Evening star., 1946-05-19
HOLLYWOOD.


The Los Angeles Chamber OF Com
merce and the All-Year Club,
through those gay, multicolored
brochures, again are extolling the
virtues Of Southern California as
place to spend your summer vaca-
tion-but scan the booklets from
cover to cover, as we have done, and
you find no hint of warning about
Hollywood's gravest tourist menace
the hijacking waiter.
Naturally, when you come to
Hollywood, as when you travel to
New York, you want to take in
the widely advertised night spots,
places where the glamour boys and
girls are supposed to dine and dance
And very often to engage in their
pleasant Saturday night round Of
banning one another on the jaw,
just in time to make the Sunday
papers.
You should be warned, therefore,
that since the war, the bistros Of
movietown with only a scattered
exception) have developed some of
the boldest headwaiter pirates
known to the restaurant world.
Steady customers noted for their
habit of IS per cent tips, plus .
hve-spot-at least-for the captain,
get fancy service and cordial smiles
from all the help. Strangers, how
ever, are regarded with cold sus-
picion. And if, at evenings end,
they haven't done right by all the
boys they'll likely as not be openly
insulated, with broad hints not to
come back again.
Herds the Tourists.
The most famous chain of restau-
rants in Hollywood fosters at its
main location a headwaiter who
sneers and snarls at guests who
carry no Hollywood name" value
His best tables are somehow held
out for agents with prospective
celebrities to be shown of before
lunching and dining producers.
This ill-tempered captain shouts
angrily at steady customers. while
he herds the tourist trade, like
frightened sheep, behind ropes. He
recently elected a guest from thu
place because the man had the
temerity to inquire about a long.
distance call to be transferred tt
his eating booth.
This autocratic big-chain captain
is no different than the mine-rur
walters at all the so-called Holly.
wood spots" New York headwaiter,
and captains have their hand out
too but in genteel sort of way
Here in the restaurants of fllmlant
they don't put hand out. Botl
hands carry bludgeons behind th'
back.
An important but quiet appearing
executive from the New York ofdc'
OF United Artists took two guests t,
famous Sunset Strip spot the othe
night and reported a typically in
sulting experience. After one drinl
each and a modest supper he wa
handed a check for $83. 1t was OBJ
viously raw deal but the executiv
decided against argument. He lab
eled himself a sucker, dropped tw
$50 notes on the table and walke
out with his party. The waite
sneered openly at him for leavin
a paltry SIT tip. On the way out tn
captain inquired if everything ha
been all right.
Keep Him at the Bar"
Il told the fellow everything wa
okay." said the film chief, but I OF
fered him no tip. Whereat, he fol
lowed me to the door, tugge
viciously at my coat and yelled:
asked you if everything was all righ
with your meal and service?'
/ Again, and patiently, repeate
my statement. The captain gave m
whitening look as we went out tn
door. II that cheapie ever come
in here again keep him sitting at tn
BARI he ordered an underling."
Now that we've painted the tawdr
side of the Hollywood restaurant an
night club picture, it is only fair t
mention, and by name, those place
that have earned fine reputation
ovor tho yeorc