--Printed Matter--
Photoplay 1937
"Frances Farmer, the beautiful unknown, whose brilliant performance in Come and Get It marks her as one of the most talented girls in Hollywood, and raises her close to stardom"
Courtesy of David Farmer
Performing in "The Pirate's Daughter" at their church operetta, Frances and Edith make the Seattle Daily Times in 1928
The same photo published in the newspaper makes the back cover of Edith's 1978 book, Look Back In Love
Courtesy of
Andrew McLaughlin
1931 West
Seattle High School Yearbook
Courtesy of David Farmer
Postcard written to Frances' brother, Wes, from Moscow in the 1930's. It reads: "no time at all for writing. but here's your stamp. leaving Moscow in 2 hours for Warsaw, Berlin & Paris. have a notion to drop over into Italy if money permits. Moscow is actually as beautiful as this card, at sunset. nothing like it. Love, FF"
Frances in New York's Sunday Mirror in 1936 and with the success of Come and Get It, Frances and Edward Arnold appear on a 1937 issue of Cine-Miroir from Paris
Sheet Music from Rhythm on the Range (1936), Let's Sing songbook (1940), Sheet Music from The Toast of New York (1937)
1936 Come And Get It newspaper ad, 1937 magazine ads for Ebb Tide, South of Pago Pago and Toast Of New York
Tobacco cards
Vogue 1937
Inside reads: The biggest find since Garbo, wrote the movie critics about Frances Farmer, but "the most promising young talent the movies have developed in a long time," wrote the dramatic critics. Possessed of a beautiful profile, an unorthodox sense of timing, and a quality of fresh lucidity, she bolted to success. Two years ago, her career had only involved working her way through college, a trip to Moscow -- won in a newspaper popularity contest --, and a screen test. Since then, she has played in seven pictures, indulged her child's love of dressing up (she used to try on Dietrich's old costumes down in the wardrobe room), and now hates to dress for evening. This summer she came East, without hurrah, to make her debut on the legitimate stage at the Westchester Playhouse, where these pictures were taken. Her newest picture, incidentally, is Stevenson's thriller, "Ebb-Tide."
"Golden Boy" postcard
On the back reads: Be your own critic. Tell your friends what you think and we will mail this card for you. Belasco Theatre - 44th St., East of B'way - BRyant 9-5100
Paramount issued postcard
Frances in Life (1938), Screen Romances (1937) and Screen Book (1937)
The Screen Test ("The Second Man" and "The Lake") from Photoplay magazine (1937) and Frances and husband Leif Erikson are pictured with Cary Grant celebrating Adolph Zukor's 25th anniversary as Paramount producer, also from Photoplay (1937)
Frances in Modern Screen (1938) with Leif and Ray Milland from Ebb Tide
Frances in Movie Mirror (1938) featuring still from Ebb Tide and with Leif
1941 advertisement for GAS featuring Frances and her gas-equipped home
Letter Frances wrote to her brother, Wes, in the 1960's
Letter Frances wrote to her Gertrude Walker in 1968
1978 tabloid Midnight Globe reports "Hollywood star they 'railroaded' into an asylum", coinciding with the release of Shadowland by William Arnold
A mockery? With actress Mira Sorvino as the model, Allure magazine published a fashion layout in 1997 supposedly meant as an homage to Frances. Caption reads: "Going mental - An ode to actress Frances Farmer, who was committed to an insane asylum in 1944 and later lobotomized." A second photo shows Sorvino with a bandage on her forehead while a nurse holds a glass jar containing a brain.
Courtesy of Jack Randall Earles
Advertisement for A&E's Biography from People magazine
Courtesy of Jack Randall Earles
Review of A&E's Biography from Entertainment Weekly magazine
Lunda Ratcliffe, father of Jeanira Ratcliffe, died Sept. 8th, 2000 at 99 years old. Contributor Jack Randall Earles has provided a copy of the obituary here.
Click here for obituaries of Jean Ratcliffe who died in 1987, also provided by Jack Randall Earles.
