South Sea Rose by George Olsen and His Music was recorded at the Hal Roach Studios In Culver City, California on November 3, 1929 and released February 1930 under Victor label 22213, matrix PBVE 54482. George's wife, Ethel Shutta, provides the vocal refrain. The music was composed by Abel Baer and Wolfe Gilbert, Lyricist, for the '29 Fox Film of the same name directed by Allan Dwan and starring Lenore Ulric as Rosalie and Charles Bickford as the Captain. The movie has been lost so check your attics please.
During the Culver City recording sessions, Olsen tried to use Fran Frey as male vocalist. The effect was not working for Olsen and he called in wife Ethel Shutta to the rescue. She perfected "Rose" on her third take which was session take 6.
Mary Slaton nee Dorothy Lamour was born in New Orleans in 1914 and was French Louisianan, Spanish, and irish~a Southern Creole girl. In 1931 at age 17 she was crowned Miss New Orleans. Her mother went through several divorces and Dorothy and her mother moved to Chicago where Dorothy worked in the Marshall Fields store. "Dottie" was discovered at a talent show by orchestra leader Herbie Kay who was so impressed he immediately hired her as his big band girl singer. After a successful tour with Kay she soon had her own 15 minute radio show on NBC. Dottie also sang on the Rudy Vallee Show and the CBS affiliate WBBM Chase and Sanborn Hour with Edgar Bergen, Don Ameche, Nelson Eddy and Dale Evans. In '36 she moved to California, screen tested at Paramount and was signed. Her very first credited film solidified her fame. In Jungle Princess, she wore a sarong, which was so popular, she made approximately 13 more films in a sarong. She would be characterized as the Queen of the Sarong forever after. During WWII she was one of the 5 most popular pin up girls with Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, Veronica Lake and Betty Grable. She was adored for her work during WWII touring the US selling War Bonds to the public. She was personally responsible for selling 300 million in War Bonds and it was only half jokingly said that the Bombshell of Bombs almost single-handedly funded the war in the South Pacific. From 1940 to 1952 she acted (or ad-libbed with Crosby and Hope) in six "Road To ---" films as straight man to the two icons. Dorothy has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Dorothy Lamour, Actress, Singer, 1914-1996.