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

W
Waits Clearance
USO General Counsel Lincoln
Lavine is expected in Washington
in a few days to obtain a lease on
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 Of
the National Capital Area Com
mittee USO, on the weekly per
sonal Report" broadcast sponsored
by the Community Chest Fedora
ton over Station WWDC and
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 a 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 a
lease which USO can sign"
Project Cleared April Ia.
The project was cleared with
the Commissioners Armed Serv-
ices Hospitality Committee on
April IA.
IAN unhappy but understand
able delay has occurred in dealing
with the District Government,
General Services Administration
Of the Federal Government and
the National USO in completing
plans for leasing and renovating
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 for
completing the lease"
Mr.. kaufman said the need for
the Belasco center was growing
more urgent each week, with
thousands of servicemen and
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, and
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 been
served in the Presidents Room,
lent by the Government and the
Washington Terminal for the
program. It was used for armed
forces hospitality also in World
Wars I and II.
Soldiers just in from Korea
are taking maps in the spacious
reception room where President
Truman greeted President Vincent
Auriol of France few weeks ago,
Miss Lucas said.
Most of the men just want a
chance to relax and rest in
non-military atmosphere, she
pointed out, telling of one boy
back from Korea last week who
wanted to be left alone. ito sit
there quietly and mediate on the
great joy of being back in tht
United States once more"
Miss Lucas said a special neee
now is for more volunteers, senior
men or perhaps World War I vet
Grams who would help supervise
the lounge from midnight to
>am.s--sThe operation is on a "a
hour schedule.
Tribute To Volunteers.
MIR. Lewis commented the neet
presented an opportunity TO
fathers or grandfathers to ''renev
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 Information
Center volunteers, headed by Mrs
Clifford Davis, wife of the Demo
cratic Representative from Ten
neSsee.
Mrs. Doyle spoke of a need 70
Everything from fishing tackle 70
convalescent boys on 'Operatio
Potomac a restful yacht voyag
on the river. to more young gil
volunteers to attend dances 9
camps in the Washington area. "
She said the need for youn
dance hostesses is acute, althoug
some 1000 volunteers in variol
groups are working with the com
mittee. All receive a trainin
course when they enroll. Volur
teers should call Mrs. Willial
+ Calvin, executive secretary of tt
committee, at National 600
branch 2213.
The Hospitality Committee We.
terday told the Commissions
that the possible "cease-f1re" true
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 Sc
rotary Snyder to make the
passes tax-free, but that Mr.. Sn,
49, 1. J.