Evening star., 1942-11-17
After Dark
News and Comment of the Night Clubs.
BY the Spectator.
by the spectator.

AS further tribute to the uncom-
mon versatility of the night club
editing fraternity, governors of the
All-States Club have designated
that August group to serve as board
OF judges for the Miss Ak States"
beauty contest coming Off Friday
in the Washington Hotel ballroom.
This will have been the second such
occasion within three weeks that
local after-dark solons have been
called upon to abandon typewriters
for a night and exercise that keen
artistic insight for which they are
noted. Just another reward for
behaving like good little night club
editors.
Forever fresh in mind will be that
recent Willard Hotel affair in which
some young ladies calling themselves
the Victory Girls" were mustered in
force with view to having several
of their number chosen preliminary
Halloween Queens" for the annual
Willard function. This was one
night in a ballroom to rival those
epic 10 in barroom known through
song and story.
Actually it was a Victory Girl
meeting, so judging didn't begin Of
f1cially until the Grand Master of
Victory Girls gave signal At the
drop of the gavel, the entire corps
ruStled from their chairs to one side
OF the room, while the judging staff,
getting the hint, retreated to an
opposite corner. No one being espe-
cially clear as to procedure, the
hundred-or-so young ladies COM
menced, willy-nilly, a vast mex
orable movement in wide circles past
the reviewing stand completely deaf
to protesting shouts of Hey, wait
a minute What do we do now?"
Who's got match?" and the like.
The Grand Master, sensing dis
aster, beat his hands together sharp
ly and barked an order. Whereupon
the mass broke up into groups of
only six and slowed to a merciful
dead-march. 1t was about the tenth
turn around the field before the ex-
perts had picked half the prescribed
number of beauties. The girls were
finally told to stand still, and pho
tographers, who had miraculously
appeared on the scene, were called
into consultation with the board.
From then on the glaring process
became deeply concentrated-and
quite mutual. To some, it may we'll
have appeared that the Victoryites
were judging judges. 1t was un-
nerving.
And in the end, the cameramen
became dominating, if not overbear-
ing: After all, amt WE supposed
to know whatll look best in print?"
The pleasure was theirs. And
may they show up promptly at 10
pm. next Friday.
Miles Hallett's foursome in the
Cafe Caprice may not be organized |
along the same cooperative lines as,
say, the noted Casa Iona Band. |
The practice, however, is just that
when it comes to making musical
arrangements. It's not matter of
boss man telling minions what to do,
or arranger getting a fatter pay |
check because of his extra chore.
When a tune approaches the Hallett
repertory, it is for the whole gang
to gather around the piano with
their instruments, testing chords and
cadenzas, all talking at the same
time-until the refined product |
emerges
It's stimulating, Mr.. Hallett says.
X X
Dearth in the Afternoon:
A rather elderly lady went to the
Balalaika one evening recently, while
the sun was still in the sky She
was shown to a table, handed the
menu and asked what would madam
like to have. Madam smiled,
glanced at the Balalaika's little
stage, then at her waiter.
Il think I'll wait while before I
order" she said, but tell me, how
soon does your revue begin?"
Revue, madam" replied the Co.'S
sack, Willie. Why, not until 30"