Mrs. Gunn's Diary: Jan. 12, 1942

She gives a dinner party, followed by a night at the movies; here's what was playing

“We spent the day visiting here at the house and getting ready for the dinner party,” Mrs. Gunn wrote. At 6:30 the small party honoring a newlywed couple began. “We had a delicious fried chicken and marvelous souffle dinner and home made ice cream and cake,” she wrote.

Damn the sugar rationing! Full speed ahead!

If that wasn’t enough, they took in a movie, The Man Who Came to Dinner, with Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, and Monty Woolley. There was a 9:50 p.m. showing at the Earle Theater, which may have been the one they caught. But what a selection to choose from! Paid subscribers can read on about what was playing in Washington’s many movie theatres that night. Click below to upgrade to paid for just 16 cents a day.

The lobby card for The Man Who Came to Dinner is being offered by a dealer on eBay. The movie advertisement was clipped from the Jan. 12, 1942 Evening Star via newspapers.com.