a tribute to george montgomery

For Valentine day, I’ll blog about one of Hedy’s love interests during the early 40s: George Montgomery.

He was one of the two very handsome Hollywood actors who came from Montana (the other was Gary Cooper!). He was engaged to Hedy Lamarr in 1942, yet for some reason they didn’t make it to the altar. Hedy, instead married to John Loder and George to Dinah Shore. However, they remained good friends and George admitted, “Hedy is the only girl I’ve ever asked to marry me.” He called Hedy, “Penny” because she often sat thinking when he came and said, “Penny for your thoughts”. She once gave him a St.Christopher medal which he still wore around his neck. George is, undoubtedly, a talentedly artist. Besides being in the movie business, he was a painter, sculptor who as Hedy said, “can make a living out of his hobbies.” At the end of this post, you’ll get to see many of George’s paintings and sculpturing works.

Hedy and George in 1942. Please check back at the gallery at hedy-lamarr.org for hi-res version of the picture.

George Montgomery was born in August. 29. 1916 to a family of 17 members. He left his education at the University of Montana to pursue his interest in a film career in Hollywood. His cowboy background led him to getting many film offers in various western movies. His first movie appearance was at the age of 18. At age 24, he signed a contract with 20th century fox and changed his name to George Montgomery. George had wonderful craftsmanship ever since he was a little child. He had made many many sculptures (some was sent to the White House), furniture for family and friends.

George had loved Hedy ever since he saw her in “Algiers” and their romance blossomed in 1942. The engagement was announced during the filming of “Tortilla Flat”. Their love story appeared on various film magazines of the time for one whole year. Nobody really knew what happened in between, but by the time Hedy started “Crossroads” she started hanging out with John Loder, an English actor she met at the Hollywood canteen. And George found his ideal soulmate in Dinah Shore, at the same place.  In the same year 1943, Hedy married John and George married Dinah. Hedy remembered George as one of the men “she should have married to.” Somehow I think they would have been a good match to each other, regarding how much Hedy loved arts, painting, and she herself was a vivid painter and art collector.

Check out some of George pictures:

Some artworks (out of many many):

For more artworks and pictures of George Montgomery, please feel free to contact me

Pictures and information taken mainly from “The years of George Montgomery” which George dedicated to: “who believed in me, had faith in me, loved me, envied me, jealous of me, and those who didn’t give a damn about me.”