Evening star., 1942-12-20
US0 Clubs PLANNING
Christmas Festivities
For Thousands Here
Dolly Round Of Events
For Service Men Listed
At Many Centers

CHRISTMAS celeDraIlOnS at local
USO clubs opened last night to cheer
Washington's throngs of away-from-
home servicemen and war workers
throughout the coming week.
Because of duty assignments or
furloughs, a small minority of the
5000 who attended the USO dances
last night will be absent from the
other Christmas festivities on club
calendars. But club directors said
they are prepared to entertain
thousands of happy boys at sched-
uled feasts, dances, games, stunts
and carol parties.
Early this week several clubs will
hold tree trimming parties, with uni
formed men and girls trekking into
the woods for trees and returning to
help out with decorations. At others
the guests finished these chores"
several days ago.
Dance Today.
Festivities at the USO club at 918
Tenth street NV, operated by the
National Catholic Community Serv-
ice, will start today with tea dances
from 3:l5 pm. to 6:15 pm. in the
palm room and main dance hall,
with music furnished by the Navy
and Boiling Field Bands. This clubs
most generous feast of the year, from
soup through flocks of turkey to
nuts, Is scheduled from to 7 pm.
From 7 to 8 pm. 12-act variety
show will be staged in the auditorium
by soldiers from the Special Services
Division at Camp Meade. From 8 to
ii pm. the guests will dance in the
palm room to music furnished by hte
Anti-Aircraft Division Band from
Hams Point. This band will play
here again for the young people on
Christmas from pm. to midnight.
Elaine Scanlon, program director
at the National Catholic Community
Service Club at 1914 N street NV,
Is taking group to the woods this
morning to gather decora tions for
the building. All hands will join
in trimming the tree at 8 pm. We'd
nesday. From l pm. to midnight
Thursday the girls and boys will
leave l0-cent gifts under the tree.
To Sing Carols.
Other headliners on this USO CAL
endar are: At 8 pm Tuesday, carols
of many lands sung by foreign born
residents dressed in their native
costumes, under leadership of Miss
Anne Darlington, area chairman of
civil defense recreation; at pm.
Thursday, carols by the clubs choral
group and at 10 pm, guests called
for and conducted to midnight mass
by volunteers; Christmas, open
house all day, with turkey buffet
supper from to pm. and informal
dancing and games from to II
pm; and Saturday, 8 to midnight,
the regular weekly dance.
The USO penthouse and various
living rooms throughout the YWCA
at 18th and K streets, have been
decorated by guests who gathered
quantities of trimmings last Sunday
at the Herndon (Va) farm of Mrs.
Wilson Compton, chairman of the
USO Committee. Today extra
crowds are expected at the open
house in the penthouse from to
II pm, with buffet supper sched-
uled at $50 and special Christmas
features in the $50 Penthouse Pre-
sents" program by amateurs.
Open house and informal recrea-
ton will be held at this club every
day from 9 am. to II pm, with
special carol singing at pm. on
Tuesday and Thursday. square
dancing at $50 pm. Wednesday,
Christmas buffet supper at pm.
Friday, followed by formal dance
till midnight. and dancing on three
floors Saturday from to midnight.
Open House Daily.
At the Central YMCA, 1876 G
street NV, F. B. McKillip, director,
Is holding open house every day,
with informal parties and refresh
ments planned for Thursday from
6 to II pm. and Christmas from 2
to II pm. Today's program includes
swimming from 9 am. to 4:30 pm,
Java Club with breakfast and non-
sectarian religious discussion at 9:15
am. and at home" with games and
refreshments from to $50 pm.
On Saturday guests will be treated
to supper at Foundry Methodist
Church, at $50 pm in the YMCA
there will be music. pool and bill
lizards, and from 9 to midnight,
dancing.
Many local clubs, schools and
churches contributed funds for the
huge pile of gifts that were distrib-
uted last night to 500 colored serv-
1cemen and war workers who gath
cred for the biggest party staged
this year by the USO Club in the
YMCA at 1916 Twelfth street. Dr.
Mordecai johnson, president of
Howard University, helped give out
the presents.
The weeks schedule at this club
includes gift wrapping, informal
recreation and music Monday
through Thursday from to II pm.
with all guests joining at pm.
Wednesday in trimming a tall tree
In the USO lounge; carol singing
"SuiicoudS, IHuISudy ana friday
night; a Christmas banquet at $50
pm. Friday, and the regular dance
from 9 to ll:45 pm. Saturday. To-
day. following 9 am. Java Hour,
the servicemen will be conducted to
church services and local homes for
dinners and home hospitality. A
forum is planned for $50 and the
lounge will be open for informal
games all day.
Vesrer Service Today.
Christmas Vespers will be held at
4 pm. today for colored war work.
ers and uniformed men at the USO
Club in the Phyllis Wheatley YMCA.
Ninth and Rhode Island avenue
NV, followed by forum at pm.
Every evening through the week.
from to pm. these young people
will gather for fireside caroling, and
the Government night workers will
sing their carols Christmas eve from
1880 pm. to 2 am. Pref Christmas
parties are scheduled on Monday at