Daily News from New York, New York • 1645

SECTION TWO SUNDAES NEWS NEW YORK'S PICTURE NEWSPAPER FASHIONS FICTION TRAVEL YOU CAN DO IT FEATURES DRAMA MOVIES TV-RADIO New York, N.Y. 10017, Sunday, December 19, 1965 Copr. 1985 Newt Syndicate Co. Inc. 1 I fcvi.oSj"1 ill Bl i fjUFv-3 9 1 swv I A 7' a fJ-'" 9 fe (NEWS fotos by Charles Payne) Minipr Jmi McCowin of New Wtitoa Hotel inspect roomful of furniture to be sold The Victor GraymounU, long-time residents of New Weston, are moving before room itself crumbles and falls in hotel-razing wife.

to Sutton Place. Office building will rise where they once lived. The Park Avenue Refugees Their enclaves of elegance tumble to make way for new skyscrapers in the make-a-buck business world because it was appreciated. Many of our guests today don't have the time to enjoy a great hotel. This is sad, because a wonderful hotel like this one doesn't deserve to die." What will he do after New Year's Eve? "I've got a farm in Hillsdale, N.Y..

I guess I'll move up there. I might take a trip to Greece, first, though. I was born there." The Vanderbilt closing brings back some nostalgic memories, too, for cabbie Henry Paige of Flushing, Queens. "I've been driving a cab on Park Avenue for 46 years," said Henry. "This street has changed so much I hardly know it.

So have the people on it. "We used to have a 'closed line' of cabs at most good hotels. That meant if you weren't a member of the line, you couldn't park your hack there without causing trouble. We all had regular customers permanent guests. I was in the line at the Vanderbilt and then at the Commodore.

You could hire a cab in those days for practically nothing. Times were tough, but people had manners. I can't say that about the folks on this avenue today. You can get mugged on Park just like anywhere elae in this city." ly GEORGE T. MILLER PARK once considered the finest residential boulevard in the world, will lose another large chunk of historic elegance next week.

At 1965 bows out. will the 600-room Manger Vanderbilt Hotel at 34th St. This once glittering' home of social leaders, tycoons and political bigrwrig is the latest targ-et of the wrecker's iron ball that is inexorably knocking down citadels 6f gracious living. In the place of the old Vanderbilt will rise another gleaming skyscraper to fill the needs a very splendid part of life in New York City. This tide of change has a very special meaning to John Sakellarios, 72, who heads up the room service department at the Manger Vanderbilt.

Sakellarios was there the day the Vanderbilt opened for business back in 1912, and he'll be on hand when they turn the key for the last time this New Year's Eve. During the past 53 years two thirds of his life Sakellarios has catered to the needs of the Vanderbilt's guests. He has found himself "responsible" for the comfort of some of the world's most famous people. From Park Ave. fo Farm "We've had everybody from Russian princesses to South American polo players here at the Vanderbilt," be remembers.

"They've ordered everything from roses at midnight to a fresh deck of cards at dawn. Whatever It was, we usually managed to get it for them." Have guest orders changed much over the years "Yes," he said. "It's not the same world any more. People are very different today. Everybody is in a hurry.

They don't know how to relax. In the old days, you took your time and served with style HEN the New Weston closed its doors earlier this month, the scene was of the city's ever-expanding commerce. Headed for the same fate next year is another of Manhattan's tasteful landmarks the Sheraton East (formerly the Ambassador). Already gone or going are such famous hostelries as the beautiful old Park Lane, the New Weston, the Chatham (remember the Chatham the Savoy Plaza and the Madison, the Gladstone, and other smaller but nonetheless fashionable midtown hotels and resiliences. In the latter group is the convent housing the Sisters of Charity, who teach at nearby Cathedral High School.

The Convent, located just east of Park on 52d is part of the complex of buildings sold recently along with the Sheraton East and the Gladstone. The entire block from 51st to 52d is to be razed to make way for still another huge office building. The going price for $nch real estate, according to John Reynolds, the executive uho handled the tale of the eon-vent, ie $500 per square foot. "How can anyone refuse to tell at such pricett" asked Reynolds. Apparently few, if any, are refusing.

The result, for better or worse, has been a radical change of face for a once stately section of the city. Affluent Refugees It is also radically changing the lives of several thousand New Yorkers who have either worked or lived or both in the area. To many, the arrival of the wreckers means the disappearance of a job held for much of a lifetime. To others, it is the destruction of a home they firmly believed to be indestructible. To all, it means an uprooting an end to a very desirable way of life.

Such is their plight these victims of progress that many now somewhat bitterly refer to themselves ag "Park Avenue Refugees." For the most part, they are probably the most affluent band of refugees ever to make an exodus. They also represent the slow but seemingly sure passing of much like that of a family breaking up. Mrs. Ester Ames Abelson, a guest of the New Weston for the past 26 years, stood watching workmen pile furniture into the lobby for public sale. "This is tragedy," she said.

"This has been ie (Continued on page 33) aWHMMIillW.11181 5 i Ik- ii 535 1 COLUMNS THEATRE MOVIES FASHIONS fit Tins Issue Dream Street; Hollywood 2 Theatre Chickens Out 3 Doris Day in Yule Fun Film 11 mere Do All the Debs Go? 13 Barely in the Swim 15 Spotlight on New Designer ('i 15 Program Listings 19 Selecting a Christmas Tree 16 Serial: Why Did He Come Back? 28 Resorts Dream White Christmas 23 TV-RADIO YOU CAN DO IT FICTION TRAVEL (NEWS foto by Ed Giorandtno) Manger Vanderbilt Hotel and its of elegance will pass into history. smwiiMmMwwimMim Iff 1 I git.