The starting point - October 1, 1935 - An article reports that Bing Crosby and opera singer Gladys Swarthout have recorded two duets, 'Thunder Over Paradise"' and "'Home on the Range" at Paramount as a test for a possible film. It was intended to star Bing in a film version of Herman Bahr's operetta "The Yellow Nightingale" but Bing is said to have indicated that his voice was not appropriate for the role.  Gladys signed a five movie contract with Paramount pictures.

Gladys also had a small cameo in a film entitled A Dream Comes True (1935) where she appears as herself along with dozens of other stars. The dream of the title is director Max Reinhardt's production of Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935). This short shows how Reinhardt's vision was translated to the screen. A huge sound stage was transformed into a forest by importing trees and constructing waterfalls. We get to see many of the stars on the set between takes. Footage from the film's Hollywood premiere is also included.

A publicity picture released in 1937 included this caption - "A lovely portrait of Gladys Swarthout, Paramount actress, who is appearing with John Boles in a new musical production titled, "YELLOW NIGHTINGALE." Miss Swarthout and John Boles appeared together in "Rose of the Rancho" and it was their delightful singing in this film that caused them to be teamed again."