Historical II

NEAR EAST RELIEF BENEFIT.; Jackson Heights Plans Open-Air Fete In Aid of Smyrna Refugees. New York Times. New York, N.Y.: Sep 18, 1922. p. 3

Referred to as the Blue and White Fete, a benefit was held for the Near East Relief in an attempt to relieve suffering for Smyrna refugees. The event was to be held on a Saturday evening in the large open-air amphitheatre in the Queensboro Corporation colony of cooperative tenants in Jackson Heights.

Five tickets each costing one dollar were sent to each of the 1,000 families in the Jackson Heights community with a request that they be sold to raise a fund to be donated for the aid of the Smyrna refugees. Booths will also be constructed for the sale of Armenian lace and refreshments. All proceeds with be donated to the Near East Relief for aid. The costs of the fete will be taken on by the community tenant owners.

For entertainment the Police Department band has offered to supply the music and a variety of artists have agreed to contribute their performances towards supporting the fund. All of this will be followed by a community dance in the street.

The Chairman of the committee, appointed by the Jackson Heights Community Council is a man named Bradford Butler, who is a Major and was once Judge Advocate of the Rainbow Division during the war.