Gall Him "Danny" and He's Yours

How the common cold brought John Scotford '38 love in Webster Hall.

Gladys Swarthout was probably the most physically beautiful of all opera divas in the 1930s, and she had just starred in her first movie, "Rose of the Rancho." I didn't know Rigoletto from rigatoni, but I shot my week's wages ($2 from my paper route) to buy a reserved seat for her performance in Webster Hall.

The concert was sold out. Due to the unprecedented demand of recently converted music lovers like myself, Warner Bentley arranged for 200 seats to be placed right on the deep Webster stage. I got there early to find that my seat was in the center of the first row, directly behind where the Rose of the Rancho would sing.

As the accompanist checked out the piano, I felt that first tickle in my throat. It was dry, but my nose was not. When Gladys finished the first selection of Handel, Strozzi, Molloy and an old Irish air I clapped like an Italian claque and barked like a seal. Then I bent down and tried to muffle my tremors in my hanky, hoping all eyes were on her.

Though fighting the batde of my life, I still could admire Gladys's fine back. Her costume for the arias from Carmen was red silk, tight in the bodice and around the hips, with a raffled flaring Spanish skirt and the back cut low—way low. I thought I had reached the limit of mixed emotions when she announced that she would turn and sing an encore to those seated behind her on the stage. Kicking her flamenco ruffles, her dark eyes flashing, she swiveled around to see this young man so moved by her artistry that tears were streaming down his cheeks. But quickly and accurately assessing the limits of my musical sophistication, she launched into "Danny Boy."

Deeply moved, she sang to me, never taking her eyes off my face. There I was in front of the audience in exquisite agony, my throat sore, heart thumping, face wet, cheeks blushing, chest heaving, handkerchief sopping wet, and hopelessly in love.

If my parents had christened me Danny, I would have dropped out and followed her for the rest of her tour.

This opera diva stole John Scotford's heart.