouldn't eat.
The garbage pail wss filling up too
fast"
Watching every plate as it was
returned to the kitchen, he soon
discovered that a mixture of baloney
and peanut butter used as a sand
wich spread was definitely on the
unpopular list.
The actor said something about
the strange ideas some women have
Of mixing things and indicated that
men understand these things much
better.
Mrs. Langner pointed out that there
is box at the door OF the Belasco
Theater. home of the canteen here
where donations of such items as
cakes. canned goods and fruit juices
are gratefully received from any one
who wishes to contribute between
II am. and l pm. Donors arriving
between those hours can take peek
inside, although civilian visitors
can't be admitted at any other time
Miss Christine Sadler, president of
the club, introduced as guests several
persons connected with the Stage
Door Canteen. Among these were
Milton Shubert, co-chairman of the
Theater Wings national branches +;
Miss Lorella Val-Mery, national pub
hcity director, and Edmond Plohn.
chairman Of the Entertainment
Committee.
Others at the speakers table in
cluded Mrs. Claude Pepper, Mrs.
George Mesta, Nine. Toivola. wife of
the Counselor of the Finnish Lega-
tion; Mrs. Frank Mason billiard of
Alexandria; Col. George Sarimento
delegate from Peru to the Interna-
tional Defense Board, and Maj
Albert P. Hinckley, also a member
| Of the board.