Georgia Carroll (November 18, 1919 – January 14, 2011) was an American singer, fashion model, and actress, best known for her work with Kay Kyser's big band orchestra in the mid-1940s.
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Carroll, she was born
in Blooming Grove, Texas, where her father raised sheep. Her family moved to
Dallas, Texas, where she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School.
One of Carroll's early jobs was modelling for a
department store in Dallas, Texas. She eventually went to New York City and
worked for the John Powers modelling agency. While she worked as a model in New
York, she took vocal lessons. Aged 17, she made the cover of 'Redbook' and her
face continued to be featured
throughout the 1930's and 40's in fashion magazines (Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Ladies Home Journal), on calendars and in advertising
throughout the 1930's and 40's in fashion magazines (Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Ladies Home Journal), on calendars and in advertising
She had her first brush with celebrity when she was the
model for "The Spirit of the Centennial" statue at the 1936 Texas
Centennial Exposition at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. The statue still stands in
front of what is now The Women's Museum. She was a 1937 graduate of Woodrow
Wilson High School in Dallas and has been inducted into the school's Hall of
Fame along with many other well-known graduates.
Carroll came to Hollywood when producers wanted her to
play Daisy Mae in a film version of the Li'l Abner. Her height cost her that
opportunity, however, when she turned out to be taller than the actor selected
to play the title character. Her acting career began in 1941 when she appeared
in several uncredited small roles in films such as Maisie Was a
Lady with Lew Ayres and Ann Sothern, Ziegfeld Girl with Judy Garland, as well as You're in the Army Now and Navy Blues, in both of which she appeared with the Navy Blues Sextette.
Lady with Lew Ayres and Ann Sothern, Ziegfeld Girl with Judy Garland, as well as You're in the Army Now and Navy Blues, in both of which she appeared with the Navy Blues Sextette.
She appeared as Betsy Ross in the James Cagney musical
Yankee Doodle Dandy in 1942. She also did modelling during this time, appearing
in advertisements for Jewelite hairbrushes, among other products. Anne Taintor
used some of these advertisements featuring Carroll to express the voice of the
modern woman.
In 1943, Carroll joined Kay Kyser's band, (Kay Kyser's
Kollege of Musical Knowledge), as a featured vocalist. Capitalizing on her good
looks, she was given the nickname "Gorgeous Georgia Carroll", probably
as a joking reference to the professional wrestler George Wagner, who used the
name "Gorgeous George".
As a member of Kyser's band, Carroll appeared in three
films: Around the World, Carolina Blues, and most notably the Second World
War-era "morale booster" Thousands Cheer which gave fans a chance to see Kyser and his band in Technicolor.
Kyser's band has a featured performance near the end of the film, with Carroll delivering a key solo interlude of the Arthur Freed/Nacio Herb Brown standard, "Should I?"
Kyser's band has a featured performance near the end of the film, with Carroll delivering a key solo interlude of the Arthur Freed/Nacio Herb Brown standard, "Should I?"
Carroll and Kyser fell in love soon after she joined the
band. A popular story often goes that one night in 1944 the two were pulled
over for speeding in Nevada. After introducing themselves, Kyser, who wanted to
avoid a ticket, quickly made up a story that they were in a hurry to get
married. Knowing that publicity over the traffic stop would soon catch up to
them, they decided it was best to find a Justice of the Peace and marry that
night, in order to avoid negative press. But according to
Carroll, “We were playing a show in the desert for the service men. Kay was supposed to be headed for Los Angeles but headed for Nevada because that was the only place to get married in a hurry. I knew where he was going but just hoped I was doing the right thing. The story about worrying over the press catching wind of the speeding ticket is not true. Kay and Carroll went on to become one of the most successful couples in show business.
Carroll, “We were playing a show in the desert for the service men. Kay was supposed to be headed for Los Angeles but headed for Nevada because that was the only place to get married in a hurry. I knew where he was going but just hoped I was doing the right thing. The story about worrying over the press catching wind of the speeding ticket is not true. Kay and Carroll went on to become one of the most successful couples in show business.
Georgia continued as vocalist with the Kay Kyser band, as
well making appearances on television, retiring from performing in 1946. She concentrated
on raising her family, collecting antiques and being active in the Chapel Hill
historical preservation movement. Kyser himself retired from performing in 1951.
The couple, who had three children, remained married until his death in 1985.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is custodian of a large archive of documents and material about Kay Kyser which was donated by Carroll.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is custodian of a large archive of documents and material about Kay Kyser which was donated by Carroll.
Georgia Carroll died in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on
January 14, 2011, age 91. (Compiled and edited from Wikipedia & IMDB)
6 comments:
Ain't Much of Georgia Carroll around this is from the V disc records
https://www16.zippyshare.com/v/nXTfyoT1/file.html
Kay Kyser & his orchestra v Georgia Carroll - Candlelight and Wine 1944 .mp3
Kay Kyser & his orchestra v Georgia Carroll - Don't Belive Everything You Dream 1943
kay-kyser & his orchestra v Georgia Carroll - I Dug A Ditch .mp3 1944
kay-kyser & his orchestra v Georgia Carroll - I'm In The Mood For Love .mp3 1945
Kay Kyser & his orchestra v Georgia Carroll & Harry Babbitt - Candlelight and Wine.
Kay Kyser & his orchestra v Georgia Carroll - Do It Again.mp3 1943
Kay Kyser & his orchestra v Georgia Carroll - There Goes That Song Again 1945.mp3
Kay Kyser & his Orchestra v Georgia Carroll - Ma, Hes making eyes at me.mp3 1946
Dusty
Thanks Dusty, That's seven more to add to the collection!
I just adored her. My favorite by her was When I'm With You. "Every street I walk on becomes a lover's lane, when I'm with you..." from an old Shirley Temple movie. In that same old movie, she did You've Gotta Eat Your Spinach, Baby. I swear, the things I remember, haha.
Well.....scratch that entire comment. It was Alice Faye that did that song. Geez, I'm older than I even think. Sorry. BUT, I did think that Georgia was the most gorgeous woman!
Here's Alice Faye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMCXx6GE7_I
Thanks for this one. But the fourth song has nothing to do with Georgia Garroll.
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