Biography - Part One (Supplement) Bob Growing Up (Family Photo Albums)

Bob’s sister, Lillian (Fran) Robins, created several photo albums featuring the Francis family, c. 1900-2000+. These photos are included here to supplement the Biography - Part One Before 1930 to Fall 1955 section on this website. Other photos from the albums are located in this site’s various sections, e.g., Sidebars - Galleries and Information

A haircut only a mother could love, c. 1933-1936.

Photos, c. 1920s

Before Bob - The Francis home at 212 Grand Oaks Ave. The family may have lived there at some point in the 1920s, but they moved to at least one other location, Burbank, before returning to 212 after Bob's birth. (See Biography - Part One.) c. mid-1920s.

Photos, c. 1930s

Lillian Robins, Nana (Jim’s mother, Mary Jane Silver), Grandpa (Jim’s father, Charles Howe Francis), Jim, and Bob who was called “Bobby” or “Bobbie” by family members throughout his life, c. 1930s

Alexander Hamilton Elementary School, c. late 1930s. Below: probably Santa Monica Beach, c. late 1930s.

Photos, c. 1940s

Camping and hiking were favorite activities for the Francis family. The photos below may not be in strict chronological order and the pages may include some random photos from different years, e.g., the photo that includes Nannette Burris is later than others on this page, c. 1950. Bob appears to be between 10 and 14 years old in most of these photos. On the Scout camping album page, Bob is on the far-right in the top right photo. He is on the back row in the middle of the bottom left photo. He may be the boy who is bending over in the bottom right photo.

1943 and 1944 brought major changes to the Francis family. Fran and Bill both married. Sandy (and Fran) and Bill were far flung in active military service. Unknown “Bob” posed with Jim and Bob.

Bill was very much a part of Bob’s growing up years. They fished and skied on snow and water. And joked together. Bill and his adopted son Brian visited Camp Roberts when Bob was in the Army.

After July 4, 1949, Bob did less snow skiing (which had dominated his athletic life for many years). He discovered Hollywood as an aspiring actor; Hollywood began to discover him. Nannette Burris, an assistant to Jerry Lewis, played an important role in introducing Bob to show-business people she knew.

Photos, c. 1950s

Photos below are c. 1947-1951: Brian with Jim and Bill; Bill’s wife’s father, Captain Jeans, and two of Betty and Bill’s daughters, Kathleen and Janet. Lillian and Jim Francis’ anniversary was July 31. After Bob died on that date in 1955, they no longer celebrated the occasion.

Bob was drafted and serviced two years in the Army, both at Camp Roberts, 1951-1953. He continued his acting studies during that time.

The album page (below) has images across a span of years from c. 1940 (Scout) to Camp Roberts, c. 1951, tree pose, c. 1953, and Bermuda Sunset pool, c. 1955.

Lillian and Jim kept their son’s Cadillac after his death in 1955. Eventually his brother Bill took the car, used it, and then sold it. A tangible treasure of Bob’s success.