Evening star., 1945-02-04
1, 100 Enjoy Carnival
All Board Of Trade
Annual Dinner

Gifts worth 81 900 were presented
for use at two local service hospitals
during the 26th annual midwinter
dinner of the Washington Board Of
Trade at the MayfloWer Hotel laslt
night at which nearly 1,1O0 of thu
Districts business, civic and official
leaders enjoyed a 3A hour WASH
|ington's A-Poppin'!" program.
From the time members entered
the Mayfiower promenade and were
greeted by a seven-piece Police Band
in 1890-type uniforms until the din
ner ended with q l0-act vaudeville
show and revue, things were poppin'1
in the style of the celebrated Olsen
and johnson show 'Hellzapoppin'."
Shell game experts" attracted
carnival crowds. Street cleaners
meandered around with trash wag-
ons. A man saving wood as the
guests entered displayed full cord
stacked up, ready for a fireplace, as
they left. From beginning to end
horseplay was the theme and the
100 walters laden down with trays
liked it as much as the guests.
Navy Center Gets Piano.
A piano for use at the Naval Med
ical Center at Bethesda and a two
way bowling alley and pool table
for use at the Forest Glen Annex
Of Walter Reed Hospital were ac-
cepted by Miss Meredith Howard.
director of Red Cross entertainment
in camps and hospitals. The pre-
sentation was made by James A.
Cassidy, chairman of the Member
ship Commute, and Harrison Somer-
vile, chairman of the Midwinter
Dinner Committee.
Presiding at the dinner was E.
Barrett Prettyman, president of the
Board of Trade. AS Is customary
at the midwinter dinners of the
56-year old organization, there were
no addresses.
With Mr.. Prettyman at the head
table were Senator Overton, Dem
ocrat of Louisiana, member of the
Senate District Committee; District
Commissioner John Russell Young;
1t. Gen. Thomas T. Handy, Army
deputy chief of staff; Chief Justice
D. Lawrence Groner of the United
States Court of Appeals, and Repre-
sentative Coffee, Democrat of WASH
ington, member of the House Dis
trict Committee.
Surprises are Frequent.
Bulk of the "Washington's A
Poppin" program was presented by
members of the Membership Com
mittee. Throughout the dinner,
surprises were frequent. Girl pho
tographers took flash pictures with
cameras having no film. Vendors
in white uniform sold hot dogs,
popcorn and peanuts to diners al
ready faced with a magnificent
dinner Whistles screamed above
the general hubub.
A man dressed in the costume of
a Bergman cartoon figure repre-
senting Father D. c." shook hands
with one and all-and startled
everyone as he set OF q buzzer in
his palm. A policeman with a big
star on an ancient hat kept the
diners orderly" Clowns exploded
revolvers.
Those present received a souvenir
photograph" which wasn't photo
graph at all, and an unofficial pro-
gram" which ribbed Board Of Trade
members. Before the dinner closed,
picket line" paraded through
the ballroom carrying signs having
the words: I'VE Want a Home by
the Capitol Dome" No Racing
Bwnes Me Up" Henry, Is You Is
or Is You Aint?"
One referred to the OPA as 'tOf-
fee Of Peculiar Activities"
Committee chairmen included:
General, Mr.. Somerville; advisory,
8. Dolan Donohue; invitations, Mr.
Prettyman; reception, Granville
Guide, entertainment, M. c. Mac
Kinnon; dinner and decorations,
Joseph F. Nebel: ticket, Joe M. Ba-
ker; printing, Howard G. Drake;
property. w. Raymond Carpenter;
publicity, Raymond A. Du Four;
floor. John F.. Hillyard: lights ant !
amplifiers. Maj. Herman F. Carl;
souvenir, Dwight R. Cooke; trans
portation. Harold o. Payne; mem
berShip, Mr.. Cassidy,