Betty Francisco
Encyclopedia
Betty Francisco was an American
silent-film actress, appearing mainly in dramatic/romantic films. Her sister, Evelyn Francisco
, was also an actress.
Born Elizabeth Barton (or Bartman) in Little Rock, Arkansas
, Betty acted in many credited roles from the period between 1920 and 1934, after which it appears she left the movies for good. Her first film credit was in the 1920 film The Broadway Cowboy. However, the film did little to improve her popularity. Also that year 1920 she appeared with William Desmond
in Pathe's The Man From Make Believe.
In 1923, she was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars
, although studios still preferred to cast her in roles opposite major female leading ladies. However, Betty still managed to have her own share of leading roles. Francisco costarred with Norma Talmadge
, Wallace Beery
and Conway Tearle
in First National's sumptuous 1923 costume picture Ashes of Vengeance
. She also appeared in Maytime
the same year.
The actress was still working after the transition of sound, but her name was now virtually unnoticed and Betty, who had mostly done "B movie
s" in her career, found herself almost forgotten by the film industry. Her last film was Romance in the Rain (1934).
Betty, who was the sister of actress Evelyn Francisco, married Fred Spradling in 1930.
Betty Francisco died of a heart attack
on her ranch in El Cerrito, California
in 1950, aged 50, and was interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park
cemetery in Glendale, California
, USA.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
silent-film actress, appearing mainly in dramatic/romantic films. Her sister, Evelyn Francisco
Evelyn Francisco
Evelyn Francisco was a silent era film actress who began as a bathing beauty. Her sister, Betty Francisco, was also a movie star.In The Goof , directed by William Beaudine, she is one of a number of beauties called Spike Malone's diving girls....
, was also an actress.
Born Elizabeth Barton (or Bartman) in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, Betty acted in many credited roles from the period between 1920 and 1934, after which it appears she left the movies for good. Her first film credit was in the 1920 film The Broadway Cowboy. However, the film did little to improve her popularity. Also that year 1920 she appeared with William Desmond
William Desmond (actor)
William Desmond was an Irish-born American actor. He appeared in 205 films between 1915 and 1948. He was nicknamed "The King of the Silent Serials."...
in Pathe's The Man From Make Believe.
In 1923, she was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars
WAMPAS Baby Stars
The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers in the United States which honored thirteen young women each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. They were selected from 1922 to 1934, and annual...
, although studios still preferred to cast her in roles opposite major female leading ladies. However, Betty still managed to have her own share of leading roles. Francisco costarred with Norma Talmadge
Norma Talmadge
Norma Talmadge was an American actress and film producer of the silent era. A major box office draw for more than a decade, her career reached a peak in the early 1920s, when she ranked among the most popular idols of the American screen.Her most famous film was Smilin’ Through , but she also...
, Wallace Beery
Wallace Beery
Wallace Fitzgerald Beery was an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in Min and Bill opposite Marie Dressler, as Long John Silver in Treasure Island, as Pancho Villa in Viva Villa!, and his titular role in The Champ, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
and Conway Tearle
Conway Tearle
Conway Tearle was an Anglo-American stage actor who went on to perform in silent and early sound films.-Early life:...
in First National's sumptuous 1923 costume picture Ashes of Vengeance
Ashes of Vengeance
Ashes of Vengeance is a 1923 movie by Frank Lloyd, starring Norma Talmadge and Wallace Beery. This film survives at the Library of Congress and at the George Eastman House, Rochester New York.-Cast:*Norma Talmadge - Yolande de Breux...
. She also appeared in Maytime
Maytime (1923 film)
Maytime is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and starring Ethel Shannon, Harrison Ford and William Norris. The film also features one of Clara Bow's earliest cinema roles...
the same year.
The actress was still working after the transition of sound, but her name was now virtually unnoticed and Betty, who had mostly done "B movie
B movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
s" in her career, found herself almost forgotten by the film industry. Her last film was Romance in the Rain (1934).
Betty, who was the sister of actress Evelyn Francisco, married Fred Spradling in 1930.
Betty Francisco died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on her ranch in El Cerrito, California
El Cerrito, California
-Transportation:The city's primary transportation infrastructure consists of the El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte BART stations along with several local bus lines, operated by AC Transit, providing access to the surrounding area and the nearby cities of Albany, Berkeley and Richmond...
in 1950, aged 50, and was interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California. It is the original location of Forest Lawn, a chain of cemeteries in Southern California. The land was formerly part of Providencia Ranch.-History:...
cemetery in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, USA.