A WEST COASTER IN U.S.A.

Grey River Argus, 26 January 1943, Page 2

A WEST COASTER IN U.S.A.

The Social Side

[BY

WARD (“MICK”) DALY].

Our stay in New Yo'r'Jk was short. Just before going to tbe Pennsylvanian Station Cyow. what a station.) to catch the Golden Arrow night train to Pittsburg and Grove City. I looked in at the famous Stage Door Canteen on West 44th. Street, where New York has its little theatre for entertaining men of the Services —free of charge for anything, including drinks, food and the’ best of stage talent, which Broadway produces. It is run b v U.S.O. (United Services Organisation), which operates like the N.A.A, F.I. in Britain. I just missed seeing Boris Karloff, who is still in the play “Arsenic and Old Lace,” which was running a year ago when I was here. Grove City proved’ to he a country town of 7,000 people, with a cottage for 1,000 students who come from all over the States as well as the Cooper Bessimer Works. It has 13 churches, one of which cost 900,000 dollars. Life here in Grove City is pretty humdrum once the novelty wears off, but the people are very kind to us. There is an open house wherever we like to call. The “Elks” and “Moose” Clubs as well as the Masonic and Oddfellows Lodges have treated us to parties. Four of us were taken to a College dance by four twenty-one-year-old College girls, and all the conventions of a "prom” dance were observed, including time out for “petting—politeh referred to as the “intermission.’’ We had to go along a line of College heads —men and women with our girls on our arms. The girl gave hex* partner’s name to the first person on the fine, and as the smirking Briton moved along, his name was shouted along with him and he repeated “How-do-you-do’s” to their “Glad-to-know-you’s.” The girls all wear.long evening gowns, and the men dinner suits or “tuxedos.” We went in uniform, and left rather conspicuous. We were invited to, and took; part in, a war parade in Youngstown, about. .35 miles from here, along with 200 U.S. Navy men. After the parade we were given the freedom of the city for the week-end. This included a room at the best hotel “Pick-Ohio,” free shows, and a special U.S.O. ball. Some 300 of the nicest girls in Youngstown came to the dance, and We had a wonderful time, _ The girls were pretty, well dressed and sporting. The„ have plenty of charm, but don’t pur on airs. They like to jitterbug, and I found it great fun. The ballroom was, in the hotel, and claims to ! have the onlv stainless steel dance floor in the world. Youngstown, of a population of 100,000, is about 450 miles inland, and they had never had men of the sea visit them en masse before, so, naturally, they treated us marvellously. Drinks, cigars ano cigarettes were “on the house,” and the show went on to 2.30 am. Sunday morning.

Back in New York we again receiving the generous hospitality of the U.S.O. Working in conjunction with the British Merchant. Navy Officers’ Club, they provide free tickets to most of the theatres and arrange week-end visits out of town for those who wish. Once a week, thev have a dance, to which lots of nice girls are invited. Saw the picture “Mrs Miniver’’ at Radio City Music Hall, where it has broken a record by running ten weeks —seven days a week. Radio City Music Hall is open all day 4 and holds 6,200 people. Last week, a few New York celebrities, including Kate Hepburn, Dot Thompson and Jan Struthers threw a garden party for the British Merchant Navy. It was a good show, and a large number, including a few New Zealand airmen were present. The latest show I have seen was “Icecapes of 1943,” at Madison Square Garden. A special preview was given for men in the Allied Forces, their wives, sweethearts, mothers and sisters. About 11,000 people were present, and the show was “super collossal” in every respect. Another place of entertainment for Allied officers is “Open House” in the “Hotel Delmonico,” Park Avenue, which is definitely “upper crust.” This will give you a slight idea of the hospitality open to 'Us and others of th e Allied forces, thanks to the generosity of the people af the U.S.A,