Born Suzanne Delee Flanders Larson on December 6, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois to Lester Lamont Larson and Adelaide Viola Flanders. Suzanne had two younger sisters Kathleen Althena Larson, by fifteen months, and Adelaide Victoria Larson, by almost three years. They were frequently known as “Sister” and “Baby” respectively and Suzanne was, of course, Suzanne. At three years of age her mother and father took her to see Eddie Foy, a well-known entertainer (later, The Seven Little Foys motion picture with Bob Hope as Foy). Coming home after the show Suzanne mimicked Foy bringing down the Larson house. From then on, bringing Suzanne home from a show was the looked forward to “third” feature: her uncanny personification of the featured performers (at the age of three).
Suzanne was a brilliant kid, reading the bible and knowing her multiplication tables at four years old. When she was six and ready for school, skipped kindergarten and the first grade. Adie, at one time a schoolteacher, felt Suzanne was directly ready for the fourth grade. The principal, Mr. Higgins, tested her. Although Suzanne did test on a fourth grade level, Mr. Higgins would not allow it. She began her elementary years in the second grade. The following year, she skipped third, and went on to fourth.
When she was five years old they took Suzanne to see Rio Rita with BeBe Daniels and John Boles. BeBe Daniels sang “You're Always in My Arms.” The seed was planted and for the next several weeks Susanna sang it everywhere, that’s all anybody-- her family, her playmates, neighbors ever heard. It was decided that although “You're Always in My Arms” was a lovely song, they were getting a little tired of hearing it over and over again. There would have to be a way to satiate this little girl's performance desire. This five year old "broken record" was persuaded to perform it at a children’s beauty pageant in a Minneapolis park. Suzanne was a hit, family and friends never heard the song again. However, soon after, along came Jeanette MacDonald (and Maurice Chevalier) in her first film The Love Parade singing, “My Dream Lover.” The five year old was at it again and again….and again. For the next two years, if the local cinema was showing a musical film the entire neighborhood knew what was playing without consulting the advertisements, Suzanne would be there on the first day, promptly knowing all the tunes, singing them……everywhere.
