Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-01
The
Rambler
Beauties Find
Weather BeostIy
By JACK JONAS

By JACK JONAS
If Washington's weather
would behave the way it's sup
posed to, being a Miss Wash
ington contestant might not
be exactly a breeze, but it
would be more that than a
sneeZe.
Out at the Carter Barron
Amphitheater the other day,
the weather was acting up, as
it's done a lot this spring and
summer. The clouds were low
and it looked as if 1t might
rain any minute, and indeed it
did sprinkle.
1t wasn't a typical mid
summer Washington after
noon at all. AS a result, nine
of the areas prettiest young
women-there to find out how
to act when their big moment
came the next night before
the judges-were downright
chilly.
They were in bathing suits,
because this was a dress re-
hearsal. Norman Reed, who
has been producing the Miss
Washington contest elimina-
tons for Radio Station WWDC
for Is years, was showing them
what to do. Lucky fellow, Mr..
Reed-he wore a coat.
And there were the nine of
them, after some 1920 years
of walking around and not
giving much thought to it,
learning how to walk. Fred
Woolston was seated at a
piano at the left of the stage,
ready to accompany the girls
with their walk-ons and talent
numbers.
Nov as each of you comes
out" Mr.. Reed said, "he will
play "A Pretty Girl Is Like a
Melody"
Naturally" one of the girls
said.
Maybe that's all he knows"
another quipped.
o
MIR. WOOLSTON went into
his pretty-girl tune, and the
first pretty girl began walking
across the stage.
Smile" Mr.. Reed said, as if
there were something to smile
about, what with the chill and
the prospect that the time for
facing the judges was fast APP
preaching. Keep your chin
up"
Irv Lichtenstein, who runs
the contest, was watching
from a seat in the fourth row.
Don't look down here" he
said. Look up toward the
back of the theater, where the
paying customers are. Every
body down here's in on a pass"
Cant we even look down
with our eyeballs?" the little
blond, fifth from the left,
asked.
NO." Mr.. Reed said, firmly.
How are we going to keep
from falling off the stage, if
we don't watch where we're
going?" another wanted to
know.
PLEASED" Mr.. Lichtenstein
said. Have some considera-
ton for the poor musicians
who will be down in the pit"
BIG NUMBERS, from one to
nine, were chalked at evenly
spaced intervals across the
front of the stage.
That's SO they'll know just
where to stand" Mr.. Lichten-
stein said. He looked nerv-
ously at the sky. IF it rains"
he went on, "Ill have to swipe
another piece of my kids
chalk"
On the stage, Mr.. Reed was
showing another contestant.
Walk over here to about
the center of these steps," he
said. Pause. Then start back
again. Not too fast, not too
slow. And for heavens sake,
keep your head UP. And smile.
Real pretty now"
which foot forward when
we stop?" she asked.
Il don't know. What do you
Think" Mr.. Reed asked Mr..
Lichtenstein.
Il don't know. What do you
think?" Mr.. Lichtenstein
asked the girl.
Right foot" she said. "It's
easier"
"Okay. Right foot, every
body. That ought to be easy
to remember"
The walking practice was
over, and backstage, the girls
were shivering.
"C-c-c-can we take these
suits of n-n-n-now and g-g-
get into some clothes?" one
chartered.
Mr.. Reed, an understand
ing soul, said it was okay.
Street Scenes