Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-09

SCotCl0dy dt GIIc INdIlOIldl lily
1t was, if you'll pardon the
Singing, dancing, Jokes, DIR
general hilarity for more than
70 years of age and up.
The old folks-as they are
from all over. from Super Sixty
Clubs, Going Like Sixty Clubs
Leisure Clubs, Golden Age Clubs
the United States Soldiers Home
the National Association of Re.
tired Civil Employees and a dozer
public and private homes for the
aged. The United Community
Services Committee on aging was
the sponsor.
Some came on streetcars. some
In institutional buses, some or
foot. A few had saved up money
for taxicab ride to the hall.
Nine Piece Band
The Leisure Club from Bald
Eagle Playground in Southwest
Washington led off with a nine
piece rhythm band. Seven women
and two men dressed in paper
hats, fancy vests and an air OF
great earneStness (they were first
on the program and the party
hadn't loosened up yeti whanged
out When the Saints Go March
Ing In" on drums, tambourines
. triangle, spoons and a kazoo.
Then they sang and played
Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
and God Bless Americ a."
America" did it. The audience
applauded until the number was
repeated and then everybody
joined in.
There were other musical
numbers from the Super Sixty
Clubs Of Northeast Washington
and st. Adams Church and a
United Nations skit by the Col
den Age Club of the National
Council of Jewish Women. The
Epiphany Church Super Sixties
swung through a fast square
dance.
Trio in Drama
But it was up to three residents
OF District of Columbia Village
(the Home for the Aged at Blue
Plains) to provide the drama.
Miss Flora Davis, SO, and Mrs.
Catherine Lee, 80, took the stage
and began to act out haltingly a
play about how to plan a show
In an old folks institution.
OF in the wings, the third
member of the trio. 76-year-old
Billy O'Brien, a Stocky little man
with ring of white curls around
his sun-tanned bald spot, could
be seen awaiting his entrance
Mr.. OBrien. obviously fearing
the worst. was crossing himself
furiously.
Then he came on. and the play
picked up remarkably. One of
the ladies would forget her lines
and Mr.. O'Brien would smile
and ad lib until they all found
their places again. Miss Davis
stopped twice and said to the
audience, Il made a mistake.
Each time. Mr.. O'Brien straight
ened 1t out, and she went on to
her conclusion:
Grow old along with me.
The best is yet to be.
Mr.. OBrien Recalled
The audience, some with
hands cupped to ears but most
OF them getting everything over
the loudspeakers. clapped so
hard when he finally left, that
Mr.. OBrien came right back
and delivered an impromptu
curtain speech.
Thank you," he said. God
bless all you ladies-on Mothers
Day and every other day."
Swelling with pleasure, he said:
This is so fine. I just can't say.
I'm really delighted to see such
. bright. illuminating, scintillat-
Ing galaxy of fair ladies here"
There was another wild burst
Of cheers and applause from the
women in the audience. There
were q few boos and subdued
misses from the men.
Dancing in the Aisles
Then there was dancing in the
aisles to the Merry Widow
Waltz" sung by another Super
Sixties Club. Even 94-year-old
Mrs. Julia Gatewood from the
Epiphany Church Club got in a
few hot ticks.
After that, everybody got up
and milled around the cookie
tables. Thirty gallons of punch
and 1,400 cookies went down the
matches. The gable of converse
ton was louder than any of the
singing had been.
Two hours after it had begun,
the old folks gathered UP their
gloves. hats and canes - one
octogenarian lady in a Wheel