Compiled by Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

From the Desk of Publisher Arthur W. Gluckman

George Washington

History of national heroes tends to dramatize their achievements and gild their glories — and to slight the agonies and trials they knew.

If Americans need inspiration from the lift of George Washington on his birthday in this fateful year, they may reflect that Washington encountered home treachery more despicable than any at Pearl Harbor, encountered military defeat far more crushing than any we are likely to know, encountered inner enemies as deadly as any possible combination of today’s fifth columnists — and crushed and rose above them to complete victory.

Everyone knows of Benedict Arnold. But at the battle of Monmouth, Washington’s shrewd strategic plan and vigorous assault were brought to naught by the treachery of Charles Lee. When Lee ruined the attack by a sudden order to retreat, Washington rushed to restore the line — but the golden opportunity had been lost. A court martial only relieved Lee of command for one year! Washington fought on.

Everyone knows of Washington’s ordeal at Valley Forge. But while that great and noble man was cheering his half-starved soldiers through the winter, a faction of Congress was seeking to displace him by a political coup and supplant him with General Gates. And Washington fought on.

Deserters, mutineers and plunderers undermined his armies. Again and again, through five long years, America’s cause was near disaster. But as Washington’s courage and faith in the dark hours of his war to create American liberty are emulated by America’s leaders and people in the dark hours of today’s war to preserve that liberty, the issue can never be in doubt.

Vice In Benicia Ended By Mayor’s Order

Mayor Chas. G. Clyne stated today that all immoral houses in Benicia were closed February 12 by his order to Chief of Police J.E. Ackerman, and will not be permitted to re-open.

On February 12, a letter from Federal Security Agency, Department of Public Protection, was sent personally and confidentially to Mayor Clyne complaining of immoral conditions in Benicia. Similar letters are reported to have been sent to officials in other Pacific coast cities where vice has been rampant and thousands of men in armed services have been contracting social diseases.

Upon receipt of the letter from the government authorities, orders were personally given by Mayor Clyne to Chief of Police J.E. Ackerman to close all houses of prostitution in this city.

Ackerman immediately notified the owners of the establishments mentioned in the government’s letter to close and stay closed and he also says that they will not re-open.

There has been an investigation under way by government authorities due to the large number of venereal cases discovered upon examination of army draftees and men now in armed service.

Open vice has been rampant in Vallejo where houses of prostitution were presumably closed; the inmates then secured employment as bar maids and secretly carried on their profession where men in the service congregate.

Benicia is definitely closed and Mayor Clyne is being commended for his prompt response to the government’s request.

W.L. Crooks Sells Majestic Theatre for $50,000.00

The Majestic Theatre, long operated by W.L. Crooks, passed into other hands this week with the completion of a sale of the business and building to the Benicia Theatre Company, Inc., controlled by Dr. S. Naify, Fred Naify, and Elias Jeha, who operate theatres in Willows and Placerville. The amount of the purchase price was $50,000.00. The legal transaction for the sale was carried out through Frank McInnis, attorney for Crooks.

In an interview, Dr. Naify stated that it is the intention of the company to give Benicia the finest in first-run pictures and that they plan certain remodeling both inside and outside.

There will be no change in the personnel employed at the theatre, according to Dr. Naify, and the admission price will remain the same.

The theatre originally was located on the site of the Fernandez Pool Hall and was known as the Orpheum Theatre. After the World War, the late Walter B. Crooks started the erection of the present building in 1919. It was completed and dedicated in February, 1920.

H.J. Lynch, then president of the Chamber of Commerce, presided at the opening night and addresses were given by Sam Shortbridge, prominent San Francisco attorney and intimate friend of Mr. Crooks and Frenk Kickey of Vallejo, then county recorder of Solano county. The theatre was conducted by Walter Crooks until his death.

At the time the pictures changed from silent to talking, the theatre was leased to Phil Freese and again later to Harry B. Hurst. Mr. Crooks has operated the business since.

$204,510 Approved For Benicia Arsenal

Funds amounting $204,510 have been approved by the government this week to be used for new buildings, road construction and general improvement of the Benicia Arsenal.

A telegram sent by Congressman Frank H. Buck to Luther E. Gibson at Vallejo is as follows:

“Please to advise Works Project Administration today informs me Presidential approval Project State No. 15089 amount $204,510 to construct and improve buildings, facilities and utilities, improve grounds at Benicia Arsenal. Work includes constructing storage buildings, parking areas, curbs, gutters and retaining walls, constructing and reconstructing roads and drainage structures, installing gas, water, sanitary sewer and electric power lines, erecting fences, and landscaping. Sponsor is commanding officer, Benicia Arsenal.”

586 Register In Third Reg-Day At Benicia

Registration heavy for men wishing free trip to Tokio

Completing the registration of men between the ages of 20 and 44, Monday night, Mrs. Madeline Quandt, chairman of the board announced that 586 had registered during the three-day period.

Monday, Mrs. Quandt and Mrs. Gertrude Brammer set up a booth at Eaton-Smith Construction Company at the Arsenal Extension at the request of the company in order to facilitate the registration of men in their employ.

485 registered Saturday and Sunday with the remaining registrants signing on Monday.

Assisting Mrs. Quandt on the board were Mrs. Gertrude Brammer, Mrs. Florence Ecker, Mrs. Elizabeth McKay, Mrs. Margaret McCormick, Mrs. John Benson, Mrs. May Dykes, James Bolton and J.J. O’Grady.

Warnings for Aliens To be Posted

Five hundred posters, warning all enemy aliens that they must leave this restricted area after February 24, were posted this week under the direction of Sheriff Jack Thornton.

At the same time, Sheriff Thornton announced receipt from Tom C. Clark, Co-ordinator for Enemy Alien Control in the Western Defense Command, of precise boundaries in this area.

Fundamentally, the area is the same as that previously announced, and is described generally as running from Carquinez Bridge, along Highway 40, to the north of Lake Chabot, over to Napa highway and thence down to the western boundary of Mare Island Navy Yard.

$42,174.27 Gas Tax Money For County

State Controller Harry B. Riley today apportioned $47,174.27 of gasoline tax money to Solano county. The apportionment was made on the basis of a motor vehicle registration of 26,909.

This county’s net apportionment was $40,521.15 after the deduction of $6,653.12 for repayment of unemployment relief loans previously made by the state.

Controller Riley apportioned a total of $15,453,358 of which one third or $5,151,119 went to the counties. The balance of $10,239 was depositied in the State Highway Fund.

Prowling Panthers…
Personal Social Sports
Benicia Hight School

Panther Editorial

On Monday, February 9, many sleepy students were seen trudging slowly to school. All day there seemed to be a lazy air around the school and recitations were not quite up to par.

The cause? Well, everyone knows this was the first day of “daylight saving time” or “war time.”

On the night before everyone changed his watch or clock one hour ahead. This meant that everyone lost one hour, one hour for which no one could account. This also meant that we lost one hour of SLEEP.

We all know that the government decided on daylight saving time for national defense purposes.

It enables us to have one hour more of daylight. We can conserve on electrical power; workers in factories may get home before dark, and it enables the army and navy to carry out their maneuvers with one more hour of daylight.

This daylight saving system is to be carried out until six months after the duration of the war.

Many students groaned about losing one hour of sleep on February 9, and do not seem to like it, but just think some day they’ll be able to sleep one hour later.

New Students Enter High School

For the next two months there has been quite a number of students enrolling in Benicia High School from different parts of the state and from out of state. Our school population has been constantly growing since January 5th when school reopened after the Christmas holidays. The new students have quickly become accustomed to the ways of Benicia High and seem to like it here. There is approximately one hundred and sixty-five students now enrolled in Benicia High School.

Alumni Defeats ‘A’ Team 46-31

Friday evening Benicia High Alumni staged a scoring spree in the first half to defeat the Benicia High’s Varsity by a score of 46 to 31.

In the first quarter, the Alumni immediately went to work and pushed the score to 14 to 3. The A team was never in a reaching distance of the lead from then on.

In the second quarter, the A’s began to score a little more often, but the Alumni continued to score from all spots on the floor. The Alumni had the comfortable lead of 26 to 11 at half-time.

The A’s came on the floor in the second and at times looked as if they might grab the lead, but the Alumni in the final quarter, once again took command and led at the end of the game 46 to 31.

Arneson and Silva were tied for scoring honors of the game with 19 points each.

Girls Travel

The girls’ gym class usually has Red Cross Class on Mondays, but since they received an invitation to a basketball playday in Vallejo for the following day, the lecture was postponed until Wednesday in order to give the girls a chance to practice up on their basketball.

After the regular Monday morning test in Red Cross, the girls went to the gym to practice basketball. The teams were evenly matched and the girls got in some pretty good practice.

Art Class Makes Jewelry

The art class in periods four and eight have been quite busy these last few weeks making costume jewelry. The students have been making the jewelry out of wood. The pins are very cleverly made for they have a certain antique look about them. Under the direction of Miss Molfino the students have become very good at this old art. They hope they will be able to continue this work for they enjoy it very much.

These pins will be on exhibit either on Public School Week or on Graduation so that the general public will see the hard work the students have put on the project.

Sidelines

Private Kelly of the Benicia Arsenal did quite well for himself Friday night. He escorted two girls to the game, Ruth Harlan and Mary Ann Lanman.

Marion Dean was at the game Friday night. Glad to see you back. Are you here to stay?

Bobby Drennon seems to be preparing himself for his high school days. If he keeps up the good work he will be better than his brothers.

The Martinez girls seem really to have something the Benicia girls don’t have. What is it? We want to know. Their “charms” have now captured Bob Duncan. So he claimed Friday night.

Virginia! Virgina! Are you losing your grip? Buddy came to the game alone. Keith Wall was also alone. My, My, girls.

Two is company and three is a crowd. Jimmy C., what were you sitting with Vernon G. and Eileen for? Do you wish to get acquainted across the bay, too?

Lorraine S. is still very much in favor of the high school. Or is it just her brother? Every one could hear her yelling “That’s my brother!”

Say, Pat. M., New Year’s Eve is the time for confetti. Not a basketball game in the middle of February. Was the game boring for those that were sitting in the middle of the bleachers? They didn’t seem to be so interested in the A game.

ALL RIGHT! All right! You asked for night games and you got one, but now we want to ask, “Where were all the people?” Where is your school spirit?

Who’s It?

A junior girl, light brown hair, 5 ft. 3 in. tall who is always seen with Dill?

Two sophomore girls, 5 ft. 3 in. tall who are twins, and quite popular.

Junior boy, blond hair, 5 ft. 9 in. tall who is always flirting with the girls.

Sophomore boy, dark brown hair, who is always sleeping in study hall.

Senior boy, light brown hair, 5 ft. 11 in. tall, who is very bashful except when with a certain A.P.

Senior girl, 5 ft. 4 in., light brown hair, who is always chewing gum.

Freshman girl, brown hair, 5 ft. 3 in., who has the measles at the time.

Sophomore girl, black hair, 5 ft., 4 in. tall who is quite famous for her yodeling.