Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-09-05
Slackers Are Few
In Film COLONY,
Mecca of Troops
By the Associated Press

HOLLYWOOD. 4,
The past week in Hollywood has
provided more. interest in off-the-
set activities of film stars and menu
bers of the film colony than in
actual film production.
This week marks the first ami :
versary of the Hollywood canteen
and the desert battalion-and the
spotlight finds many other similar !
activities, noteworthy to people who
sometimes wonder just what kind
OF town the film capital really is. /,
This war-Work phase of conn.,
munity life looms large, 1t Is ap-
parent to any visitor who walks
down any of the main thorough
fares, and follows the stream Of
uniformed men and women to their
destinations on the main stem.
Chief of these, In size of quarters
and attendance, is the Hollywood
Canteen, located on Cahuenga and
Sunset, in a huge old barn once
used as night club, then as a
theater. and seized on by the group
OF trade union men who combined
with the Hollywood Stars Commit
tee to provide quarters for enter
tanning servicemen.
Labor Day will see a. picnic cele-
brating this first anniversary of the
canteen, launched, on the film side,
by Bette Davis and carried on
through the efforts of Mrs. Jack
Ford. wife of Comdr. Jack Ford,
U. S. ~, former film director.
5000 Volunteers.
The 5000 volunteer employees Of
the canteen range from top dance
bands and stars to kitchen helpers.
busboys and snack-bar attendants.
who serve in these various capacities,
as we'll as put on entertainment
and dance with the servicemen.
They indulge in potato races, three
legged races, pie-eating contests and
such old-time pastimes.
Inc canteen is top spot for the
servicemen. So crowded is the place.
with its gay cartoon wall decora-
lions, its pretty film industry
hostesses, its free food and snacks.
and dancing. that the capacity
crowds have to be shooed out every
hour to take care of new patches
waiting outside.
just Gown the street is the newly
opened Orson Welles Mercury
Wonder Show where Welles. Jo-
seph Gotten and other magic.
minded actors put on magic show.
Tor a while it was Rita Hayworth
VINO got sawed in two and appeared
whole in a trunk; now it's Dietrich
Last Sunday night Ann Lehr, wife
OF Abraham Lehr, pioneer film f5p--,
ure, gave a benefit at a night spoti
Tor her Hollywood guild, which mr.
vldes sleeping quarters for more :
IMAM 800 servicemen nightly, as we'll
as reading rooms, free meals snacks
at all hours and hostesses. Frank
Slnatra, Rags Ragland and Phil r
ollVers worked hard for two hours
staging the show.
Anniversary Nearby, Too.
The first anniversary of the found
ing OF the desert battalion by Mrs.
GLADYS Robinson, wife of Eddie
Robinson, was celebrated Monday
night at the Vine street PLAYHOUSE
with an elaborate musical program.
Inc real anniversary was the work
done In line of duty over the veek
end, for the group braved desert
neat to go down to the graduation
pail and dinner of the air cadets At
Hemet. The group specializes, as
us name says, in entertaining men
IN desert locales who frequently have
no other recreation.
Also this week was launched q
MIN fund for housing servicemen. a
separate venture to expand still
lufther housing in the film colony
Tor men who can find no hotels or
rooms When on leave. Charles
Shouras, film theater magnate, is
chairman.
Another drive launched, and sim
liar ones are being carried on all the
tlme, Is that to raise funds to buv
sultanllimide for Hollywood casual
ty stations for civilians.
Meanwhile. the various USO Gen.
ters. the officers clubs, the United
Natlons war relief campaigns. the
brentwood players who present stars
IN playlets to entertain servicemen,
and numberiess other organizations
composed OF and manned by film
stars. carry on the welfare work in
the film capital for the thousands of
serVlcemen who come eager to see
the sights.
AS for the USO camp shows. and
the film service for overseas, that is
another story. This one concerns
only what you can see and hear
yourself If you come to Hollywood in
wartime.