Evening star., 1942-10-29
Halloween Masks Banned
In Possible Sabotage Fear
City Foees Most Subdued Celebration
In History; Police Frown on Pronksters

The most subdued Halloween cele-
bration in local history was in
prospect Us Washingtonians pre-
pared today to observe the oficial
ghosts and COLLINS day" Saturday
In manner regulated by war.
For one thing. there will be fewer
spooks abroad. a survey Of depart
ment, drug and Acknowledgement
stores indicated. Most stores re-
ported only limited supplies of wigs
and false faces, tin horns and other
noise-making devices - explaining
that they have been able to obtain
few new Halloween items this year.
Resurrecting law adopted back
in Ku Klux Klan days, Police Chief
Edward j. Kelly has announced a
ban on the wearing of masks on the
street by any celebrators, young or
old. The reason Is that it might be
difficult to distinguish a goblin from
a saboteur.
Franks Frowned On.
For the unmasked spirits who are
abroad, there will be no objections to
merry making it's unpatriotic
this Halloween to play pranks that
damage or destroy property. Par
ticularly frowned upon by police will
be such tricks as draining automo-
bile gasoline tanks, breaking street
| lights, ringing the doorbells of
homes in which war workers are
sleeping, and carting of metal garb-
age cans, which now are hard to
replace.
Police Chief Kelly, in an order
shifting police working hours to
provide an extra large force Hal
loween night, yesterday instructed
his men to deal firmly with prank
sters who 60 so far as to endanger
life and property"
Aiding the Metropolitan police in
preventing pranksters from taking
Washington apart will be a good
many of the 1000 members of the
civilian defense auxiliary police.
Part of OCD Job.
Protection of property is part OF
the job of civilian defense, local
OCD headquarters pointed out to-
day. Many communities throughout
the country have assigned civilian
defense groups to help defend
against destructive fun making.
In Glen Echo, Md, for the fifth
year in a row, boys and girls will be
appointed to municipal Offices for
the night to divert their attention
from the usual Halloween pranks.
Every potential window soaper will
be at least deputy marshal. Mrs.
Beulah H. McCuen, mayor of Glen
Echo, says she figures it's better to
let the youngsters run the town than
to have them take it apart.
Affecting children and older folks
alike. the Commissioners Tuesday
urged the abandonment this year
of large outside Halloween gather
ings, and survey today revealed
that few large gatherings-either
outdoor or indoor-have been
planned.
No Parade Permits.
Chief Kelly, in his order yesterday,
reported that no permits for general
parades or organized celebrations
have been applied for up to this
time. The annual Halloween parade
sponsored by the Merchants & Man
ufacturers Association was aban-
doned last year, as were most of the
smaller community and suburban
business district celebrations.
A number of small parties have
been scheduled, however. The Dis
trict Recreation Department has
announced street parade for
Georgetown celebrants, led by
Halloween queen and eliminating
in a program of entertainment at
Gordon Junior High School. There
will be dance at the Georgetown
Boys Club for the older boys and
girls, and parties at all Georgetown
Fairgrounds between and S pm.
Saturday for tiny tots of the area
The co-ordinated Halloween pro-
gram in Georgetown is sponsored by
the Recreation Department, George
town Childrens House, Georgetown
Boys Club, Montrose Mothers Club,
Burleith Citizens Association, Glover
Park Citizens Association, George
town Lions Club and the chairman
of the Georgetown Neighborhood
Council, DR.. Andrew Kress.
Boys Club Party.
The Boys Club of Washington will
stage Halloween party at $50 pm.
Saturday at its headquarters, Seven
teenth street and Massachusetts ave-
nue. Sc.
Other programs have been planned
by the Recreation Department as
follows:
Area 1. Palisades Playground, Dana
$40 pm to midnight. dance
munity Center. Nebraska avenue and
school. Connecticut avenue and Mckinley
pictures for children.
y, Are Area 8, Coolidge Community Center,
7 pm, costume parade and contest; 8
Manor Park Citizens Association and Ia
Soma Park ID. CT Citizens Association;
Area Z. 9, Macfarland, on Upshur be-
tween Georgia avenue and Thirteenth NV
SATURDAY. block dance, 8 to II pm; every
Area ., Powell junior High, Hiatt place
and Lamont street NV, Saturday, $40
pm, motion picture and dress parade
in auditorium for costumers courtesy Of
asssS. -