1935 Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book

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OLD WALDORF-ASTORIA BAR BOOK

of the century, when the expression became current in magazines artd newspapers, and when lots of Americans were taking their first steps in French. What they said when they meant to order such a cocktail is another matter. Why, you can date many American historical, society, sporting, police and other events by those cocktails when you know the names. There was the Third Degree, in– vented when everybody in New York was interested in the way tough cops were extracting information from accused persons. Probably it left its imbiber in a state similar to that of the victim of a police inquisition. Added to one– eighth French Vermouth, it consisted of seven-eighths Plymouth Gin, with several dashes of Absinthe. The Good Times cocktail was reminiscent of the socially important coach that once ran from the Waldorf doorway to the Woodmansten Inn. The Jitney complimented an inven– tion of a Detroit gentleman which was found adaptable to take the place of trolley cars when drivers and con– ductors went on strike. It may be particularly interesting to that inventor to learn that it was composed of one-half Gin, one-fourth Lemon, one-fourth Orange Juice-and a little Sugar. Then there was the Marconi Wireless, which first "materialized" at the Bar of the Old Waldorf when the ancestor of what is now called the "radio" began to raise its ghostly voice; and the Prince Henry, concocted to celebrate the arrival of the once-distinguished Kaiser's apostolic brother, who was dined and wined prodigiously in the old hotel's Grand Ballroom, just above the Bar– room. Cocktails by the names of Futurity, Suburban, and so on, celebrated the triumphs of James R. Keene and his racing cohorts and other famous stable-owners on near-by