We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
104,
GLADYS SWARTKOUT (Paramount Player)
The observation, "she's a genuine gift to the screen," when applied to Gladys Swarthout , is truer than usual. She was born on Christmas Day. In her appearances with the Metropolitan Opera Company she has humbled forever the tradition of plump and antedated prima donnas by being young, slim, modish and beautiful. She has been featured on outstanding radio programs for the pest few years.
Her vocal studies began when she was 12. At 13 she was giving a recital in her home town of Deep Water, Missouri, end failed to negotiate a high note in a difficult aria. To the astonishment of everybody, she turned to her teacher and demanded that they start over. On the second attempt, Gladys sang the high note magnificently.
Members of a wealthy Kansas City family who happened to be present offered to finance the little Swerthout girl's musical education, after the recital was over. Their aid was accepted for several years and repaid by Miss Swarthout early in her professional career.
That childhood incident w& s typical of her determination and her dissatisfaction with anything short of perfection. She sacrificed her childish curls and adopted a hair-dress that nade her look t% least 18 in order to obtain an appointment as soloist in a Kansas City church.
Li>ter, she went on to study r.t the Bush Conservrtory in Chicago. While there she was extremely active professionally. She sang in fashionable suburbcn churches end in the city's largtr theatres.
Her acceptance of a proposal that she appear once with the Minneapolis Symphony orchestra seemed like c doubtful vent-, -e to \ lut the critical reception accorded her singing of the Max Brucl "Ave Maria" from "The Crojs of Fire", brought concert offers from evbrywhere.
Miss Swerthout had not thought seriously of essrying opera, but friends prevailed upon htr to seek an audition with the Chicago Civic Opera Company. Without knowing on6 complete role, she obtained an audition and w^s accepted.