Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-01
After Dark
News and Comment OF the Night Clubs
By the Spectator.
Trade Mark Registered u s. patent ono.

Sidelines on the curfew, Monday
night, of course:
CARLTON: Patrons can be pa
irons and pretty at the same time,
especially when there's Life
photographer in the room. Word
got around that pictures were going
to be taken of the midnight exodus
and you should have seen those
ties being Strengthened and those
noses getting powdered (but in a
hurry.
| MICHELE'S: Mattresses were the
only ones who figured they had a
Legitimate grippe. Said they - this
was our worst night since the club
opened; in fact. we haven't had a tip
worth mentioning all night biggest
tips, you know, come between mid
night and 2 o'clock.
Ell PATIO: do you know of any
place where we can go now?' was
what Manager Johnny Longo said
/ he heard from more than one Gus
toner.
TROIKA: Gets credit for the
most novel way of warning guests
it was time to scram. The band
composed some very special lyrics
for the last verse of Rum and
Coca Colas" concerning Mr.. Byrnes.
wishes and gave forth with them
at 1870 sharp. 1t even rhymed.
CLUB 1928: Servicemen congre-
eating on the sidewalk and holding
a public debate on the order of
W h e-do-we -go-f o m-here. We
didn't stay long enough to find out.
EMBASSY ROOM: Looked like
old home week outside the Statler's
| K street entrance at 1905 m. as
patrons all but came to blows over
who saw which cab first. Well, only
verbal blowsl
MADRILLON: One particular
waiter who has been getting stuck
with the late parties for years
beamed a big smile as he cashed in
This final check, not at midnight,
mind you. but at 1890 pm. "C'est
la vie!" was all of his French we
could understand.
CLUB 400: Owner Joe Moss didn't
see what all the fuss was about.
Business is just like any other
blue Monday" he said, only the
curfew is making us little bluer.
X X X II
The Quiz Kids were probably
aware of it all the time, but it
was news to us. Inventor of the
harmonica was none other than our
good friend Ben Franklin. Between
floor shows at the Lotus the Spec
tator had a long discourse with Har-
monica Player Lew Baker-about
just this.
To the best of Lewis encyclo-
pedic knowledge, the harmonica
was first put on the store counter
for sale around 1895. Then, of
course, it was a freak instrument
and people bought them like they
bought toys. Vaudevillians espe-
cially loved the shiny little mouth
piece.
Actually as a musical instru-
ment," Lew said, 1.-The harmonica
didn't come into its own until Bora
Minnevitch organized his famous
rascals 10 years ago. Then it found
its way onto the screen and into
radio. The thing that surprised
most people about the Minnevitch
group" Lew said, sis that Mime
witch himself doesn't travel with
them. Also the personnel is con-
tinually changing For instance,
Lou Bernard at the Trade Winds.
alao a Minnevitch boy, met Lew
Baker only yesterday when he
came up to catch the Lotus mat
inee. Lew figures that to date the
Minnevitch alma mater probably
numbers at least 200 different play
ers.
Trouble with all of us who play
the harmonica right now" Lew
said, lis the nerve strain of Won
dering when our instrument is 60
ing to need spare parts which are
impossible to GET
Along with nylons and spare tires,
harmonious have gone the way OF
war casualties.
They are made in Germany
Lew explained. and there are no
more to be had. Take the one I'm
using here. Before the war 1T
WOulOn I nave cOSt more Lndn soCu
brand-new and I had to pay $50
for it secondhand"
X Il y II
Whenever a pretty young girl
comes into the Brown Derby and
says to Al Simmons-'Remem
me?" Al knows what's coming.
About a year ago the night club
entertainer inaugurated the practice
of making recordings of any patron
who happened to be inclined at that
particular moment to stand up and
sing. Of course. the real fun for the
other patrons was when AL played
the song back.
eff it was good" Al said, "it was
still funny, but if it was bad, as in
most cases, it was even funnier."
At the end of the evening the
lady was always presented with
the recording as souvenir.
Sooner or later, every one of these
singing patrons has come back to
tell me how much fun they had
playing the recording" AL said.