Evening star., 1943-01-31

quently at intimate meetings where
problems are threshed out, long be-
fore the lights are turned on jan
uary 30.
The great inducement, which finds
Hollywood eager to attend these
fetes, is Mrs. Roosevelt's hospitality
and the contact with the White
House. Stars are stimulated by the
opportunity to meet their audiences
in person, but the strong lure for
screen personalities is the Executive
Mansion visit.
How Stars Are Booked.
How are stars secured? Through
the Hollywood Victory Committee,
the Screen Actors Guild and the
publicist group of Hollywood. They
work by long distance phone and
wire with the Washington Enter
tainment Committee. try to select
personalities who are free of pro-
duction and will not upset the nor
mai studio activity. James Cagney.
president of the Screen Actors
Guild; Kenneth Thompson, its sec
retary; Fred w. Beetson, Howard
Strickling of M-G-M, Harry Brand
of Twentieth Century-Fox, George
Brown Of Paramount and S. Barrett
Mccormick OF RKO were among
those active in assisting the WASH
ington group.
The spearhead and administrative
center OF the celebration is in room
507. District Building. with Mrs.
Flora Joslyn as executive secretary,
and Charles Stofberg, able assistant
Of Commissioner Young and James
l.. Martin as detail chiefs. They
arrange for the program advertising,
handle tickets, badges, reception ar
rangements and the l01 small in
cidentals which add up to smooth
evening.
The direct contact with Hollywood
Is through the Office of Division
Manager Carter Barron of Loew's
in the Capitol Theater. With his
efficient secretary, Mrs. Irene Sadel,
he books the stars, attends to their
hotel assignments, plans and di-
rects publicity, arranges midnight
shows, the essentials in routing them
and putting them before the public.
Mr. Barron is also divisional director
OF the March of Dimes collections
in the theaters, an activity which
netted 1000 in 1912. John j. Pay
cite, as co-director, supervises the
activities of many working COM
Supplemental Talent. #
All stars must clear through the
Hollywood Victory Committee, but
the Washington group is authorized
to obtain such talent Is zissayajlable
in the East and susceptible. to an
invitation The entertainment Com
mittee this year booked directly
Fred Warnings band and choir, Al:
JolSOn as master of ceremonies,
Lawrence Tibbett and Marjorie:
Lawrence OF the Metropolitan Opera
House, Meyer Davis, Conrad Thi-
bault of radio, Jack Benny and Mary
Livingstone and Abbott and Costello.
These entertainers supplemented the
Hollywood list.
The Mile OF Dimes collections
throughout the city are under the
supervision of Bryson Rash Of WRC,
who arranges for speakers and keeps
the public informed. Spot an
nouncements on the radio and the
plans for the public reception to
the stars are in the capable hands
Of Charles Zuhorst OF VOL.
The actual transportation problem
on the night of the fetes and the
movement of stars is directed by
Hardie Meakin of Keith's. He is a
veteran Army man and moves his
celebrities on schedules that he
learned originally in the War De-
partment. His Office may be called
the service Of supply for the cele-
bration. Stars move on fixed sched-
ule, designed to bring them to each
hotel Is minutes apart. Each star
has two local escorts familiar with
the city and with the best arrange
ments for entering and leaving
hotels. Or the night Of the hotel
celebrations Mr.. Meakin is sur
rounded by battery Of telephones
connected with each hotel, with
trouble shooters available wherever
problems arise. The ban on pleasure
driving made this years event a
difficult task, but through the Office
OF Price Administration ruling was