Expensive Entertainment

Because Soprano Anna Case declared that she was through singing except for charity when she married Chairman Clarence Hungerford Mackay of Postal Telegraph & Cable Corp., much was made of the fact that fortnight ago, loaded with diamonds, emeralds and orchids, she sang for pay at one of the "Artistic Mornings in Manhattan's Hotel Plaza. Last week it seemed definitely established that the daughter of the South Branch, N. J., blacksmith had "gone back to work"* when her photographs appeared in the lobby of the Roxy cinemansion to advertise that she would sing there this week. But suddenly the receivers who manage Roxy's took down the photographs, announced that Mrs. Mackay was indisposed, her engagement indefinitely postponed.

Up popped Mrs. Mackay indignantly not in the least indisposed. Nor was she, as the New York Daily News suggested, suddenly so eager to string popcorn for the Mackay Christmas tree in Roslyn, L. I., that she had renounced a $4,000 contract. Her Roxy program, she said, had been all arranged. She had planned to sing Christmas carols against a background representing the Nativity. She had even discussed details with the management, decided to use a donkey, dismissed the idea of including a cow. The Roxy management, threatened with suit, admitted that it had been mistaken about Mrs. Mackay's indisposition. Receiver Howard S. Cullman, new at his job, said that his predecessor, Harry G. Kosch, had drawn up (but not signed) the contract which Mrs. Mackay did sign. Receiver Cullman was the one who at the last minute decided against such expensive entertainment.

*Contrary to silly gossip, Mrs. Mackay's "going back to work" has nothing to do with her husband's financial reverses. If it were true that the House of Mackay is tottering, it would take more than Anna Case's concert earnings to steady it.

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