Letters: Feb. 24, 1930

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Dollar Gin

Sirs: In reference to the article in your Feb. 10 issue under Prohibition "In God We Trust." At 6:30 last night I went to the "Cordials" and 'Beverages" shop at 201 East 44th Street and asked the clerk if he had anything alcoholic. He said he had and suggested brandy or rye. I explained that I had seen his "advertisement" in TIME, which had prompted me to drop in. He read your account with much interest and expressed the opinion that it might cause them some trouble. A man who had been sitting nearby suddenly took an interest, asked the name of the magazine, where it could be purchased, and went out to buy a copy. The clerk said this publicity was very unfortunate at the present time as one of their stores had just been smashed up and $5,000 worth of liquor destroyed.

I bought a quart of gin for $1.00 (using my commutation ticket as an identification), and left. The gin was palatable but weak. It was intoxicating.

I hope this shop will be permitted to continue operation, as I have to pay $2.00 for gin in the delicatessens in Bronxville and Tuckahoe, and $2.50 in the Wall St. district.

GEORGE B. THOMAS Bronxville, N. Y.

Indeed a newsworthy shop is 201 East 44th Street, whose fate TIME will report.—ED.

Mammyman

Sirs: TIME, Feb. 3, p. 18, col. 3, states: "When Al Jolson . . . now vacationing in Europe, was asked last week. . . ." On Jan. 25, Al Jolson appeared personally in a concert at Dallas, Tex. Could TIME be wrong?

A. RAGLAND, JR. Dallas, Tex. Yes. But there is reason to believe that Mammyman Jolson did refuse to sing in Vienna for less than his allegedly customary $5,000.—ED.

Sirs: Jan. 28, was officially proclaimed "Jolson Day" in Houston by Mayor Montieth, and Jolson appeared here on the night of the 28th, giving his reason for being here as "Sears-Roebuck and several other stocks."

C. W. THORNHILL Houston, Tex.

Sirs: While you were busy writing "Al Jolson now vacationing in Europe" Mr. Jolson was singing here in Tulsa—with a $6,500 guarantee. He then sang in Dallas.

I find I get a real kick out of finding you wrong.

PAULINE FANNING Tulsa, Okla.

Sirs: Your issue of Feb. 3 states that Al. Jolson is vacationing in Europe. I was one of seven persons who walked with Mr. Jolson from the Adolphus Hotel, Dallas, to the Baker Hotel, Dallas, to observe and hear him broadcast from Radio Station WFAA on the night of Friday, Jan. 24. I was one of 3,000 persons who heard him sing in the State Fair Auditorium, Dallas, on the night of Saturday, Jan. 25. I was one of 100,000 persons who read of his appearances in San Antonio and Houston, Tex., and New Orleans, La., during the week just past. I don't believe he could have been in Europe when your magazine went to press. I don't think he could have reached Europe by the time you receive this. From a conversation with him, I did not gather that he was even going to Europe.

CLAIRE BURGER ROSENFIELD Dallas, Texas.