Mrs. Marshall Field III held the first Scavenger Hunt in London. Songwriter Cole Porter organized several in Paris. Last week energetic Elsa Maxwell, plump and practiced social impresario, introduced it to Manhattan as a new socialite sport. Occasion was a Hallowe'en charity party for the Maternity Center Association at the Waldorf-Astoria. From mid-evening until midnight 199 excited socialites scurried around the town trying to filch the assorted trophies demanded by Hunt Mistress Maxwell.
As organized by her, scavenging was a jittery version of the old-fashioned treasure hunt. The contestants paired off in the East Foyer, received sealed envelopes listing bizarre objects which they were expected to fetch in an hour and one-half. At a gun's bark they bolted for the elevators and rushed out into the night to find the following items:
"A live goat (non-political); the bandeau from the head of New York's most gracious hostess; a hair from Kermit Roosevelt's mustache (if he will permit such familiarity); a live turtle; the most beautiful woman in New York not yet present at the party; a bottle of good champagne unopened until passed on by the judges; any bird (not canaries or common sparrows); the future Mayor of New York, or his signature dated tonight; the autographed bodice or "stepin" of one of New York's most popular actresses; the private visiting list of Miss Juliana Cutting; a lighted red lamp or lantern; the red carnation of Mr. Clifton Webb at the Music Box; the initialed handkerchief of New York's most charming and honest banker; three red hairs from a lady's head; a mauve comb; a live monkey; a shoe of Jimmy Durante; any unused foreign stamp; a bicycle."
Because some of the listed objects were easier to acquire than others. Sportsman Harold Stirling ("Mike") Vanderbilt was appointed to set handicaps. As the scavengers trooped back they deposited their trophies with Gene Tunney, Novelist Louis Bromneld, Grand Duke Dmitri of Russia, Banker Charles Hayden, Prince Lodovico Spada Varalli Potenziani, ex- Governor of Rome, who awarded prizes of $500, $300 and two cases of champagne. First to return were Mrs. John C. Waterbury & Nicholas Holmsen, who brought back a white goat, complete with keeper, and a red lantern. From his pocket resourceful Mr. Holmsen extracted a live turtle.
Marilyn Miller's step-in was the chief acquisition of the couple who shared first prize with Mrs. Waterbury & Mr. Holmsen. At the theatre where Actress Miller is dancing in As Thousands Cheer, doormen and a detective fought off a score of scavengers who tried to invade her dressing room. After her maid positively assured them that Miss Miller had no extra underthings in her room, a stocking and a step-in were sent out, autographed "With love & kisses from Marilyn." Second prize was split between the couples who brought back Fanny Brice's brassiére and Pola Negri's stepin. Other actresses who yielded underclothes: Hope Williams, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Jean Arthur.