Southern California

BOTH ASTONISHING and encouraging was the turnout for the premiere Hollywood luncheon—which, characteristically, happened to be a dinner. Despite the snap notice, and competition of the Photoplay Award Dinner, the upstairs room and bar at Brittingham's was comfortably jammed with 63 Southern California alumni.

Guest of honor was Basil "Doc" O'Connor'12, national chairman of the American Red Cross and president Of the Infantile Paralysis Foundation, who made superb use of his observations abroad to speak sincerely and inspiringly on the obligation of the collegetrained man in our rapidly changing world society. John Lyman '28 presided as usual, and (also as usual) promised an early appearance of the long-awaited Directory of local alumni. Eck Hiestand '10 spoke briefly for the job-placement committee (if you have a job open, phone Eck or Leon Rothschild '24).Jim Norton 'OB, after failing to beat down a spontaneous tribute to his service as Alumni Councillor, presented the nomination of Walter Douglas '31 to resume the post he resigned for war. Bobo Williams '26 and pianist BonesJoy '16 handled the cheers and songs with their usual, or unusual, verve, and your correspondent muttered a few halting words in re the Hollywood monthly luncheons, which will kick off some noon in mid-February either at Britt's or the Vine St. Derby, and watch for Jack Rourke '40's notice in the mail.

Incidentally, it's worth noting in the record that, although the Los Angeles group has always been pretty closely knit, there was a new spirit of fellowship in evidence at this dinner: almost certainly a dividend on the recent Dickey weekend, whose three straight days of intensive Dartmouth activity threw us together so constantly that a lot of casual acquaintanceships ripened into friendships. Also notable was the fact that more than half of the men at this dinner were from the younger classes, '30 and later—a full third of them less than ten years out. This bank of young blood promises well for the local future, and nobody is happier about it than the Old Guard.

Next race, the Derby luncheon. See you there.

NEW YORK DINNER The annual dinner of the Dartmouth Alumni Association of New York will be held at the Hotel Commodore on April 16 at 6:30 p.m. John E. Moore '23, president of the Association, will preside at the dinner and President Dickey will be the principal speaker. Plans call for a top-notch program and a record turnout, so plan to be there.