Evening star., 1943-01-31

calls his key men together in early
ing" and entitled to the use Of taxi
cabs. Routemaster Meakin has to
plan these tours so that Mrs. Roose-
welt meets different star at each
hotel and none can monopolize press
pictures with the First Lady.
Command Performance.
John Waters and Victor Howell
have charge Of the offlcial program,
secure its advertising and arrange
for its sale. In 1943 they secured
the greatest volume of paid advertis-
ing in history of these annual
affairs.
= The so-called command per-
formance" at the National Theater
owes its success to the guidance Of
Manager Edmund Plohn and his
treasurers, Percy Booth and Lex
Carlin. They arrange the program,
direct getting the show in and out,
supervise ticket sale and finances,
and make the hotel arrangements
for the visiting company. The
actual selection of the play Is left
to the Entertainment Committee,
with this correspondent consulting
Nelson B. Bell and other experts Of
the drama in the ultimate selection.
The National Theater is contributed
to the cause and the visiting attrac-
ton usually makes a substantial
contribution toward the production
expense.
Midnight shows at the Earle,
Capitol and Howard Theaters are
arranged and directed by the regu-
lar theater executives The Linz
coin Colonnade ball is the particu-
lar problem Of Abe Lichtman, as
sisted by william Hoyle and the
executive group Of the Lichtman
chain. Harry Anger and Harry
Lohmeyer plan the Earle's show,
with Gene Ford and Harry Krivitt
arranging the Capitol program.
The actual auditing and dispens-
ing of funds is in the hands of Maj.
James r. eLusby, disbursing officer
in the District Building who works
under the supervision of Robert
V. Fleming OF the Riggs Bank.
Corporation Counsel Richmond B.
Keech is general director of the
Washington celebrations. These an
nual fetes In Washington are the
most economically managed of any
In the country, the expenditures for
administration being less than 7
per cent.
The annual banquet is the par
ticular pet Of Brig. Gen. Albert l..
Cox. He has the expert assistance
Of such feminine planners as Mrs.
John Allan Dougherty and Mrs.
Irene Caldwell : Edgar Morris ar
ranges seating and ticket sales. The
actual distribution of tickets for the
various events is In the efiicient
hands of the District assessor, Ed
ward A. Dent, with Public Printer
E. A. Giegengach assisting In the
/ Federal department sales. Mai.
Edward Kelly has charge of the po-
lice arrangements.
Housing Problem.
In the month or six weeks of nlan.
ming many problems arise. L. Gard.
ner Moore Of the Hotel Shoreham
solves some of these as head of the
Hotel Committee. He provides ths
suites and rooms for the visitors In
overcrowded Washington. For in
stance, Fred Warnings Band and
Choir required accommodations for
60, distributed in the Mayflower and
Statler Hotels The Eve of st.
Mark" company required 20 rooms
and again the Statler and Shoreham
met the demand.
District Commissioner Young had
his hands on these myriad details, is
personally responsible for controlled
crowds which can be efficiently man.
aged, arranges for the policing. Dis
trict Commissioners Mason and Kutz
are also active in this extensive
planning. The escorts and experi-
enced theater men who run tho
events as masters Of ceremonies at
the hotels come from the Variety
Club and local radio stations.
Hollywood provides the main at.
fractions for these events, which
have expanded from the original
single party held at the Shoreham
until they blanket the city. There
was some discussion about abandon
ing the celebrations for the duration,
but President Roosevelt feels the
health Of the Nation is a safeguard
for the future, and his decision
brought about the plan to continue
this work for q noble cause.