Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-04
US0 Counsel
ToPush BeIasco
Theater Lease
Hospitality Center
For Armed Forces
Waits Clearance

in few days to obtain a lease or
the former Belasco Theater
scheduled to be opened as a hos.
pitality center for members of the
armed forces. +
The announcement was made BY
Joseph D. Kaufman, chairman oil
the National Capital Area Com.
mittee USO. on the weekly per.
Sonal Report" broadcast sponsored
by the Community Chest Fedora.
ton over Station WWDC anc
WWDC-FM last night.
Mr.. Kaufman. who had sought
the latest information on the
Belasco Theater project from Ma.
tional USO headquarters in New
York, read telegram from Lind.
sey F. Kimball, national president
stating that Mr.. Lavine would
come here within a week With in.
structions to come home with 6
lease which USO can sign"
Project Cleared April II.
The project was cleared with
the Commissioners Armed Serv.
ices Hospitality Committee or
April IA.
IAN unhappy but understand.
able delay has occurred in dealing
with the District Government
General Services Administration
of the Federal Government anc
the National USO in completing
plans for leasing and renovatine
the Belasco," Mr.. Kaufman said
But we of the local USO Com.
mittee are much heartened by
this latest message from Mr.. Kim
ball. We shall do everything pos
sible to cooperate with Mr.. Lavine
and other officials responsible fol
completing the lease
Mr.. kaufman said the need fol
the Belasco center was growing
more urgent each week, with
thousands of servicemen ano
women coming to Washington on
leave or passing through the city
Numbers Are Growing.
He added that the numbers are
growing and that I'VE in USO are
gearing to do a well-balanced job
in serving them in the name OF
all our citizenry."
Others taking part in the
broadcast on What independence
Day Means to Us This Year
were Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle
chairman of the hospitality COM
mittee; Miss Mary Lucas, director
of the USO National Travellers
Aid Lounge in Union Station, ano
Edwin N. Lewis of the Community
Chest Federation staff, who acted
as moderator.
Miss Lucas said that, since
June 10, some 2,700 members OF
the armed services have beer
served in the Presidents Room
lent by the Government and the
Washington Terminal for the
program. 1t was used for armed
forces hospitality also in World
Wars I and II.
Soldiers just in from Korea
are taking maps in the spaciou!
reception room where President
Truman greeted President Vincen
Auriol of France few weeks ago,
Miss Lucas said.
Most OF. the men just want
chance to relax and rest in
non-military atmosphere, sh'
pointed out, telling of one DO!
back from Korea last week whit
wanted to be left alone, ito 81
there quietly and mediate on thu
great joy of being back in tn
United States once more"
Miss Lucas said special nee
now is for more volunteers, Senio
men or perhaps World War I vet
Grams who would help supervis
the lounge from midnight to
am. The operation is on "a
hour schedule.
Tribute To Volunteers.
Mr.. Lewis commented the nee
presented an opportunity 70
fathers or grandfathers to "rene'
their own national service b
spending a few hours with lionel
boys in Union Station" Men in
terested may call Miss Lucas a
Executive 1900, branch 755.
Miss Lucas paid tribute to tn
work being done by Informatio
Center volunteers, headed by Mr.
Clifford Davis, wife of the Demo
cratic Representative from Ten
neSSee.
Mrs. Doyle spoke of a need fc
Everything from fishing tackle fe
convalescent boys on 'Operatio
Potomac restful yacht voyag
on the river. to more young gi
volunteers to attend dances {
camps in the Washington area.
She said the need for your
dance hostesses is acute, althoug
some 1000 volunteers in vario,
groups are working with the con
mittee. All receive a trainir
course when they enroll. Volur
teers should call Mrs. Willial
Calvin, executive secretary of tt
committee, at National 600
branch 2213.
The Hospitality Committee ye'
terday told the Commissions
that the possible "cease-f1re" tru'
in Korea should mean no let-up
plans for providing recreation fl
servicemen stationed in this are
Tax-Free Tickets Urged.
The Commissioners were to-
that the committee has petitione
Congress to remove the anus
ment tax on theater tickets give
servicemen. Committee membe
said they had asked Treasury SCI
rotary Snyder to make the
passes tax-free, but that Mr.. Sn.
der told them he could not do
until Congress passed appropria
legislation.
Mrs. Doyle said that a lounl
where servicemen could meet the
friends. check bundles or maj
telephone calls was vitality needle
Che c,,uoocfod q 1orot}oy, ~, u