Evening star., 1945-03-22
Defiance Of Curfew
Fades as Bars Close
Al L in New York

Mayor La Guardia's one-hour
tolerance amendment to the ma
tional midnight curfew policy
appeared today to have been vir-
tually nullifled by the action of
leading New York night clubs
and other drinking places which
voluntarily returned to the IL
O'Clock deadline last night.
This action followed announce
ments by both the War and Navy
Departments that service personnel
must obey the curfew request of War
Mobilization Director Byrnes
The Allied Food and Entertain
ment Industries of New York, rep
resenting 35 of the leading night
clubs and cafes, issued a statement
expressing thanks to Mayor La
Guardia for trying to extend them
an additional hour. But, they added,
they were not inclined to serve
civilians when service is denied men
in uniform"
d All
AS the Mayor entered his Office in
the Municipal Building this morn
ing, the Associated Press reported,
his attention was called to the action
of the restaurant association.
It's quite all right with me-" he
declared Il don't care how early
they close"
Then, seeming to retreat from his
all-out extension of the closing hour
to am, the Mayor said:
"As long as they stop their enter
tainment at IL they are not breaking
the local law. Remember, the State
law allows them to sell liquor and
keep a bar open until 4 am. But
the city law requires cabarets and
dance halls to close at midnight.
IF the night clubs stop their
shows, they can still continue to
sell liquor until l am"
Right to Hearing Demanded.
Arthur Garfield Hays, counsel for
the association, said in announcing
the action that the group was ask
ing Washington for one of the first
rights of American citizens-the
right to a hearing" the Associated
Press reported.
I'VE think" he said in a state
ment, we can prove to the Govern
ment that the u o'clock curfew in
the city of New York is a mistake"
There can be no magic in the
hour of l2.' he continued. adding
that in fixing that hour the Gov
had disseminated against
a few large cities that provide en-
to civilians and SOL
diers."
In some of the other cities. the
local authorities wink their eyes at
the statement said.
La Guardia isn't that kind"
There were indications other
night spots also would revert to the
midnight closing. the Associated
Press reported. Even before the
associations action, the Stork Club
and Cafe Society Uptown and Cafe
Society Downtown had announced
they would discontinue their l am.
closing.
La Guardia to Speak Today.
Mayor La Guardia planned to ad-
dress the Nation at pm tonight
over the Blue Network to explain
his stano His topic was announced
as why the One-Hour Tolerance
for New York City
Associated Press reports told of
confusion and quibbling along the
Great White Way last night as SOL
diers and sailors, forced to abandon
their drinks at midnight, waited
around outside bars to see whether
civilians were served later. At most
places they were not.
Considerable verbal resentment
was expressed. however. Some Serv-
icemen seemed unable to rationalize
the midnight closing, particularly
men on leave from overseas service
At the Stork Club, a colonel who
refused to give his name said he
believed the curfew to be arbitrary.
but expressed qualification night
CluD OWNERS QeClQoO 10 Close at MID
night Three naval officers, cele-
brating their return from fighting
zones, were vocally resentful and ex-
pressed bewilderment at the mid
night curfeW.
Ell Morocco, one of the popular
centers, ushered servicemen out at
midnight. but permitted its patrons
in multi to sit around until they
their drinks. Nothing was
served after midnight to the daw-
ding civilians, but it was enough of
a minor irritation to set some serv-
lcemen to voicing vigorous COM
plant.
Places like '2I,' Toots Shor'S and
Sardi'S. where Drlncipal attractions