We have carried out absorption, time-resolved fluorescence, and fluorescence quantum yield measurements of four new soluble anthracene derivatives. They show natural radiative lifetimes in the range of 2.5-4.4 ns, which is 5-10 times shorter than those reported for unsubstituted anthracene. The 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene (BPEA) derivatives show the largest fluorescence transition dipoles, which is attributed to extended pi-conjugation between anthracene and phenyls through acetylene linkages. Spin-cast films of the BPEA derivatives show strong fluorescence quenching by weakly emitting low energy excitations, which is attributed to excimer-like traps. Quenching is significantly reduced when bulky dendrons are attached so that they give maximum coverage of the emitting chromophore and prevent their aggregation. The results show that anthracene derivatives can be developed into efficient solution-processable fluorescent emitters for the blue and green spectral regions.