Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02

COWhTQ t1lS cAlOo vi NllAbtAAi& Wtt4A
the three or four parties remaining
in the room. Resentful of these
patrons huddled at scattered tables,
on whom the quiet of the room
has obviously settled like damp
fog, Just as 1t descends on him at
the same hour night after night.
It Is closing time. The high
pressure gayety which thickened the
atmosphere a Scant few minutes
before has vanished with an almost
audible rush. Now, there remains
only the forlorn tinkle Of the last
active pieces of silverware, the thin
strains OF the artificial voice Of
Muzac and the subdued, self-con-
scious voices Of the deadline patrons.
AS he moves from his hallowed
place by the doorway to prod a
tagging bus-boy with carefully aimed
sarcasns, the maitre d. contem-
plates the dimming electric lights
and the candles being extinguished
one by one. Several hours earlier
these same lights and candles had
looked out upon brave new eve
ming, casting their fragile rays on
a scene Of freshness and the promise
of Joy Thus it was with the pleasure
seekers. bowling in alive with an
ticipation, shedding on all sides their
own rays of bright bon-vivant; in
tent on purchasing for themselves
a night of relaxation and perhaps
OF forgetfulness.
But now, muses. the maitre d.. pat
ting a tablecloth into place, the
lights have left no reflection but
one of nostalgia, and the Cinderellas
have returned to their own cinders
of routine.
The last couple brushes past his
worn, respectful bow, purposefully
hurrying toward the inevitable to-
morrow just on the other side Of
the doorway. He wags a philosophic
head after them, and turns with
a down to-earth mutter Of thank
fulness to rout the remaining staff
into a still greater activity than
that which they were practicing-
eyes on the clock-of their own
! accord.
The clatter from the kitchen swens
as restraint is cast aside in favor
of sheer speed Conversation be-
tween busboys and walters Is shout
ed back and forth as they hurry
with their last trays to abandon
until tomorrow this island of para
disc won and lost. Lights go down
and out.
There is untroubled enchantment
in the room.
49,
A particularly haggard night club
acquaintance of ours stumbled into
the Office the other day.
Look at these eyes" he babbled,
pointing to two strengthening OBJ
jects peeping from behind purple
circles. Look at these nerves." he
pursued, holding out pair Of trem-
bling hands. This Is what comes
from taking in in one night two
clubs that have magicians on the
| loose"
It appears that he and his COM
panion had gone to the Troika where
Russell Swami, up to last night, has
been dispensing sorcery all over
the place. The glib and personable
Mr.. Swami, whose show relies heav-
| lily on the aptitude OF the spectator
10 play stooge, called on the serv-
ices of this acquaintance and COM
panion, the latter to have sponses
mysteriously double themselves in
her surprised hands; the former TO
be-guillotined! He doesn't yet
know, of course, how the trick
worked, but he does know that he
spent what must have been an hour
on his knees, neck pinioned to the
scaffold and the binding spotlight
glinting off a proven razor sharp
blade lowering over his head.
The ordeal over and his neck still
sound. the beleaguered one betook
himself to Herb Sachs Del Rio
where Rolf Passer is winding up
his necromantic stay this week. And
by whom should he be recognized
no sooner than he entered the foyer
than Rolf Passer.
II have Just introduced a new
trick" was Mr.. Passer's greeting, "a
trick that only the great Houdini
ever was able to perfect. 1t is a
scissors trick. You see, take your
necktle-so" and pulling out our
poor friends tie, he shipped
The snip was wasted, though. For
the tie jerked out of the magician's
hands, and streamed after a pair
Of hastily retreating figures.
mot for me-" cried q voice as
the door slammed.
One last sweet-smelling bouquet
is hereby presented Don Renaldo's
foursome which leaves FL Patio Sat-
urday night. Don and his boys have
furnished this town with some of
the best dance music it has ever had
that is, dance music by q small
outfit. Compared even with larger
bands, their Latin American dance
numbers are hard to beat for versa
tility and vigor. Such as, for ex-
ample, Say 81 ST." "Flamingo,"
I'm. Dos, Tres" Maria La o."
"Poinciano" or BIN BAN Bum"
1t may be added that Guitarist AL
Avayou, who vocalizes for the group,
bears the well-known watching on
the strength of his ability to sing
an expressive romantic ditty or a
peppery bit like BIN BAN Bum"
y X u
Once again Layton Bailey's band
men are starting to march out of
the Metronome Room and into the
Army. There is Uyleau Scheidel of
the drum -vihra nhnne dana rtr,aer