Walter Winchell

Evening World-Herald/September 7, 1939

Faces About Town: Mrs. Roosevelt, the president’s wife, trying to squeeze into an elevator on the third floor at NBC—and not making it . . . Sophie Tucker, who found out that if you have a big heart no one wants a piece of it . . . George White, who remembers that Burns Mantle, one of his severest critics, had written on his first “Scandals” (20 years ago) — “George White is a hoofer and should stay a hoofer” . . . “That Scandals” says George, “made 400 thousand dollars and the other Scandals made history” . . . The Dick Merrills (Toby Wing) on a steak spree at Sherman’s Fifty-fourth street rendezvous squelching the rift rumors . . . Bill Corum, who majored in the last war, delivering this picturesque wordage: “Now that the harvest is in—it’s time to plant the crosses”

Midtown Vignette: His name is Nick Lucas, one of the Stork club’s most faithful and popular captains . . . He bought a sweepstakes ticket two years ago—and won $2,300 . . . With his first fortune he bought a motor car and took his wife and child for a ride . . . A drunken driver crashed into them and Mrs. Lucas died from the injuries . . . The child was seriously hurt – Nick hasn’t bought a sweepstakes ticket since . . . He sells them!

Memos of a Midnighter: The war isn’t three thousand miles away at all . . . The Germans and Frenchmen in the Stork Club kitchen will be fired, says the boss, if they row again as they did yesterday . . . Newsweek’s new reporter (on the war) is Major General S. Fuqua, U.S.A., retired . . . Jay Martin, son of the judge, is the new singer at the Village Barn . . . It’s a son for the Gene Merediths; mamma is Chic Johnson’s daughter . . . The warden is “Lucky” Luciano’s best booster. He says “Lucky” is a “most model prisoner” . . . Quentin Reynolds crack: “Things are so tough in Poland they’re gonna call back the Fordham football team!”

New York Novelette: Recently a well-known movie actor was divorced by his wife . . . She fell for another man she believed was wealthy via oil . . . When the divorce settlement was made, the actor gave her a house plus an annuity . . . The “wealthy” man she wed turned out to be a phoney with a criminal record and without a penny to his name . . . So now they dwell in the actor’s house—and on the annuity . . . The actor carries (in his wallet) a photostat of the rogues’ gallery picture and fingerprints of his former frau’s new groom—and shows them to friends for laughs.

Manhattan Murals: The sudden quiet of Columbus Circle since the war began. The soap-boxers have changed their tunes—and the cops waste no time even with that dame who says: “And now let’s pray!” . . . “Can’t you see I’m praying!” she said when they motioned for her to step down . . . They interrupted her alleged prayers and sent her scooting . . . The well-dressed gal on Park avenue near Fifty-third street begging her escort to scare her—to stop the hiccoughs . . . The Bowery: A masterpiece of futility . . . The midnight angels with million-dollar smiles and a life that isn’t worth a penny . . . The train announcer at Grand Central who sounds like FDR and looks somewhat like him too . . . The communazis in Union square half-heartedly trying to “explain” the Red and Brown Shirts’ romance . . . Broadway, at dawn, without its satiny bright lights and numerous other fancy doodads—looking more like an old gingham dress.

New Yorchids: INS News Commentator W. W. Chaplin’s new book: “When War Comes”— read it and then see if you wanna go . . . The new “Lest We Forget” air show on Mondays . . . Zanuck’s “The Rains Came” flicker, another big-timer.

Sounds in the Night: In the Ambassador: “The difference between winking and blinking? It’s whether you have something or somebody in your eye” . . . In the Wivel: “Women used to get in his hair—now they get into his harem” . . . At the Tavern: “I dunno what happened The next thing I knew the apartment was full of cops!” . . . At the Horseshoe: “I mean the doll on the left—the thrill in satin” . . . At the Int’l Casino: “He’s one of those writers whose stuff has slap—instead of punch” . . . In the Club 18: “He’s a celebrity—can’t you smell?” . . . At the Queen Mary: “Leave the gin on the table. I may think of something I want to forget” . . . At Jimmy Kelly’s: “He runs the gamut of emotions from A to DT’s” . . . At Coq Rouge: “Swing is just a state mind—like insanity” . . . Lindy’s: “Say, is your heart any way related to Siberia?”

Broadway Confucius’ Remarkable Remarks: Broadway success is a guy who is distinguished, discussed and disliked . . . Most common Broadway ailment is poison envy . . . Trouble with keeping chin up is that it makes a better target.