Culture & the Chopeen

Culture & the Chompeen

In New York City a number of prominent Greeks did their bit last week for Hellas, mother of the arts. Under the auspices of the Hellenic Forum and the Near East Foundation, a Greek Artists' & Craftsmen's Exhibition opened at the

Hellenic Craft Shop. Greeks bearing pieces to display included: Illustrator John Vassos, Mural Painters Panteles Zographos & Theodore Tsavalas, Landscape Painter Socrates Leonidas, Sculptor Polygnotos Vagis (protege of Mrs. Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney).

The exhibit opened with a reception at which platters of sweetmeats and little cups of Turkish coffee were handed round by Miss Angela Mulinos, an Attic beauty who was "Miss Greece" at the 1930 Galveston International. Speeches were made by Professor Demetrios Tselos of Princeton, Vice Consul Konstantine Konstandas. The guest of honor (who was unfortunately unable to be there because of a pressing engagement to wrestle in Toronto) was lion-chested Christopher Theophilus, more widely known as Jim Londos, world's heavyweight wrestling champion. High above the clink of coffee cups sounded the praises of Greek artists, poets, professors and diplomats, for their champion, his musical ability, his culture, his extensive library, his college education.

Added Francis Bosworth of the Near East Foundation: "History is his specialty. He is particularly fond of Presidential Messages. . . . Every Greek intellectual is his pal."

Mike Cohen, pressagent to Promoter Jack Curley, Wrestler Londos' Manager, hastily interrupted.

"The Chompeen," said Mr. Cohen, "is self-educated, purely self-educated. His old man was in the olive racket. . . . That's the way he developed those wonderful biceps, tossing bags of olives around."

Not on view either was the prize exhibit, a monumental bust of the Chompeen by Polygnotos Vagis entitled "Concentrated Power." Nobody had money enough to move it uptown from 12th Street.

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