GLADYS SWARTHOUT - AUTOGRAPH CIRCA 1935 CO-SIGNED BY: MARIAN NIXON - HFSID 224465

GLADYS SWARTHOUT and MARIAN NIXON. Signatures: "Gladys Swarthout" and, on verso, "Best wishes of/Marian Nixon", 6x4¼ album leaf. Magazine photograph, b/w with brown hue, 2x2¾, and imprinted name affixed at lower margin of Swarthout's side, which has ink note (unknown hand) at upper margin: "Sept. 5, 1935 (Vendome Cafe)". Magazine photograph, b/w with brown hue, 2x2¼, affixed at lower right margin of Nixon's side, which has ink note (unknown hand) at upper right corner: "Aug. 22, 1935./(Western Ave./& 6th St./Los Angeles,/Cal.)". Famed opera singer turned movie star GLADYS SWARTHOUT (1900-1969), who had made her operatic debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1929, was one of the Met's finest mezzo sopranos, performing a repertoire of 25 roles, including Carmen, her signature role. After a number of her peers, including Jeanette MacDonald, Lily Pons and Grace Moore, found success in films, Swarthout was courted by Paramount Pictures and made her silver screen debut in 1936 in Rose of the Ranch, in which she played dual roles. Although her films, which also included Give Us This Night (1936), Champagne Waltz (1937), Romance in the Dark (1938) and Ambush (1939), fizzled at the box office, Swarthout went on to enjoy a successful radio career. She not only guest starred on a number of radio shows, but Swarthout also hosted her own radio show in New York City, and she was named the No. 1 classical radio singer during WWII. MARIAN NIXON (1904-1983), born Maria Nissinen and sometimes billed as Marion Nixon, made her film debut in 1923 (Rosita), and she would go on to appear in over 70 films through 1936 (Tango, The Drag-Net and Captain Calamity). In 1935, the year this autograph was signed, Nixon was seen on the big screen in Sweepstakes Annie. Her other credits include Cupid's Fireman (1923), Charlie Chan's Chance (1932) and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1932). Slightly creased. Light show through from photograph on verso touches "Gladys" and the "S" of Swarthout, rectangular show through at "Marion" and the "N" of Nixon and three words of writing on Nixon's side. Three file holes at blank right margin. Fine condition.