Evening star., 1942-08-25
After Dark
News and Comment of the Night Clubs
BY the Spectator.
Registered 8 Patent ennce

1t takes a man with nerves of steel
to survive the rigors Of being head
waiter In a cocktail lounge these
days Nostalgia shades of the ear
lier times when complacency was
the only safeguard needed against
the simple harmlessnesses one
encountered before humankind's S
thought processes took a turn for
the hectic.
AS a cardinal example Of what
we mean, there was that recent
afternoon in the Mayflower Lounge.
At first 1t proceeded along lines
conventional enough for Teddy,
until large serious looking fellow
arrived with an attractive blond
in tow. Having seated the couple
with his customary flourish, Teddy
stood by while the gentleman pulled
out a cigarette and suffered Teddy
the pleasure Of providing the light.
Mr.. Teddy's book of matches had of
course already sprung magically
from his pocket and the flame ap-
piled the instant cigarette had
reached lips. Whereupon Teddy was
pained to see the cigarette paper
ignite and flare up. He was aghast
when the guest, without 30 much
as a by-your- leave, calmly placed
the thing flaming end first In his
mouth, puffed a couple Of times,
then reversed 1t to its more con-
ventional position.
He volunteered no explanation,
not even a wink. His blond COM
panion remained completely upper
turbed And Teddy was. of course,
too polite to become inquisitive. But
he did take cold reviving shower
shortly afterward.
Every one who has read his news
papers and periodicals diligently, or
even indifferently, knows that Kate
Smith is a local girl who moreover
got her professional start locally.
But does any one know just where
she got that professional start?
Aha-Glen Echo Parks Spanish
Garden Ballroom! It seems there
was once song contest in S. G. B.,
Kate won first honors and was i'm
mediately awarded a contract to
keep up the good vocal work right.
there.
Just in case you wanted to get
specific.
There Is nothing new about conga
lines, the institution. Up at the
Copacabana there is much sensa-
tional-if not new-to be learned
about conga lines, the method.
We caught a little session the
other night. Customarily, the tune
which Johnny Velasquez and the
boys had picked was reserved
enough at its beginnings; then as
drums Of every description started
strangely to become more insistent,
causing musicians to drop what they
were doing to pick up anything per-
cussive, SO did the people on the
floor commence behaving strangely.
Eyes became wider, footsteps jerkier,
heads, hands and hips to waggle
fanatically as the line formed and
circled about the room. Five min
utes Of this, to the beat Of drums
exclusively, and the melange piled
into tight knot on the dance floor
itself, to resolve into . relatively
stationary circle with congaists CIV
ing individual vent to their pedi-
atric hiccoughs in the middle At
this point the proceedings acquired
an undeniable voodooistic aspect of
frenzy: Rapidly whacked drums,
broken mumbled humming inter-
spersed with q piercing Aqua"
"Yee-hooo" or two, constant motion
Of . taut sort. Fifteen minutes Of
this, a concerted explosion of drums
and 1t was all over.
Painted one lad as he staggered to
his chair, I'll sleep good tonight"
Nightmares bothered US.
\ Il X Il
Utter democracy prevails in the
King Cole Room, which is Mr.. Vim
Gallegher's domain. Mr.. G. will