Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-02-27
Three Violations
Mark Opening
0fD.C. Curfew
VINO Area Director
Coils Compliance
Very Satisfactory

curfew for night clubs and othel
amusement spots Throughout
the Nation brought almost per.
feet compliance in Washington
as police reported three viola
tions and Government agencies
reported a saving of fuel for TIT
war effort.
Operators of public amusement
places and bars here reported 6
ler-than-ordinary Monday eve.
ming. Night-spot crowds went home
complacently as the supply of drink
was cut off shortly before IL pm
In general, those due to lose profit.
as result of the ruling showed NJ
rancor over the curfew, ordered az
a wartime necessity by War Mobil.
ization Director Byrnes.
A last-moment order by the Office
of Defense Transportation penaliz-
ing taxi drivers on their gas rations
if they took revelry seekers to inega,
after-hour drinking places threat
ened to cut their income, they said
News dealers handling early morn
ing editions also looked forward tc
q sharply reduced trade.
Still Dancing at 3.
Most spectacular of the three vio-
lations reported here involved a
night club where, police said, Is
couples were observed dancing at 8
O'Clock this morning.
Police reported they also observed
q man being served beer at 1915
am. today in a night spot on
Georgia avenue and an establish
ment on Wisconsin avenue was said
to be open after midnight.
Area VINO Director Ernest v.
Connolly promised an immediate in
vestigation of the alleged violations.
If the places do not comply to-
night, Mr.. Connolly said, they will
be notified to reduce their man
power to the point where they will
have only enough staff to protect
the property-in other words, the
establishments will have to shut
down,
Considering the number of places
affected by the curfew, Mr.. Con-
molly said he found the results Of
the first nights checkup very graf
flying"
Rules Generally Obeyed.
Under VINO enforcement only
nonprofit entertainments for serv-
icemen sponsored by responsible
agencies" and regular all-night res
taurants which do not serve drinks
can continue operation after mid
night.
Two California legislators, Repre-
sentative Havenner, Democrat, and
McDonough, Republican, have COM
planned against the application
of the law in their State, where
lush war-industry payrolls have
built up a tremendous entertain
ment business. Mr.. McDonough
wrote Mr.. Byrnes that the ruling
resulted in no conservation of fuel
in Southern California because I'VE
do not use coal for lighting or
heating"
The Associated Press reported
that West Coast establishments gen.
orally respected the curfew last
night.
The WSdC regional headquarters
at San Francisco expressed appre-
citation with what it said was an out
standing spirit of cooperation
shown by management, labor and
community participants on the West
Coast.
In Nevada where gaming estab-
lishments usually are open all night,
an agreement has been worked out
with VINO to adopt an after-day-
light opening hour.
Locked After Three Years.
Approximately go all-night thea
tiers in Southern California closed
ut midnight or before. In Holly
wood, the night clubs were open al
most until midnight but most Of
them had the patrons out and the
lights of at the stroke of II. The
manager of one Hollywood movie
theater said it was the first time
in three years that he. had locked
the doors.
In New York, Representative Clare
Boothe Luce, Republican of Con-
necticut, said in an interview she
feared the curfew might usher in
a new speakeasy era and create a
great many lawbreakers."
However" she added IF the Gov
eminent really needs it to conserve
light and heat, that's all right-I'm
for it."
She suggested that if night clubs
were permitted to remain open until
/ am, night shift workers and serv-
icemen would have an hour more
to enjoy themselves and relax"
Only two night spots out Of Is
checked here last night report
ed a full house and only three
said the crowd came early. Most
of the managers agreed that 1T
was a blue Monday, and bluer than
usual" However they hopefully
claimed the empty tables were a
natural result Of rainy day and
a Washington fog and not because
of the curfew.
Jealous night spot proprietors
hurried their guests out several
minutes before the zero hour, cut
of the lights and barred the doors
Most Of the guests made no COM
plaints-and few comments.
There were a few groups who left
merrily, declaring they would con-
tinue the party in a hotel room
according to managers. mattresses
and hat-check girls. However the
hotels disputed this, agreeing gen.
orally with the desk girl, who said
TITS dead as duck hereA Not even
as much noise as usual"
Then there were a few like the
Navy lieutenant who insisted on
slipping his drink until the clock
hands reached midnight. He was
dissuaded when the mattresses began
piling chairs on the tables while
there still was a third of his drink
left.
II expected servicemen to argue
because the civilians can go home,
or to a hotel, but the servicemen
have no place." said one manager
of q club, well-fllled with service
personnel. But they seemed to