Jane Froman

Ellen Jane Froman (November 10, 1907 – April 22, 1980) was an American actress and singer. During her 30-year career, she performed on stage, radio, and television despite chronic health problems due to injuries sustained in a 1943 plane crash.

Her life story was told in the 1952 film With a Song in My Heart. She was portrayed by Susan Hayward, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.

Early life and education Ellen Jane Froman was born in University City, Missouri, the daughter of Anna Tillman ( Barcafer) and Elmer Ellsworth Froman. Her childhood and adolescence were spent in the small Missouri town of Clinton. When Froman was about five years old, her father mysteriously disappeared and was never heard from again, although it is known he died in Los Angeles in 1936. Her mother later remarried, to William Hetzler. Froman developed a stutter around this time, which stayed with her all of her life, except when she sang.

In 1919, Froman and her mother moved to Columbia, Missouri, which she considered her hometown. In 1921, at age 13, Froman and another young lady gave a piano-and-song recital at Christian College, now Columbia College (Missouri) (where her mother was director of vocal studies ). In 1926, Froman graduated from Christian College and later attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Radio Although Froman had classical voice training, early in her career she was drawn to the music of the era's songwriters, George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin, who were inspiring a resurgence in popular music. She met vaudeville performer Don Ross when they auditioned for the same job at WLW radio station in Cincinnati. She first appeared on WLW October 9, 1929 "on the King Taste night club." Froman made her national network debut on NBC July 31, 1931. She was heard on the Florsheim Frolic program, broadcast on Sunday afternoons. Froman and Ross had their own program beginning July 4, 1937. The 13-episode series on the NBC Red Network was a summer replacement for The Jack Benny Program.

There, Froman joined Henry Thies' orchestra and was a featured vocalist on a number of Thies' RCA Victor recordings. Convinced that she was star material, Ross became Froman's unofficial manager and persuaded her to move to Chicago, where he worked for NBC radio. They married in 1933. That year, Froman moved to New York City, where she appeared on Chesterfield's Music that Satisfies radio program with Bing Crosby. On January 4, 1948, Froman joined the cast of The Pause That Refreshes, a Sunday evening music program sponsored by Coca-Cola on CBS. It was her first regular role on radio after a devastating U.S.O. plane crash (see below).

Ziegfeld Follies In 1933, Froman joined the Ziegfeld Follies, where she was befriended by Fannie Brice. The famous composer and producer Billy Rose, when asked to name the top ten female singers, is reported to have replied, "Jane Froman and nine others." Stars Over Broadway (1935), and Radio City Revels (1938). Beginning October 15, 1952, she was host of Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen, a 30-minute CBS Saturday program in which "talented members of the armed services appeared with Froman." On December 30, 1952, the length was reduced to 15 minutes with a twice-a-week schedule on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The title was changed to The Jane Froman Show in late 1953. It ended June 23, 1955. She underwent 39 operations over the years and fought amputation and wore a leg brace the remainder of her life.

Froman returned to Europe and entertained American troops in 1945. Despite having to walk with crutches, she gave 95 shows throughout Europe. During the late 1940s, Froman became addicted to painkillers and when they did not ease the pain, supplementing them with alcohol. She eventually overcame both addictions. During this time, Froman struggled with her mental health. In 1949 she entered the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas to be treated for depression. She greatly benefitted from her six-month stay at the clinic.

Froman was a celebrity guest on the March 1, 1953, episode of What's My Line, when panelist Hal Block reminded her that he was supposed to be on the same flight, which she confirmed.

Jane Froman and fellow survivor Gypsy Markoff sued Pan American using the services of lawyer Harry A. Gair, a pioneer in the field of aviation crash litigation. Under the compensatory provisions of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act a private law passed in 1958 awarded Jane Froman $23,403.58 as compensation for her injuries received in the crash.

With a Song in My Heart and later career

Froman's life story was the subject of the movie With a Song in My Heart (1952), starring Susan Hayward as Jane. Froman was deeply involved in the film's production: she supplied Hayward's singing voice

In 1996, Collectors' Choice Music issued a CD titled Jane Froman on Capitol, a collection of her Capitol Records singles and tracks from albums.

In 1998, London-based Jasmine Records released a CD titled My Heart Speaks, a compilation of 21 of her recordings.

After Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen ended in 1956, Froman appeared on various television programs over the next few years. She also appeared on stage in Las Vegas.

Family The only surviving child of Anna T. Barcafer and Elmer Ellsworth Froman, Froman married Donald McKaig Ross in September 1933; they divorced in 1948. She then married John C. Burn on March 12, 1948; Burn had been a crew member on the Yankee Clipper when it crashed ; that union ended in divorce in 1956. Froman later moved back to Columbia, Missouri, and rekindled her relationship with an old college friend, Rowland Hawes Smith. The couple were married on June 22, 1962. of cardiac arrest caused by chronic heart and lung disease. She reportedly never fully recovered from an automobile accident on December 24, 1979. and she was interred in Columbia Cemetery.

Charitable service In 1957, she started the Jane Froman Foundation, which assisted the children's hospital at the Menninger Clinic, which the funds from her many fan clubs help support. Froman volunteered with numerous charitable organizations, two being the Easter Seals campaign, which helps individuals with developmental disabilities, and the Missouri Mental Health Association. There are three biographies about Froman, the first two written by Ilene Stone: One Little Candle: Remembering Jane Froman and Jane Froman, Missouri's First Lady of Song. In addition, a newer, in-depth biography, Say It With Music – The Life and Legacy of Jane Froman, by Barbara Seuling, was published on November 10, 2007, to coincide with the centennial of Froman's birth.

In honor of what would have been Froman's 100th birthday, a gala, The Jane Froman Centennial Celebration was held in Columbia, Missouri, the weekend of November 9–11, 2007. During the celebration, Mayor Darwin Hindman of Columbia declared November 10, 2007 "Jane Froman Day."

Discography

+ Albums Title Other artists Record Label Year With a Song in My Heart N/A Capitol Records 1952 Souvenir Album N/A Decca Records 1952 Yours Alone N/A Capitol Records 1953 Jane Froman and Orchestra N/A Royale Records 1954 Gems from Gershwin Felix Knight, Sunny Skylar RCA Victor 1954 Faith N/A Capitol Records 1956 Songs at Sunset N/A Capitol Records 1957 A Right to Sing the Blues N/A AEI Records 1980 Moonlight and Roses Lanny Ross Royale Records Unknown

+ Singles & EPs Title Other artists Record label Year "Melancholy Baby" / "Lost in a Fog" N/A Decca Records 1934 "Boy! What Love Has Done to Me!" / "Tonight" N/A Columbia Records 1941 "My Bill" / "O sole mio" Andre Kostelanetz And His Orchestra, Nino Martini V-Disc 1946 "For You, for Me, for Evermore" / "A Garden in the Rain" N/A Majestic Records 1946 "You, So It's You!" / "Linger in My Arms a Little Longer, Baby" Jerry Gray And His Orchestra Majestic Records 1946 "I Got Lost in His Arms" / "Millionaires Don't Whistle" Jerry Gray And His Orchestra Majestic Records 1946 "I Like the Sunrise" / "For Every Man There's a Woman" / "What Is This Thing Called Love?" Duke Ellington And His Orchestra, Percy Faith And Orchestra V-Disc 1948 "I'll Walk Alone" N/A Capitol Records 1952 "Wish You Were Here" / "Mine" N/A Capitol Records 1952 "Who's Your Little Who-Zis!" / "Hands Across the Table" Dean Martin Capitol Records 1952 "Blue Moon" / "With a Song in My Heart" N/A Capitol Records 1952 "Laughing" / "Stay Where You Are" N/A Capitol Records 1952 "Cling to Me" / "Can't Get Out of This Mood" N/A Capitol Records 1952 "With a Song in My Heart" / "I'll Walk Alone" N/A Capitol Records 1952 "My Love, My Life" / "Stay Where You Are" N/A Capitol Records 1952

Filmography + Films Title Role Director Year Kissing Time Miss Sullivan Roy Mack 1933 Stars Over Broadway Joan Garrett William Keighley 1935 Radio City Revels Jane Froman Benjamin Stoloff 1938

Broadway experience + Musicals Title Role(s) Location Performances Opening Date Closing Date Ziegfeld Follies of 1934 A Little Woman, The Bride, Singer of "Suddenly," "Moon About Town," "Green Eyes" Winter Garden Theatre 182 Jan 4, 1934 Jun 9, 1934 Keep Off the Grass The Girl, Singer of "This Is Spring," "Clear Out of This World," "Look Out For My Heart," "This is Winter" Broadhurst Theatre 44 May 23, 1940 Jun 29, 1940 Laugh, Town, Laugh! Performer Alvin Theatre 65 Jun 22, 1942 Jul 25, 1942 Artists and Models Performer Broadway Theatre (53rd Street) 27 Nov 5, 1943 Nov 27, 1943