Evening star., 1949-01-20
picture on Page A-5.J
By Harry Lever

BY Horry Lever
The bombs" burst in air, but the
music wasn't there.
The band. which $4,000 people
thought would be present, really was
missed last night during the first
of the two big free displays Of in
augtral fireworks con the Washing
ton Monumept Grounds. There will
be fireworks again at the same place
at 9 O'Clock tonight.
The band was missed particularly
towards the end Of the big show,
when the American Flag was un-
furled In pyrotechnic glory, accom-
panied by the deafening roar OF
"mombs bursting in air"
If a band had been there, this
would have been the time when it
would have played the immortal
line from "The Star-Spangled Ban
|ner." Instead there were little un-
comfortable silences during momen-
tary lulls in , the "bombardment."
And an empty bandstand, set aside
for the musicians, loomed even'
emptier.
Then the pyrotechnic flag went
out.
Alabama Explains.
C. Melvin Sharpe, in charge of
this program for the Inaugural Pa
rade and Special Events Committee,
said the band was to have been that
of the University Of Alabama.
And why it wasn't there later was
explained by Orville F. Rush, presi-
dent of the University of Alabama
Alumni Chapter of Washington.
He said the band didn't know
until late yesterday that it was
wanted for the occasion. Mr.. Rush
said he would try and see what he
could do. He explained that he
broached the proposition to Col.
Carleton Butler. the leader, when
the musical group came in by train.
Mr.. Rush said Col. Butler told him
the band had not brought appropri-
ate concert music, but only march
music, since the appearance was
not certain" Therefore, the idea
of playing did not seem feasible.
Mr.. Rush then added that, al
though he tried, he could not get in
touch with Mr.. Sharpe either at
home or at the Inaugural Commit
tee to advise him of the necessity
of q change in plans.
And that's why the bandstand
was empty.
In every other respect the show
was big success and it is expected
even to be bigger tonight.
Portraits In Fireworks.
Bombshells' doomed, "skimmers"
skinned and whirling "merry-go-
rounds" whizzed all over the place,
shortly after the first big feature,
giant sparkling archway spelled out:
Welcome Truman-Barkley," with
pyrotechnic portraits of the Chief
Executive and Vice President.
Another big display showed 35-
foot fiery portraits of Harry .Tru-
man, 1949," and George Washing
ton, 1789." The portraits of the
First President died away quickly,
leaving that'of Mr.. Truman ruling
the landscape.
This evoked the coment OF q man
who talked with q drawl one might
hear in Missouri.
George has gone and it looks
like Harry is going to stay a while"
This display shortly was followed
by gigantic Niagara Falls cascad-
ing down in o flaming shower of
sparks.
As the show reached its zenith,
Army searchlights threw red, white
and blue beams on the Washington
Monument, giving it a colorful
worlds parish touch.
Like Okinawa to Veteran.
This was the sight that also
pleased other thousands of persons
who Saw the spectacular fireworks
from vantage points on bridges,
roofs and other lofty spots through
out the city.
With an exhibition Of heavy field
guns, q towering German Va rocket
and Army tanks nearby, each sue
cessive pyrotechnic barrage created
such an authentic battle atmosphere
that an ex-Marine said: This is
the nearest thing to Okinawa I've
ever SEEN"
The thought of flying sparks, al
though quite improbable, apparent