Photos: Pasadena Star-News; Columbia Pictures; Earl Leaf; American Airlines; Bennie Anderson Studio, Bellevue, Neb.; Arnold Johnson; Larry Barbier, Globe Photos, New York City; SOFA Entertainment, “The Ed Sullivan Show”; Don Ornitz, Globe Photos, New York City; Nat Dallinger; Justin’s Studio, Montrose, Colo., and Montrose Daily Press; San Bernardino (Calif.) Sun
Biography: Part One - Before 1930 to Fall 1955
The Robins family — Lillian Francis Robins, Vivian and Larry Robins, Stephen Robins — and Bob’s brother and his wife, Betty and Bill Francis, provided photographs, articles, memories, and warm support throughout the years when this effort to document Bob’s life, personal and professional, was underway.
David Whitmire researched and compiled most of the genealogical information about the Francis and Warnock families with special thanks to Joan Shurtliff, Seward County Genealogical Society, Seward, Neb. He also researched and wrote about Bob’s fatal plane crash, as well as the Beechcraft Bonanza airplane Bob was piloting.
Interviews: Francis, Jr., James William, 1991; Francis, Betty Jeans, and James William, Aug. 1992; Hyams, Joe, Aug. 12, 1992; Robins, Lillian Francis, May 11, 1991; Lewis, Lisa Pickens, 2018; Watson, Barbara Ross, 2018; Lillibridge, Charles, 2017; Dosch, Scott, 2015
Correspondence: Hyams, Joe, June 8, 1992; Warnock (unknown married name), Muriel, daughter of Willie Warnock, Lillian Warnock’s brother, c. 1996, Robins, Lillian Francis, c. 2006; Lillibridge, Charles, Nov. 30, 2017
Photographs: Columbia Pictures, The Robins Family Collection, Pasadena Star-News, Earl Leaf; American Airlines; Bennie Anderson Studio, Bellevue, Neb.; Arnold Johnson; Larry Barbier, Globe Photos, New York City; SOFA Entertainment, “The Ed Sullivan Show”; Don Ornitz, Globe Photos, New York City; Justin’s Studio, Montrose, Colo., and Montrose Daily Press; Jack Albin; Nat Dallinger
Traynor, Sean T., “A Name on a Last Will and Testament, McKee Warnock Research in County Armagh”
Pasadena City College A History Commissioned on the Occasion of the Seventy-fifth Anniversary, Pasadena, Calif.: Pasadena City College Foundation, 2002
Baskett, Kirtley, "Bob Francis," Modern Screen, New York: Dell Publishing Company Inc., Aug. 1954
https://www.wikipedia.org - Numerous entries, e.g., Pasadena, Pasadena Freeway, Pasadena City College, Columbia Pictures, etc.
Shannon, Terry, “Glendale Lad Makes Good Hard-Headed ‘Cinderella' Boy,” The Southern California Forum, Friday, May 21, 1954
First Day, Los Angeles Smog, Wired, July 26, 2018 (photo and caption)
Campus, Delta Sigma Rho, Pasadena, Calif.: Pasadena City College,1947
Lewis, Lisa Pickens, information about her mother, Nanette Burris Pickens, and her family, 2018
Noel, Toni, “Sound of Thunder,” Modern Screen, New York: Dell Publishing Company, Inc., Dec. 1954
Bradley, Dorothy Ann Ross, and Albert Bradley, obituaries, The Desert Sun, June 30, 2011, and Oct. 2013
Watson, Barbara Ross, information about her sister, Dorothy Ann Ross Bradley, and her family, 2018
https://www.imdb.com (Internet Movie Database owned by Amazon) Numerous entries, e.g., Harry Cohn, Don Oreck, etc.
Johnston, David Lynn, Murder Victim (Los Angeles Times, Thursday, Feb. 11, 1954; Lima (Ohio) News, Thursday, Feb. 11, 1954; San Bernardino (Calif.) Sun, June 13, 1954; Los Angeles Times, July 8, 1954)
“‘Caine Mutiny’ Film Player to Appear at Theater Here,” Phoenix, Ariz.: Arizona Republic, Friday, Aug. 6, 1954
Blackstone, Lillian, “Hollywood’s Bob Francis A Likable Young Man,” St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, Tuesday, March 1, 1955
Finletter, Alice, “Bob Francis’ Last Interview,” Modern Screen, New York: Dell Publishing Company, Inc., Nov. 1955
“‘Caine Mutiny’ Star, 2 Others Die in Plane Crash,” Los Angeles Times, Monday, Aug. 1, 1955
“Robert Francis Believed Pilot in Fatal Crash,” Los Angeles Times, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 1955
Lind, Bob, “Searching for clues to a 1955 California plane crash with connections to Wahpeton,” Neighbors, The Forum, Fargo, N.D., June 1, 2017, and “Mysteries solved about ND man killed in California plane crash,” Aug. 22, 2017
McNerney, Georgina, “Sandman Leaving Town After Citation,” Santa Barbara, Calif.: Santa Barbara Independent, Jan. 14, 2011
Biography: Part One (Supplement) Bob Growing Up (Family Photo Albums)
Robins, Lillian, Larry, and Steve, Francis/Robins Family Photo Albums, photos 1900-2000+
Biography: Part Two - 1955 to 2000….
David Whitmire for several years followed and documented the fate of the Francis family’s home in Pasadena, 212 S. Grand Oaks Ave.
Interviews: Francis, Jr., James William, 1991; Francis, Betty Jeans, and James William, Aug. 1992; Robins, Lillian Francis, May 11, 1991
Photographs: David Whitmire; Meridian Property Group, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; Columbia Pictures; The Robins Family Collection; Earl Leaf; Larry Barbier, Globe Photos, New York City; Don Ornitz, Globe Photos, New York City; Nat Gallinger, King Features Syndicate, Inc.; Jack Albin
“Letter Carrier to Retire May 1 After 25 Years,” San Mareno Tribune, c. April 1956
“This Mailman Doesn’t Know How Far He Walks,” Pasadena Star-News?, c. April 1956
Hall, Phil, and Rory Leighton Aronsky, What If They Lived? Hollywood’s Lost Stars and The Futures They Never Had, BearManor Media, 2011
Correspondence: Breen, Joseph I, Production Code Administration, to George Glass, Stanley Kramer Company, May 14, 1953 (Rights held by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Margaret Herrick Library, Hollywood, Calif.)
Interviews: Kramer, Stanley Aug. 12, 1992; Robins, Lillian Francis, May 11, 1991
Photographs: Columbia Pictures (Photographers: Bell, Cronenweth, Lippman, Van Pelt)
Schallert, Edwin, “Army Returnee Gains Movie Plum...,” Los Angeles Times, c. March or April 1953
“Men of the Caine,” Collier’s, New York: Crowell-Collier Publishing Company, Nov. 13, 1953
“The Stronger Sex Makes Strong Box Office,” Life, New York: Time Inc., May 31, 1954
“‘Caine Mutiny’ Film Player to Appear at Theater Here,” Phoenix, Ariz.: Arizona Republic, Friday, Aug. 6, 1954
Moffitt, Jack,“‘Caine Mutiny’ Is Powerful Sea Yarn, Sure Boxoffice,” Hollywood Reporter, Hollywood, Calif.: William R. Wilkerson, Owner, June 9, 1954
Brog., “Film Review: The Caine Mutiny,” Variety, Hollywood, Calif.: Variety, Inc., Syd Silverman, Owner, June 9, 1954
Crowther, Bosley, “The Screen: 'Caine Mutiny' Arrives; Vibrant Depiction of Novel Is at Capitol,” New York Times, New York: The New York Times Company, June 25, 1954
Correspondence: Breen, Joseph I, Production Code Administration, to Harry Cohn, Columbia Pictures, Feb. 15, 1954 (Rights held by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Margaret Herrick Library, Hollywood, Calif.)
“Analysis of Film Content,” “Synopsis,” “Credits,” Columbia Pictures, (Rights held by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Margaret Herrick Library, Hollywood, Calif.)
Brog., “Film Review: The Bamboo Prison,” Variety, Hollywood, Calif.: Variety, Inc., Syd Silverman, Owner, Dec. 15, 1954
“Memphis Censors….” and additional stories, Variety, Hollywood, Calif.: Variety Inc., Syd Silverman, Owner, Feb. 1, 1955; Feb. 9, 1955; April 5, 1955; April 6, 1955
Correspondence: Francis, Bob, postcard to his sister and her husband, Lillian and Sandy Robins, June 6, 1955;
Interviews: Robert Wise, Aug. 12.1992
Photographs: Arnold Johnson; Justin Studios, Montrose, Colo.; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Cox, Marilyn, “The Movie That Was Made Twice,” Montrose, Colo.: Montrose Daily Press, Oct. 10, 2017
“Ridgway’s Western Movie Heritage,” Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce, Ridgeway, Colo., c. 1990s
Miller Mesa Ranch (flyer), Montrose, Colo.: Lone Eagle Land Brokerage, 2016
Lazy I.G. Motel (brochure), Montrose, Colo.: Isabel and Jim Beatty, Owners, 1959
“M-G-M Construction Party of 15 Arrives to Work on ‘Ranch,’” Montrose, Colo.: Montrose Daily Press, Wednesday, May 4, 1955, and additional stories: Friday, May 13, 1955; Tuesday, May 24, 1955; Sunday, May 29, 1955; Wednesday, June 1, 1955; Thursday, June 2, 1955; Friday, June 3, 1955; Sunday, June 5, 1955; Monday, June 6, 1955;Wednesday, June 8, 1955; Friday, June 10, 1955; Saturday, June 11, 1955; Tuesday, June 14, 1955; Sunday, June 19, 1955; Monday, June 20, 1955; Friday, June 24, 1955; Tuesday, June 28, 1955; Monday, July 18, 1955; Monday, Aug. 1, 1955; Tuesday, Aug. 2, 1955; Thursday, Aug. 4, 1955; Thursday, Aug. 11, 1955; Monday, Aug. 15, 1955; Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1955; Thursday, Aug. 18, 1955; Friday, Aug. 19, 1955; Thursday, Aug. 25, 1955 - Stories provided by Tiffany McNeil, Librarian, Adult Services, Montrose Daily Press
https://www.imdb.com (Internet Movie Database owned by Amazon) - Numerous entries, e.g., Myrna Dell, Robert Wise, etc.
Motion Picture Herald, various issues and advertisements, 1954-1955, Hollywood, Calif.: Quigley Publishing Company, Martin Quigley, Owner
Gallery 3: The Star and Studio Systems as experienced by Tab Hunter and Robert Wagner
Interviews: Robert Wagner, 2019
Hunter, Tab, and Eddie Muller, Tab Hunter Confidential The Making of a Movie Star, Chapel Hill, N.C.: Algonquin Books, 2005
Wagner, Robert J., and Scott Eyman, Pieces of My Heart A Life, New York: It Books, HarperCollins Publishers, 2008
Gallery 4: Robert Francis’ Rise from Unknown to Star as documented in photographs and stories from 1953 and 1954
Interviews: Robins, Lillian Francis, May 11, 1991; Hyams, Joe, Aug. 12, 1992; Francis, Bill, Aug. 1992
Media: Williams, Tod, Interview with Robert Francis, Providence, R.I., radio station unknown, June 13, 1954
Photographs: Columbia Pictures (Photographers: Cronenweth, Gereghty, Van Pelt, among others); Pasadena Star-News; Earl Leaf; American Airlines; Bennie Anderson Studio, Bellevue, Neb.; Gene Kornman
Noel, Toni, “Sound of Thunder,” Modern Screen, New York: Dell Publishing Company, Inc., Dec. 1954
“Robert Francis” (photo), Who’s Who in Hollywood 1955, New York: Dell Publishing Co., Dec. 1954
Slide, Anthony, Inside the Hollywood Fan Magazine, A History of Star Makers, Fabricators, Gossip Mongers, Jackson, Miss.: The University of Mississippi Press, 2010
The Hollywood Star and Studio Systems: Part Two
Gallery 5: Robert Francis - 1955 and Afterwards
Interviews: Robins, Lillian Francis, May 11, 1991; Hyams, Joe, Aug. 12, 1992; Francis, Bill, Aug. 1992
Photographs: Columbia Pictures; Gene Kornman; Larry Barberi, Globe Photos, New York City; Don Ornitz, Globe Photos, New York City; John M. Stephens; “The Ed Sullivan Show”; Jack Albin; Nat Gallinger, King Features Syndicate, Inc.
“A Woman’s Touch,” Modern Screen, New York: Dell Publishing Company, Inc., Sept. 1955
Parsons, Louella, “Robert Francis: Not many young men leave such a warm, friendly memory,” Modern Screen, New York: Dell Publishing Company, Oct. 1955
Finletter, Alice, “Bob Francis’ Last Interview,” Modern Screen, New York: Dell Publishing Company, Inc., Nov. 1955
“…But Not Forgotten,” Who’s Who in Hollywood 1956, New York: Dell Publishing Co., Dec. 1955
“The Long Gray Line,” Picture Show Annual 1955, London, England: Amalgamated Press, 1956
Slide, Anthony, Inside the Hollywood Fan Magazine, A History of Star Makers, Fabricators, Gossip Mongers, Jackson, Miss.: The University of Mississippi Press, 201
Sidebars
Nebraska Relatives
David Whitmire researched and compiled most of the genealogical information about the Francis and Warnock families. He was aided by Joan Shurtliff, Seward County Genealogical Society, Seward, Neb.
Interviews: Robins, Lillian Francis, May 11, 1991; Francis, Bill, Aug. 1992
“Children’s Acting Is Important Factor in ‘Daddy Long Legs’ Play,” Pasadena, Calif.: Pasadena Star-News?, c. 1930s
“‘Daddy Long Legs’ To Be Given Soon,” Pasadena, Calif.: Pasadena Star-News?, c. 1930s
“‘Daddy’ Coming to City Soon,” Pasadena, Calif.: Pasadena Star-News?, c. 1930s
Pasadena City College A History Commissioned on the Occasion of the Seventy-fifth Anniversary, Pasadena, Calif.: Pasadena City College Foundation, 2002