The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-03-23
In New York
BY PAUL HARRISON

New York-Gladys Swarthout the Deepwater, Mo-, girl who made good in the vocal business, came into her own living room at noon with apologies for having slept so late. Seems the previous evenings rehearsal at the Metropolitan had lasted for hours.
 Usually she's up early, golfing band. Trims him, more likely revenge match on the tennis courts. He beats her at horseback riding, and she overshadows him as a singer-although Chapman's a popular baritone She sings a lot of boys roles in opera; he, in turn, fills the role of housekeepcr in their domestic arrangement. He selects all of her clothes, too, and could have the credit, if he wanted it, for putting her on some of the annual lists of Americas ten best-dressed women.
 His idea of a swell vacation is to slip out to some western ranch and punch cattle. He's even writ ing a movie scenario that leads from a ranch bunkhouse to the stage of the Met. Miss Swarthout, contrary to the Marion Talley tra- dition, isn't fond of cows. Or cow boy songs, for that matter.
 
 On To Hollywood
 In May, they told me, they're going to Hollywood where Gladys will make her first picture. It will concern the life of Victor Her. bert and is to feature several sing ing stars including, of all people, Bing Crosby. asked what on earth they could find for Bo-bo-bo Crosby to do in Victor Herbert story, and she assured me a little stiffly that no doubt the produc- CTS had something quite reason able in mind. MT. Chapman (who hasn't been signed by Paramount) snorted.
 A season in Hollywood is likely to diffuse some of the Swarthout dignity. From the time when, at 13, she pinned up her curls and started singing in a choir, life for her has been pretty real and ear- nest. She likes solid books and plays, mostly, but admits passion, for musical comedy. Doesn't go to many parties; she'd rather work. During her first summer in opera she learned twenty-one roles, a phenomenal feat. Three years ago, when told she was to sing Norma" with Rosa Ponselle in Cleveland, she only had two days and three nights to study the part. Not daring to use her voice she memorized the role visually, had one rehearsal with piano, and scored a triumph. Next after noon she did Peter Ibbetson" for the first time.
 Her debut with the Chicago Op- era Company was inauspicious = as the off-stage shepherd in "Tannhauser." The Metropolitan debut was scarcely better. Gus toners who wanted to see the Mis- souri beauty with the golden voice and lovely legs found her made up as hag-the blind mother in La Giaconda." The biggest sensation she ever created, or helped create. was only recently when she and Lily Pons and Helen Jepson ap- peared at a huge theatrical benefit and sang Minnie the Moocher"-- as 1t never had been sung before.
 
 Idea to Toy With
 Just as Manhattan is beginning to luxuriate in the promises of spring, it's something of shiver to learn that the toy people are looking forward only to next De- cember. The American Toy Fair is about to move into the Hotel McAlpin, and there will gather the makers and buyers who dictate the young ideas amusements months in advance.
 Forecasters calculate that the nations doll bill alone will be $25,- 000,000, with baby dolls account ing for most of 1t. Reason-the Dionne quintuplets. Factories are working overtime turning out dolls in sets of five. Likenesses of Emil lie, Marie. Yvonne. Annette and Cecile are being produced in every medium from bath soap to china. Of course, too, there'll be quin- tuplet accessories, carriages, beds and the like.
 Doll carriages will have brakes. stream lining, full carftilever springs and sun shades. Doll houses come with complete fur nishings in period styles, and have electric lights and door bells. I'm assured that there'll be hundreds of styles in layettes, bassinettes, high chairs and scales. Yes, scales. A doll can gain or lose weight these days: they've made some that actually will drink milk from A nnIIIA.