Clipper, ASTA convention special, Vol. 15, No. 1 (Special)

              Volume 15
Monday, November 5, 1956
No. 1 (Special)
Gangsters? I Never Heard Of Any, Chicago Guide Says
To See Just What He Means
Take a Trip With Julie Smith. c
BY JULIE SMITH
Ask a tour guide: "Where are the gangsters?"
You’ll get a monologue on the Chicago Cubs, Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, the price of beef, the Haymarket Riot and Wrigley’s gum. But, gangsters? He never heard of them.
Ask what happened to Colosimo’s, the notorious club where A1 Brown, later A1 Capone, began as a humble bodyguard. You’ll learn that Chicago
has twenty-six seats of higher learning, a fine collection of Lincolniana and a superb symphony. But, A1 Capone, who’s he?
If you seek out an old guide with the itiemory of a Siamese elephant, he might recall that Colosimo’s has been transformed into a Negro church, and gangland is now a prim, tree-shaded housing project. But, he’ll be quick to add: "That’s all long ago and in the movies. Chicago’s a dean, honest town now— safe for ladies and travel agents.”
* * *
SO, IF YOU’RE looking for a sample of the rip-roaring past, you might as well face it. Chicago mobsters, bullet-proof vests and sleek black getaway cars are as obsolete as the horse and buggy. A1 Capone is as
mythical as Robin Hood, and you can walk all the way from Lincoln Park Zoo to the stock-yards with no risk of being bumped off. As one guidebook puts it: “Crime is dead nowadays, and culture is the big attraction.”
If you decide on culture, the most painless way to take it nowadays is aboard a Gray Line or Chicago Sightseeing Bus. A day’s indoctrination whisks you along both the North and South shores for $8.50 including lunch at the Conrad Hilton, the world’s biggest hostelry.
“Biggest,” by the way, is Chicago’s favorite adjective for its assorted colossi. You’ll hear that the Clarence Buckingham Memorial is the world’s biggest fountain, the (Continued on Page 3)
Whoa ! Stop For Sip at Nag’s Head
Delegates can quench their thirst at an authentic English pub called The Nag’s Head on the third floor of Palmer House. Beer and ale will be dispensed by Fred and Katheleen Esgen, landlords of an inn in Sussex, who have flown over for the Convention.
The pub, sponsored by the British Travel Association, is equipped with crackling log fire, dart game, casks, wheels of Cheshire cheese, sport posters and several thousand dollars’ worth of antiques.
A 20-year old London taxi will transport pub crawlers from the Morrison to Palmer House free-of-charge. As Pat Spooner of BTA describes the taxi: "She’s old, but she’ll do 25 an hour with the wind behind her.”
The pub will be open Monday through Wednesday from 12 to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.
ASTA LOOKS TO FUTURE IN A NEW WORLD
Members Foresee a Big Year — Despite the Headline Headaches
There is an invisible item on the ASTA annual agenda today. With eyes on front page and ears to radio, more than 1,700 delegates must consider, along with other business, just what they have won and lost of the world’s traveling surface.
Despite today’s headlines the overall note is of cheer and there seems no reason to rejuggle the value of a 1956 travel melon that is confidently predicted to be the biggest and fattest yet.
And, as it gets into its second quarter century, ASTA must mull over the problems that go with it —jet aircraft, mass travel fares, lack oi South American promotion, the European hotel shortage and, naturally, its own commissions—at this crucial four day work session in the Chicago’s Hotel Morrison.
THE 26TH GENERAL Convention of ASTA will be called to order this morning at 9 when J. Stuart Rotchford, General Convention Chairman, brings down his gavel on the Terrace Casino rostrum at the Morrison Hotel.
Mr. Rotchford will then turn the General Assembly over to Thomas J. Donovan, President of ASTA, who will head the four-day convention.
The meeting will mark the largest gathering of any ASTA convention in the United States and the second largest in the society’s 27-year history. Almost 1,800 members, representing 40 states and 55 countries will be in attendance.
* * *
HEADING THE LIST of notables to address the convention this morning will be Richard J. Daley, Mayor of Chicago, and W. A. Patterson, Chairman of the All-Chicago Citizens Committee.
“It is fitting that our convention should take place in the great city of Chicago,” the ASTA. President said. “Not only is Chicago situated right in the heart of our own nation, it is the transportation hub of the United States.
“More railroads serve Chicago than any other city in the world. Midway Airport is the busiest air
terminal in the world.”
* % *
“THE BUSINESS OF the convention will be just that —business,” continued Mr. Donovan. "Previous conventions have concentrated as much on the social and sightseeing aspects as they have on (Continued on Page 4)
Dear Boss: Complaint From Roger
Sunday, Nov. 4
Dear Boss:
I’m not complaining, mind you. I’m not saying I’m another Drew Middleton. Or Homer Bigart. But after all those years of studying and writing obits I’d like a chance to write a news story. Just one.
It was a good party, mind you. Pretty lady named Lolita Linn insisted I go into the Grand Ballroom with her sample “Breakfast Around the World.” Forty-eight dishes from 48 countries.
“Given by the Mid-West Chapter of ASTA in honor of foreign guests,” said pretty Miss Linn. Looked for the bar. Guess 11:00 a.m. considered too early. Hot chocolate (Holland) served.
“No country chose what we thought they would,” said Chairman Linn. Irish didn’t want potatoes, Australians didn’t want lamb. “Except Brazil—coffee. And Swiss— cheese.”
Since 300 expected and 600 showed up, thought waiter might be throwing in a ringer when he brought up platter of French pastry. “That good old American French pastry?” I asked. “Right,” said the waiter. Glanced at my big yellow “PRESS” ribbon. Added hastily, “from France.”
No speeches. So walked out. Man put "Mexico” hat on my head.
It’s still sitting there. I look in the mirror and munch contemplatively on the straw. I don’t look anything like Joel McCrea in a trench coat covering the latest revolution. But gosh, Boss! Couldn’t you, just once, let me cover a news story?	ROGER