Alma Francis

Alma Lenore Francis (October 15, 1890 August 21, 1968) was an American dancer, singer, and stage actress. She had an international career as a theatrical actress and operatic soprano in numerous stage productions, as well as a short-lived career in Hollywood, appearing in three feature films during the silent era.

A native of Portland, Oregon, Francis was educated at St. Helens Hall and later studied piano and operatic voice under Abbie Carrington in San Francisco. After completing her studies, Francis found success as a Broadway actress, obtaining lead roles in original productions of the musicals The Pink Lady (1911) and The Little Cafe (1913). She married film actor Robert Gordon in 1919. In the early-1920s, Francis signed a contract with Fox Film Corporation and appeared in three silent films, including a role in The Wolf Man (1924).

After abandoning her film career, Francis appeared in theater productions in California and toured Italy performing as an operatic soprano in various productions before returning to the United States in 1934. Francis spent her later life married to Kenneth N. Fields, a U.S. forest ranger, and living on a berry farm west of Sandy, Oregon, where she taught singing in her private home studio, and was an advocate of the arts in the Portland metropolitan area. She died on August 21, 1968, aged 77.

Biography 1890–1910: Early life Alma Lenore Frances was born October 15, 1890, in Portland, Oregon, to William and Alma Ray Francis (née Wilson). Both her maternal and paternal ancestors were Scottish pioneers, and her father was a mining engineer originally from Chicago who founded the St. Johns Lumber Company in Portland. She was educated at St. Helens Hall in Portland, and later studied piano in San Francisco under Emlyn Lewys, and operatic voice with Abbie Carrington. She also appeared in Glen MacDonough's production of Eva ), and in 1913's musical comedy The Little Cafe. In 1917, Francis inherited a substantial fortune from a distant relative in California, and used the money to invest in a fruit ranch in Santa Ana. Francis again made headlines in December 1919 for being one of the first stage actresses in the United States to gain the right to vote. She also performed as a dancer at the Waldorf–Astoria for the Metropolitan Opera Club in the spring of 1920.

1920–1933: Hollywood and Italy After appearing onstage for numerous years, Francis had a brief career in Hollywood, appearing in several films during the silent era for Fox Film Corporation.

After her role in Love Letters, Fox loaned Francis out to appear in a stage production of The Mission Play in Alhambra, California, which she starred in for three years under directors John S. McGroarty

Death Francis died on August 21, 1968, aged 77.

Stage credits Date(s) Title Role Notes March 13, 1911 December 9, 1911 The Pink Lady Serpolette Pochet Staged at New Amsterdam Theatre December 5, 1911 The Pink Lady Angele Staged at the National Theatre, Washington, D.C. November 10, 1913 March 14, 1914 The Little Cafe Yvonne Staged in Philadelphia and at New Amsterdam Theatre April 1921 In 1999 Staged at Neely Dickson's Hollywood Community Theatre 1924 1927 The Mission Play Staged in Alhambra, California; directed by Tyrone Power Sr. La bohème Mimì Performed in Italy Faust Marguerite Performed in Italy Madama Butterfly Cio-Cio-san Performed in Italy Pagliacci Nedda Performed in Italy