FLORENCE GEORGE

Florence George (born Catherine Guthrie) was a singer who appeared in two movies in 1938 and 1939: College Swing and Tell No Tales. Her parents' names were Florence and George, and she combined their first names into her stage name! She was a gifted singer and she graduated college with a degree in music. She then studied opera, and made her debut in "Rioletto" at the Chicago Opera House. A Paramount talent scout saw her, and she was signed to a contract. She sang some songs in "College Swing" opposite John Payne, and the studio then loaned her to MGM for a small part in "Tell No Tales". She might have had a promising career in movies, but that year, at 22, she married the 43 year-old Everett Crosby, Bing's older brother and business manager, who then managed her career. He kept her away from movies, but kept her very busy with concerts, radio recordings, and some operettas. They remained married until he passed away in 1966. She passed away in 1998 at the age of 80.