Evening star., 1948-07-29


Old New Orleans.
When Mr.. CASTOR took the place
over a couple Of seasons ago he
thought he was embarking on q
pleasant and profitable business
venture. Then he discovered that
a set of previous owners had been
exceedingly careless with the Old
New Orleans reputation. Their
carelessness even extended to get
ting into trouble with the Board OF
Health. 1t took Nick some time
and some good food to establish the
fact that this was the new Old New
Orleans and not that old Old New
Orleans.
Since he Is a man who likes TO
attack solid nourishment as well as
anybody, he got the cuisine back to
its old par in short order. People
began to forget that sad interlude
in the Old New Orleans life. Things
were going along fine and then the
Government came along with a tax
lien. Some Of the reports OF that
action neglected to point out that
it was taken against that set OF
previous owners and not against
the present ones and Mr.. CASTOR
was an unhappy man, we can tell
you.
: People like to go to night clubs
that other people go to and are
therefore solvent. A night club that
can't pay its taxes is not very SOL
vent and people decide not to go
to it. Mr.. Gaston's howl that he
didn't owe the Government any
taxes was immediate. He probably
got it Strengthened out again in the
public mind that this is the new
Old New Orleans, but he doesn't
think too kindly of those former
owners who tampered with his rep
utation before he got it.
You can get troubles Of your own
in the night club business without
buying those Of somebody else, any
how. There is, for example, a hotel
manager we have heard about. At
this mans hotel (not local oneo
there is a cocktail lounge with
nightly floor shows. The floor shows
are illuminated by a stationary
spotlight, turned on at start OF the
show and turned of at its close.
One night the hotels electrician
was busy with a private affair IN
one of the banquet rooms and the
headwaiter called a bus boy over.
"You can plug this light in at
the start of the show and discon-
meet it at the end, can't you?" he
asked.
Il guess I can," said the boy,
"but the fellas are going to be
mad"
The manager was summoned. The
fellas were mad, all right. He found
them, his entire crew Of walters,
staging a sit-dowp strike, on which
they had embarked Immediately on
the bus boys report.
Nuts" said the manager. "Iu
turn the spotlight on myself"
"You do" said the walters spokes-
man, land we don't work. va gotta
have q union man."
They held up the speeches 80
minutes at the banquet so the elec-
trician could plug in and unplug
the spotlight In the cocktail lounge.
Herbert Jacoby Of the Blue Angel
and Directoire in New York was
recent King Cole Room visitor,
inspecting the singing talents OF
Dona Mason. Approved Miss Mtson
heartily, too, and said he thought
he could arrange for New York to
hear her this coming season, which
will be a break for New York. The
Blue Angel, you remember, was the
place where Evelyn Knight came
into sudden prominence after
spending a longer time atop the
King Cole Room bar than Miss
Mason has.
Dona, incidentally, is vacationing
at the moment, her place at the
K. G. r. being taken by Jody
Miller, who recently ended sing
ing stint with Johnny Robb's Or
chestra at the Madrillon. Pianist
Dick Koons is vacationing, too. his
place being taken by Owner Vince
Gallagher. Miss Miller's singing ex-
perience should be greatly enriched.
X X
Clara Bow arrived at the Club
Bali Tuesday night and will be
around for another week. This is
not, however, the Clara Bow you
used to see in the movies, nor is it
the one you know, If you are
younger, as that Mrs. Rex Bell
who was Mrs. Hush," though she
has just come from Hollywood.
This Clara Bow at the Bali is a
pianist and singer. She is billed,
the clubs press department assures
,,e &C HrThe Ccrio TIT Tir1 -