The Washington times., 1922-12-03
Gamma Walska, Whose Grand
Opera "Career" Has Skidded Into
the Ditch Four Times, Now Sets O
Once More to Nurse Her Gre;
Ambition---blt
Anbition---but
Trouble Has
Already Begun
as Usual

THE readers of this page have been
entertained from time to time in
the last two or three years with the
very interesting exploits of Nine. Gamma
Walska, the prima donna soprano (for a
little whitley of the famous Chicago
Grand Opera Company.
And everybody who reads the news
papers knows that this vivacious and
versatile Polish singer has taken on four
husbands. The fourth and newest hus-
band just at present is the Chicago multi
millionaire, Mr.. Harold Mccormick, who
succeeded Gannas last previous mate, Mr..
Alexander Smith Cochran, the $SO,0O0,-
600 carpet manufacturer
While the narrative of Nine. Walska's
romances and various husbands is an in
teresting one, yet the history of her
career" is, perhaps, even more interest
ing. And it is a curious fact that her
husbands and her career" have run along
more or less in parallel lines.
With each new husband the prima
donna has undertaken to accomplish her
great life ambition of achieving a triumph
on the grand opera stage-and with each
effort her career" has seemed to skid in
to the ditch. Husbands she has no diff
Guilty in accomplishing with splendid sue
cess; but her Career has been just one
disappointment after another.
Ganna's first matrimonial conquest was
Baron de Duigorn of the Russian Army.
With his support she attempted operate
fame in Poland and Russia, but the gears
stuck somehow, it is said.
Gamma divorced the Baron, came to
New York and married DIR. Joseph
Fraenkel, who had wide acquaintance and
influence with operate people. He tried
vain,y 20 get Gamma a chance to appear
on the Metropolitan Opera House stage,
but failed. Worn out by his efforts he
died and left her about 100000 and
valuable house in New York. Not such
bad matrimonial venture.
She appeared on the Century Roof in
1915, and those who heard her then recall
her sapphire gown, which was gorgeous;
but there seems to be no record that the
exrcrts of the Metropolitan House man.
agement pursued her with offers to join
their galaxy of stars. There was Gamma
with voice and figure and resplendent
costume right there on the Century Roof
ready to begin the career she imagined
waited for her. But nothing happened.
The obstinate little old career" just
wcul no start.
Well. if New York was not appreciative
there were others that ought to be. The
warm hearted music lovers of Havana,
Cuba, were said to be apprecstive.
Gamma would try a debut in Havana.
Among the balmy breezes and waving
palms of Havana she would nurse her
little career into life.
Madame got together her jewels and
gowns and started for Havana to essay
opera was received by the Cuban audience
quietly, but there was a demonstration
during the second act.
The audience, it is said, became noisy
and shouted the Spanish word which
means "out."
"They are calling us out" Madame
Walska Is said to have exclaimed in a
great thrill Of Joy. as she seized her fel-
curtain. Ha! Her career" had surely ar
rived at last! But the Spanish word they
used was really q request to the artists to
get "out" of the theatre. The demonstra-
ton was redoubled and the singers were
dismayed at the greeting. One report has
il that the manager was forced to lower
the curtain and refund the prices to the
audience.
And 90, for q second time, Madame's
career" seems to have skidded into the
ditch.
Oh, well, there are other places in the
world besides Russia and Poland and New
York and Havana. Gamma had heard that
Chicago had an opera company and really
appreciated q good voice. The Chicago
Opera Company would do very well for
launching q career, but this time she
would take the preeaution to get q regu-
lar engagement somehow and money
enough to stage part in some spectacular
opera which would put the poor little
career firmly on its feeet once and for
ever.
So the next thing the readers Of the
newspapers heard was that the ambitious
soprano had taken on husband No. 3, and
this time she was the wife-of "the richest
bachelor In America" Cochran, the multi