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Biography
George E. Browne was an American labor union leader.
Browne was active in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), becoming business agent of its Stagehands Local No. 2, based in Chicago.In the 1920s, he won election as vice-president of the international union.In 1932, he stood unsuccessfully for the post of president, afterwards standing down as vice-president.He stood for the presidency again in 1934, winning the post without facing a contest.He was also elected as a vice-president of the American Federation of Labor.
In 1943, Browne was tried and convicted with co-conspirator Willie Bioff, of extortion of $1.2 million from Hollywood film studio producers after threatening them with labor strikes on behalf of the Chicago Outfit.Browne was sentenced to eight years in prison.However, both he and Bioff assisted the government in a trial of other members of the Outfit, and as a result, they were granted parole in 1944.That year, he was expelled from the IATSE.
In 1947, Paramount Pictures entered a motion to recover $100,000 from Browne, but dropped the case after its attorneys were unable to locate Browne.