From Movies to Manon

It is the fashion nowadays for pretty musical comedy stars to step overnight into grand opera. Mary Lewis made it. So did Grace Moore. But the feat was never attempted by a cinemactress until last week when honors were awarded to Hope Hampton for her debut as Manon with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company.

Unfortunately for news purposes it missed being a non-stop flight. Singer Hampton, too, had tried a turn in operetta--first in Madame Pompadour and then in My Princess. She had married profitably--one Jules Brulatour, who has sympathized generously with her operatic ambitions. There was a two years' intensive course in singing, an advertised Boheme canceled by laryngitis. Then came the debut as Manon which won her such verdicts as "pleasing," "promising," and the noisy approval of some 200 guests who went from Manhattan on a special train as special guests of Husband Brulatour.