The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-05-02
CONCH
CHOWDER

Party at the Barn Theatre last
Saturday was one Of the most anna
ring and amusing of the year. !
arrived around Ii O'Clock uninten-
tlonally escorted, or rather trailed
by two sailors who, were ambulat-
ing with q list to starb0ard down
Duval street. They saw the lights
and heard the record player on the
stage, so when ! turned into the
theatre driveway, they were right
on my heels. At the door, they
paused, looked at the crowd, spot
ted the punch bowl, did . double
take and joined the happy gather
ing. Il isn't customary, but every
one was having such q good time
that no one minded and the stran-
gers entered into the fun. including
the conga line.
The conga kickers snake-chained
across the stage, out the side, in q
window with a high boost given
less agile participants, through the
seat row space, down the aisle, up
on the stage, and so on, all over
again. The third time around Aunt
Rose" needed help at the window
and was graciously given it by one
Of the impromptu COB guests, but
only after she had popped her
beamIng face in at the window for
at least six times while the line
came On like a domino row. It was
a little like Punch and Judy show,
that pop n-and-out-routine Of her
head.
Jessie Porter Newton and my
self were helpless with laughter by
that time or we would have joined
in, too. Bows were taken by al
those who helped the play in any
way, sandwiches were devourned
and everyone had : PLAYERS
FULL good evening.
THAT HANDSOME NAN with
the camera gadgets seen taking
pictures Of our more atmospheric
nightspots is Australian born
George Leavens. The other eve at
one Of them ! remarked to him,
1T isn't very exciting between
shows, = when fight started at the
table behind us and for 4 moment
| thought | was back in cafe so
ciety la Hollywood or Miami.
That's the old witcheraft angle
again. The curse Of the Raymers'
says my mother, ever since
the day / hit Globe, Arizona, back
In i947 here she was staying and
leading Z normal existence In the
small, quiet mining town. The very
afterno0n arrived. so did the Ari-
IONA State American Legion con
vention. And out there they don't
set OFF fire-crackers. they ,ise re-
yolvers as noise-makers. She says
II cant Be- Just eoineidsncs. The
first day I went to work on the
Citizen, there was murder out on
Stock Island and my first assign
ment was the shooting fray trial.
See what ] meant Leayens, by the
BY. has some wonderful pictures in
the May issue Of Holiday on Pro
violence, n. I.
FAREWELLs AGAIN. this time
Tor Ray Waters Of the office of pub
lie information at the navy. A few
weeks ago IL was for Eddie Boul-
din Of the same Office. And Jun
ior, " of the typographical crew on
the paper left for duty In the Ma.
rine Corps. Best eoverage Of any
fire in the city was yesterday after
noon. The staff photographer rush
ed 10 get his camera and Bill Glib
hoped the fire engine. Shophopper
Jaxsca tossed ad copy aside and
deserted Conch Chowder. We
climbed into the company's chariot
and raced chats high-gear nat
teryl to the scene from which We
could see enormous pillows cf black
smoke. i thought II must be at
least an oil tank. We scampered
like mountain goats up the ruins
Of Old Fort Taylor and joined the
throng Of spectators lined up on
the ranaparts like q scene from
Castle Elsinore. and the source
OF the smoke and blaze was re !.
yealed. and old, oiI-soaked hum.
Der and trash pile, On well. nothing
ike the old firehorse tryt