SPOTLIGHT ON FLORENCE GEORGE

I originally published an article on Florence George to my blog back on December 5, 2010. I have since learned more about this beauty so I wanted to share to write a new article. She was a remarkable woman...

The opulent, vivacious blonde lyric soprano Florence George was given only two rather routine opportunities to stake her claim in films. As such, she was not given the chance to challenge the other glamorous film opera divas who were the rage of the day ('Jeanette Macdonald', Grace Moore, Susanna Foster, Lily Pons and Gladys Swarthout). Instead she remained focused on radio, concerts, recordings and the stage for the rest of her career.

The Ohio-born beauty came into this world as Catherine Guthrie on December 21, 1917, the daughter of Florence and George Guthrie (she took their first names as her professional stage moniker). Gifted musically and vocally, she attended Wittenber College and graduated with a degree in music at the Chicago Conservatory. She studied one-on-one with former Italian opera star Madame Amelia Galli-Curci (1882-1963) and earned a few radio singing spots before making her operatic debut in "Rioletto" at the Chicago Civic Opera House. A Paramount talent scout happened to catch one of her performances and set up a screen test.

Florence made a charming debut opposite John Payne singing with him "I Fall in Love with You Every Day" and "What Romeo Said to Juliet," her best moment came with her lovely solo on "Moments Like This". Instead of putting her in another showcase, the studio primarily had her do publicity sessions and radio spots. Her next movie would be the MGM loan out Tell No Tales (1939) in a supporting role. She also made some recordings for Decca Records from 1940 to 1949.

Florence married the much older Everett N. Crosby (1896-1966), Bing's business manager and older brother, in 1939. He proceeded to steer her career as well and would do so up until his death in 1966. Purposely guiding her away from films, he focused her on radio, recordings, concerts here and abroad, and the light operetta stage. In 1962, Everett bought Fair Acres, a farm estate in Connecticut where he and Florence raised Morgan and Arabian stallions. After his death from throat cancer, she married Andelmo Ortiz, a production manager for an advertising firm, in 1970, and retired to Maryland. Her second husband died in 1997. She died at age 80 on September 13, 1998...

FLORENCE GEORGE: BING'S SISTER IN LAW

I was surfing the internet looking for interesting stories and tidbits, and I discovered that Bing's brother Everett Crosby (1896-1966) was married to an actress. Her name was Florence George, and she appeared in a few movies, namely COLLEGE SWING.

I have not been able to find out how long Everett was married to her or if they had any children together, but if anyone has more details, inquiring minds would like to know. Florence died on September 13, 1998 at the age of 80.

UPDATE: Malcolm MacFarlane of the International Club Crosby had this bit of info: Florence was Everett's second wife. They married on May 9, 1939. She was 23 and Everett was 42. This was what Carolyn Schneider wrote about her uncle Everett in BING magazine #144:"Uncle Ev was devoted to Florence, his second wife. So much so, that in an effort to boost her operatic career goals, he arranged a European singing tour for her. Uncle Larry was appalled to learn that the gowns Ev told his wife to buy for the trip cost more than what Florence was being paid for her appearances. Definitely not one of Ev’s money making deals, no one had the courage to tell Bing. And it was a good thing too that uncle Bing wasn’t around the day Florence came in the Crosby offices and brought her pet monkey. She parked him right next to poor Magee who was trying to juggle a multitude of phone calls and had no time for monkeyshines."

Florence never did make it big in entertainment, and the latest work I could see she did was appearing with Paul Whiteman on his 1950 revue show...