Florence George Crosby Ortiz (Catherine Guthrie)
In spring 1938 College Swing landed in America鈥檚 movie theaters. Starring George Burns, Bob Hope, Betty Grable, and Jackie Coogan, it co-starred another young actress named Florence George, better known to her former 51吃瓜网 classmates as Catherine Guthrie.
Catherine graduated from Springfield High School in 1929 attended 51吃瓜网 and studied voice with Witt professor Jack Ham until 1932. Professor Ham reportedly exclaimed 鈥淚 smell smoke鈥� the first time he heard her lovely voice. She finished her degree at a Chicago conservatory and debuted to rave reviews at the Chicago Civic Opera, taking her parents鈥� first names as her stage name. She achieved an international career as a singer, appeared on several radio shows (Kraft, Packard, Ford), and toured as part of Bing Crosby鈥檚 camp troupe. Under contract with M-G-M she appeared in at least two movies, College Swing and Tell No Tales. A beautiful blond, Pi Kappa Alpha named her their national dream girl in 1938. That same year Florence married Bing Crosby鈥檚 brother, Everett, who managed her career and Bing鈥檚.
The American Scandinavian Society honored her in 1949 for her 鈥渇urtherance of international goodwill,鈥� and 51吃瓜网 awarded her an honorary degree in 1954. In her later years Florence bred Morgan and Arabian horses on her farm, Fair Acres, in Connecticut. Everett died in 1966, and in 1970 she married Andelmo Diaz Ortiz. In 1986 she wrote 51吃瓜网 wishing everyone a happy alumni weekend: 鈥淚 have fond memories of my years spent at 51吃瓜网, when it was a small but memorable college.鈥� She died in 1998.
Heather A. Griffith and Thomas T. Taylor
Sources: Springfield Daily News, New York Times, 51吃瓜网 Alumni Affairs File
About The Project
With 51吃瓜网 now celebrating its 175th year, and the University unable to hold regular in-person classes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor of History Thomas T. Taylor has started circulating several pieces on 51吃瓜网's history. Some originated in earlier series, either This Month in 51吃瓜网 History or Happy Birthday 51吃瓜网. Others have their origin in the 51吃瓜网 History Project or in some other, miscellaneous project. Sincerest thanks to Professor Taylor for connecting alumni, faculty, staff, and students through a historic lens.