Articles from the Liberty Chronicle
(use your control+F keys to find Swan articles in Google Doc)

Here are transcription of articles:
July 18, 1935

Liberty Girl Climbs Ladder of Success

Helen Swan (Gypsy Nina) Plays in London for Months Instead of Weeks

The news from across the water about Helen Swan is such as to give the greatest encouragement to an ambitious artist. Here is what A. Mitchell of the Headquarter Staff, the Marconi company, London, England wrote to his father, Sergt. Major A.H.H. Mitchell of Winnipeg, Canada: “I met Miss Swan on Friday, had tea and a good chat. Afterwards heard her perform at the theatre. She certainly has a wonderful voice, and is jolly good looking, and was received with great ovation, getting the most applause of all the other turns. Last night she sang over the radio from the British Broadcasting company's studio and her performance was grand. I am pleased to have met her and thank Mrs. Withers for the opportunity, please when you write her.”

Miss Swan as Gypsy Nina opened at the Palladium in London the first of March and was liked so well that her engagement of four weeks was extended to months. The London Daily Sketch in a recent issue had this to say of her: “I wonder how many of you have seen Gypsy Nina, who is making her first appearance in this country? She is small, plays an accordion, and has a most delightful voice.”

“Henry Hall heard her when he was in America and told me how marvelous she was. She has recently made her first H.M.V. record, and you can all take the opportunity of being charmed by her personality by listening to her versions of ‘Old Bohemian Town’ and ‘The Postman Passes My Door.’”

“Her first record augurs well for a sound waxen future for this excellent artist.”

Miss Swan is expected to come home the last of July and even now Englishmen are hoping she will return to them next year.


Miscellaneous Gleanings from Microfilm of Early Clay County Newspapers

Aug 15, 1935
Former Liberty Girl to Return to America

“Gypsy Nina” or Helen Swan to the home folks, embarked for home yesterday on the Normandie after nearly six months in London, varied by short stays in Scotland and Paris. “Home” is New York City now but Miss Swan is hoping to come west for a visit.

Miss Swan flew to Paris on a sight-seeing tour and was much impressed by the contrasts between the English and French people. She writes, “In England everyone is so proper and conservative; here, in Paris, people seem to me half Apache with their care-free abandon, utter lack of formality. In England, a friend will not comment on a new outfit one wears without first apologizing – it is ‘bad form.’ Here, utter strangers, waitresses, policemen, etc., pay one compliments at once. My feet cause a lot of comment here. They are not small for America, but for Europe! They do not make shoes so small, so every place I go both men and women turn and look. And of course, the sheer American stockings are a novelty, too. You should see the stockings here – so thick with huge seams in them. I don’t know how they wear them!”

In an advance style notice, Miss Swan reports the hats are either very large or mere bonnets. “Some look just like baby’s bonnets with bows that look like rabbit ears. The leading fall shade seems to be a dark yellow, on the order of the old mustard color. So you can buy a yellow bonnet with ears and know you are right in style.”

Commenting on the French hotel service, Miss Swan says, “Of course everyone here is out to get all he can out of Americans. Particularly the hotels are terrible. They have no soap or ink or stationery in the rooms and one must tip the maid to bring them. Then one is charged 28 cents for soap. At the end of the week 10 percent of one’s bill is added for service, supposedly for tips, after one has tipped everyone already, all week.”

After enjoying the boulevards, the cafes, the historic landmarks and the shops of Paris, Miss Swan returned to London for a two-weeks’ engagement there and in Liverpool. She plans to return to Europe next year for a number of continental engagements.

Miss Swan is under the direction of the Columbia Broadcasting System.

Note: Helen Swan/Gypsy Nina was born in Chicago, but lived most of her early life in Liberty, where she graduated from high school and studied at William Jewell College. A singer, pianist and accordionist, she was among the early performers on WDAF radio. She died unexpectedly in Hammond, Indiana on Christmas Day, 1939, of a brain hemorrhage at age 38.
****************************

Many Thanks to Linda Smith for contributing this!