Kay Francis (1905-1968), born as Katherine Edwina Gibbs. After a brief period on Broadway in the late 1920s, she moved to film and achieved her greatest success between 1930 and 1936, when she was the number one female star at the Warner Brothers studio, and the highest paid American film actress. To think of her in the turbulent 1960’s is almost impossible. Harold was born on April 17 1902, in Blackwood, BDM-REG Ade 693, 71. She was 26 at the time. Actually, through his secretary, Nola Reed (Veda Ann Borg), Caldwell runs a matrimonial bureau and, with the aid of his associate, Lee Kirby (John Gallaudet), they defraud and blackmail a large group of lonely people. Select from premium Kay Francis of the highest quality. Karen Kay Francis: Birthdate: estimated between 1915 and 1971 : Death: Immediate Family: Daughter of Oliver Norris Francis and Grace Darnell Wife of Private Sister of Odus William Francis. Kay Francis Films. In her will, Francis left most of her $1 million estate to train dogs for the blind through Seeing Eye Inc. Official Sites. |  More about the Kay Francis and James Dwight Francis dating / relationship. Kay Francis was the ultimate purveyor of easy-virtue glamour, projecting the lure of soiled, sated goods, lighting up the screen far more effectively than more technical actresses of the time like Ruth Chatterton or Ann Harding, who handled similar material without her droll enervation and special chic. |  Dorothy Jeakins believed, that Kay possessed an 'innate sense of style'.By the mid-1930s, Kay earned $5,250 per week and was voted by Variety as Hollywood's sixth most popular star. Donated her press notice books and film stills to the theater and music collection of the Museum of the City of New York. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Katherine Edwina Kay Francis (née Gibbs, January 13, 1905 – August 26, 1968) was an American stage and film actress. American stage and film actress. While much was made at the time and since of her famous lisp, this had not hitherto been a significant detriment to Kay's career. And Kay Francis, well, she’s just smooth. However, her listing in the U.S. Census taken in April 1910, when she was living at a convent school, gives her age as five. Kay Francis in The Keyhole trailer.jpg 410 × 308; 17 KB. Kay Francis ultimately returned and completed her role in "Wonder Bar" as originally planned. Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 6766 Hollywood Blvd. She spent the remainder of her life in virtual seclusion in New York and in her estate near Falmouth, Cape Cod. Kay is wonderful in this melodrama. Particularly female audiences often flocked to see Kay Francis pictures simply to appreciate her sumptuous wardrobe. Discover the real story, facts, and details of Kay Francis. View the profiles of professionals named "Kay Francis" on LinkedIn. Kay Francis is possibly the biggest of the 'forgotten stars' from Hollywood's Golden Era, yet, for a while in the 1930s, she ranked as one of the most popular actresses, tagged the 'Queen of Warner Brothers', by 1935 earning a yearly salary of $115,000 (compared to Bette Davis with $18,000). Publicity Listings Katharine Edwina Gibbs Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Kay Francis (January 13, 1905 – August 26, 1968) was an American stage and film actress. Her mother was an only moderately successful actress who used the stage name Katharine Clinton. There are 100+ professionals named "Kay Francis", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Explore Kay Francis's biography, personal life, family and cause of death. Kay Francis goes to a beauty salon in this scene from the 1937 film Women Are Like That ~ Please visit my blog @ https://classichollywoodactresses.blogspot.com/ Francis was a proud Army Brat who was born at Ft. Sill and attended Lawton High School, class of 1955. I.S.Mowis, Other Works A dog has kindliness in his heart and dignity in his demeanor--the finest qualities anyone can have. Jewel Robbery. Jan 26, 2020 - Explore Classic Movie Hub's board "Kay Francis", followed by 11977 people on Pinterest. She appeared in the Lubitsch comedy Trouble in Paradise (1932), though unhappy about being billed below Miriam Hopkins in the picture. For her part, Kay spent a lot of time and effort on collaborative efforts with costume designers to select the right clothes for the parts she played. Spouse: Kenneth MacKenna (1931–1933) Authority control ... Media in category "Kay Francis" The following 21 files are in this category, out of 21 total. Kay Francis … At 6766 Hollywood Blvd. Jan 30, 1939 – Jan 11, 2021 (Age 81) Plant Memorial Trees Opens send flowers url in a new window She later attended Cameron College. A tall, attractive, grey-eyed brunette with undeniable style and poise, she soon acquired a reputation as Hollywood's 'best dressed woman', wearing the most glamorous gowns designed by great studio costumers like Orry-Kelly, Travis Banton and Adrian. A dog has kindliness in his heart and dignity in his demeanor. Trouble in Paradise (1932)as Madame Mariette Colet, Four Jills in a Jeep (1944)as Kay Francis, Your email address will not be published. Was one of the many stars labeled "box office poison" in an article published in The Hollywood Reporter in 1938. Her first acting job was in a modernised version of 'Hamlet' (as the Player Queen) in 1925, performing as Katharine Francis. Back in the 1930s Kay Francis was one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood, with legions of fans, and her image adorning more magazines covers than anyone but Shirley Temple. Kay and Bill saw each other only on oc­ca­sion; he was in Boston and Kay had de­cided to fol­low her mother’s foot­steps and go on the stage in New York. Because of a speech impediment, she was known around the Paramount lot as "the wavishing Kay Fwancis.". After a brief period on Broadway in the late 1920s, she moved to film and achieved her greatest success between 1930 and 1936, when she was the number one female star at the Warner Brothers studio and the highest-paid American film actress. Hilarious delivery. (My father was Merrill, “Butch”, Kenneth’s younger brother.) Kay Francis is possibly the biggest of the 'forgotten stars' from Hollywood's Golden Era, yet, for a while in the 1930s, she ranked as one of the most popular actresses, tagged the 'Queen of Warner Brothers', by 1935 earning a yearly salary of $115,000 (compared to Bette Davis with $18,000). More about the Kay Francis and Eric Barnekow dating / relationship. Trade Paper articles in November 1933 announced that due to her conflicting schedule in working in the movie "Mandalay" Kay Francis had been replaced in "Wonder Bar" by Genevieve Tobin. A natural “people person,” Francis was the Patient Advocate Liaison at Comanche County Memorial Hospital for many years. Find the perfect Kay Francis stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. More about the Kay Francis and Delmer Daves dating / relationship. Studio records (which occasionally were used to her detriment when the studio got mad at her) reflect the year of birth as 1899. Kay Francis is the perfect subject for a study in fame. Explore historical records and family tree profiles about Francis Kay on MyHeritage, the world's family history network. Kay Francis was born on month day 1940, to Harold Henry Gordon Francis and Marjorie Lorna Francis (born Crawford). Following her marriage in 1922 to James Dwight Francis, son of a moneyed family, Kay adopted the surname Francis. As biographers Lynn Kear and John Rossman pointed out in their Kay Francis: A Passionate Life and Career, Kay’s world was in art deco surroundings while gowned in a breath-taking Orry-Kelly creation. Marjorie was born on November 14 1904. It had all started to go wrong for her, when she was assigned the role of 'women's picture star', effectively typecasting her in sentimental melodramas, earnest biopics (The White Angel (1936), and three handkerchief tearjerkers like My Bill (1938), her script filled with Rs and Ls as chastisement for bucking the system. Francis reportedly said she'd scrub floors if necessary for her $4000 a week salary. Badly burned by a radiator in a 1948 accident. Jealousy rears its head in laughter as Rosalind Russell, Don Ameche, Kay Francis and Van Heflin battle the green-eyed monster in The Feminine Touch, a snappy screwball comedy cowritten by Ogden Nash. After divorcing Kay, her husband James Dwight Francis married Lesley Frost, the daughter of poet. She left some of her estate (in excess of one million dollars) to an organisation training guide dogs for the blind, Seeing Eye Inc. On 8 February 1960. Fran­cis claimed she got the part by “lying a lot, to the right pe… Her surviving personal papers are accessible at the Wesleyan University Cinema Archives. Kay Francis (January 13, 1905 - August 26, 1968) was an American stage and film actress. Jewel Robbery (1932) - Kindly Put Up Your Hands First appearance of the star William Powell, who never is named throughout the picture, in his suave invasion of a top Vienna jewelry store, Baroness Kay Francis gasping with her perfectly cordial husband and lover (Henry Kolker, Hardie Albright), Lee Kohlmar the jeweler, in Warner Bros. Kay Francis and I were cousins. The year of her birth has been speculated about for some time, with dates anywhere from 1899 to 1908. Left most of her $1 million estate to train dogs at Seeing Eye, Inc. Tanya Borodoff / Spot White / Marjorie Lang, Carmen (Isadore the Toreador) / Party Girl (Impulses), performer: "Happy Birthday to You" 1893 - uncredited, "Happy Days Are Here Again" 1929, uncredited, performer: "Sonata No.14 in C#-, Op.27 No.2 Moonlight Sonata" 1801 - uncredited, performer: "One Hour of Romance" 1935, "Mazurka" 1935 - uncredited, performer: "The Pig and the Cow and the Dog and Cat" 1935 - uncredited, performer: "Isle of Capri" 1934 - uncredited, performer: "When Tomorrow Comes" - uncredited, "Home on the Range" 1904, uncredited / performer: "Home on the Range" 1904 - uncredited, performer: "Two Lips Like Cherries", "Roses From the South", performer: "Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms", Lady Chase-Wayne / Claire Landin (First Lady / Women Are Like That outtakes) (uncredited), Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults. Kay Francis pictures and photos. 1927) ( divorced), (December 1922 - Career-slipping movie star Carole Raymond (Kay Francis) buys in as a real estate partner of Jeff Caldwell (Paul Cavanagh). After divorcing Kay, her husband James Dwight Francis married Lesley Frost, the daughter of poet Robert Frost. Though she still managed to give several good performances, the writing was on the wall. Was considered for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in, Trade-paper articles in November 1933 announced that due to her conflicting schedule because she was working in. The tight control the studio exercised over the roles she played on screen caused her to file a lawsuit against Warner Brothers, trying to escape her contract. After divorcing Kay, her husband James Dwight Francis married Lesley Frost, the daughter of poet. Badly burned by a radiator in 1948 accident. Managed by: Odus William Francis: Last Updated: July 16, 2015 By the end of the decade, the 'Queen of Warner Brothers' mantle had passed on to Bette Davis.During the mid-1940s, Kay co-produced several B-movies as vehicles for herself at Monogram, then made a brief return to stage work, acting in summer stock before retiring permanently in 1952. Keeping Kay Francis’ legacy alive since January 1, 2010. Kay Francis once had fame for a few years, and then was forgotten. Studio records (which occasionally were used to her detriment when the studio got mad at her) reflect the year of birth as 1899. Why are we resurrecting Kay Francis now? View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, (October 1925 - After a brief period on Broadway in the late 1920s, she moved to film and achieved her greatest success between 1930 and 1936, when she was the number one female star at the Warner Br Kay Francis (13. januar 1905 - 26. august 1968) bila je američka teatarska i filmska glumica, koja je stekla status zvijezde na Broadwayu 1920-ih te u Hollywoodu početkom 1930-ih.Rođena je u glumačkoj porodici, a karijeru je ostvarila usprkos govorne mane. See more ideas about Kay francis, Kay, Classic hollywood. Was one of the many stars labeled "box-office poison" in an article published in "The Hollywood Reporter" in 1938. All site content is composed and monitored for non-profit purposes only. More about the Kay Francis and Joel Ashley dating / relationship. Francis was born Katharine Edwina Gibbs on January 13, 1905, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. And compassionate. On the strength of her stage work, Kay was screen-tested by Paramount and subsequently offered a contract (1929-31). Jewel Robbery, 1932. She appeared as Marjorie Grey in the melodrama "Crime" (1927) and in the Ring Lardner play "Elmer the Great" (1928), produced by George M. Cohan and starring Walter Huston as Elmer Kane. In the spring of 1925, Fran­cis went to Paris to get a di­vorce. Solid content. One-Way Passage. Lists Reviews Images Update feed. Troy, Ohio. While she never discouraged rumors that her mother, Katharine (\"Kay\") Gibbs, was a pioneering businesswoman who established the \"Katharine Gibbs\" chain of vocational schools, Francis was actually raised in the hardscrabble theatrical circuit of the period. However, her listing in the U.S. Census taken in April 1910, when she was living at a convent school, gives her age as five years. The daughter of actress Katherine Clinton and businessman Joseph Gibbs, Kay did not start her working life in show business but sold real estate and arranged extravagant parties for wealthy socialites. A Facebook companion to the website KayFrancisFilms.com According to writer/director Vincent Sherman, Jack Warner publicly humiliated Francis after her Florence Nightengale biopic failed at the office by announcing she would appear in B pictures. Your email address will not be published. While there, she was courted by a for­mer Har­vard ath­lete and mem­ber of the Boston Bar As­so­ci­a­tion, Bill Gas­ton. 10402978, ; Maintained by Find A Grave Cremated, Ashes scattered. Kay Francis (January 13, 1905 –August 26, 1968) was an American stage and film actress. Kay Francis (January 13, 1905 – August 26, 1968) was an American stage and film actress. Explore. Kay’s funny and motivational Virtual Keynote Presentations will leave your audience energized and excited to take on their challenges with a renewed vigor. More about the Kay Francis and Roger Pryor dating / relationship. A brief affair with writer / director Edmund Goulding (some time around April 1928) may also have been a contributing factor.She had a bit in the first Marx Brothers outing, The Cocoanuts (1929), and then graduated to playing sophisticated seductresses opposite stars like William Powell and Ronald Colman. Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 6766 Hollywood Blvd. Numerous magazine articles were written about every detail of her life and in and off the studio lot. 1925) ( divorced). This site features an online encyclopedia, biography, chronology, detailed information about her career on film, stage, radio, and television, and much more. Left most of her $1-million estate to train dogs at Seeing Eye, Inc. First Lady is an oddity, but it doesn't really work for me. Francis Kay (Tafolla) Ballard, age 83, of Lawton passed away Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. See what Kay Francis (kayfrancis) has discovered on Pinterest, the world's biggest collection of ideas. After a brief period on Broadway in the late 1920s, she moved to film and achieved her greatest success between 1930 and 1936, when she was the number one female star at the Warner Brothers studio and the highest-paid American film actress. Categories. She made her Broad­way debut as the Player Queen in a mod­ern-dress ver­sion of Shake­speare's Ham­let in No­vem­ber 1925. I love Kay Francis and here are the films I recommend: DO NOT MISS: Confession (1937) - released near the end of her reign at Warners, this film has a german expressionist style thanks to director Joe May. Kay Francis, Actress: Trouble in Paradise. In May, 1934 she and Maurice Chevalier discussed the possibility of a "threesome" with another woman, but Kay found the idea "impracticle". Donated her press notice books and film stills to the theater and music collection of the Museum of the City of New York. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed ), memorial page for Kay Francis (13 Jan 1905–26 Aug 1968), Find a Grave Memorial no. 19 talking about this. Contagious energy with a message that resonates! Because of a speech impediment, she was known around the Paramount lot as "the wavishing Kay Fwancis.". The finest qualities anyone can have. Was considered for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in. Engaged to Delmer Daves before meeting her fifth husband, Eric Barnekow, through Countess Dorothy di Frasso in 1938. Required fields are marked *. The "Kay Francis - I Can't Wait to be Forgotten" book does mention that Kay confessed to her fourth husband (actor Kenneth MacKenna)of having slept with three women. She had major hits with I Found Stella Parish (1935) and Confession (1937), which were excellent money-spinners for the studio. Funny Motivational VIRTUAL Keynote Speaker Kay Frances! One of her best early films was the comedy/drama One Way Passage (1932), playing a gravely-ill baroness opposite Powell's gentleman burglar, a doomed romance interlaced with witty dialogue described by a reviewer as 'spilled cocktail and love at first sight'.Paramount, at the time well-stocked with female stars but experiencing financial problems, decided to let Kay move to Warner Brothers, where she would remain for the rest of the decade. Kay Francis looked so much like our Aunt Leah. We didn’t meet until I was an adult. At least, not until her falling out with the studio executives who thought her salary too excessive. Kay Francis in My Bill trailer.jpg 479 × 359; 20 KB. Birth year has been in speculation for some time, with sources stating the year as anywhere between 1899-1908. Dr. Monica. Janice Kay Francis.