Evelyn Francisco (born Evelyn Barton; August 13, 1904 – January 27, 1963) was an American

silent era A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...

film actress who began as a bathing beauty. Her sisters Betty''News Of The Cafes'',

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

, August 19, 1925, p. A6. and Margaret Francisco were also actresses.

Biography

Born in Arkansas on August 13, 1904, Barton began acting in 1923. In ''The Goof'' (1924), directed by

William Beaudine William Washington Beaudine (January 15, 1892 – March 18, 1970) was an American film director. He was one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, turning out a remarkable 179 feature-length films in a wide variety of genres. He is best know ...

, she is one of a number of beauties called Spike Malone's diving girls. The seven-reel farce featured former William Fox actress, Alta Allen, as the head of the troupe. Spike was played by Chuck Relaner. In 1924's ''Hollywood Follies'', Francisco was one of

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American producer, director, actor, and studio head who was known as the "King of Comedy" during his career. Born in Danville, Quebec, he started acting i ...

's Bathing Beauties who performed at the Philharmonic Auditorium. Led by

Harry Langdon Henry Philmore "Harry" Langdon (June 15, 1884 – December 22, 1944) was an American actor and comedian who appeared in vaudeville, silent films (where he had his greatest fame), and talkies.Obituary ''Variety Obituaries, Variety'', December 27 ...

Thelma Parr Thelma Parr (born Thelma Sill, October 19, 1906 – February 13, 2000) was an American actress. She is best remembered for her roles in Mack Sennett comedies as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties, appearing in numerous films for Mack Sennet ...

was another of the select group of Sennett females who presented an act called ''All Wet''. In August 1925, the Francisco sisters were presented together at the Greenwich Village Cafe in the Christie Hotel, in Hollywood. At the time Francisco had just completed an important role in the first production of

Julian Eltinge Julian Eltinge (May 14, 1881 – March 7, 1941), born William Julian Dalton, was an American Stage (theatre), stage and film actor and female impersonator. After appearing in the Boston Cadets Revue at the age of ten in feminine garb, Elting ...

for the Christie Studios, a film entitled '' Madame Behave'' (1925). She wore a novelty bathing suit of Russian ermine for a fashion pageant held at the Hotel Vista del Arroyo in

Pasadena, California Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commerci ...

, in February 1927. The garment was designed and made by Colburn's of South Flower Street in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

.''Fashions'', Los Angeles Times, February 27, 1927, p. H5.

Death

Francisco died on January 27, 1963, in Corona, California.

Partial filmography

* ''

Picking Peaches Picking Peaches is a 1924 silent comedy short produced by Mack Sennett and starring Harry Langdon. It is said to be Langdon's first film. It is listed as a surviving film Cast *Harry Langdon as Harry, The Shoe Clerk * Vernon Dent as Store Manage ...

'' (1924) *uncredited * '' Madame Behave'' (1925) * ''

His First Flame ''His First Flame'' is a 1927 United States, American silent film, silent comedy film starring Harry Langdon and directed by Harry Edwards (director), Harry Edwards. Additional cast members include Natalie Kingston, Ruth Hiatt, Vernon Dent, a ...

'' (1927) * '' King of the Herd'' (1927)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Francisco, Evelyn 1904 births 1963 deaths American silent film actresses Western (genre) film actresses 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Little Rock, Arkansas