Lona Andre

Lona Andre (born Launa Anderson on March 2, 1915, in Nashville, Tennessee) was an American actress celebrated for her roles in early Hollywood films. She garnered significant attention with her debut performances, earning recognition as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1932. Following her victory in the Paramount Panther Woman Contest, she secured a contract with Paramount Pictures. However, when her contract was not renewed, she transitioned into freelance work, making numerous appearances in films during the 1930s, primarily in leading roles for "B" movies. By the end of the decade, she had featured in over fifty films. Notable projects included the 1934 film "School For Girls," where she shared the screen with stars like Toby Wing and Lois Wilson, and a collaboration with Laurel and Hardy in their 1936 movie "Our Relations."

In June 1935, Andre eloped with MGM actor Edward Norris in Santa Barbara, California, but she sought an annulment just four days later following their marriage in Tijuana, Mexico. She later married salesman James T. Bolling, from whom she divorced in March 1947. In 1938, she made headlines by setting a women’s golfing world record by completing 156 holes in under twelve hours at Lake Norconian in California, achieving a personal best of 91 in 18 holes. Andre's acting career waned in the 1940s, culminating in her final film appearance in "Two Knights From Brooklyn" in 1949. After leaving the film industry, she found success as a businesswoman and was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California, after her passing on September 18, 1992.