Louise Franklin Explained

Birth Place:Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.

use both this parameter and |birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->| death_place = | other_names = Beau
Bo| education = | occupation = Actress, Dancer| years_active = 1935 - 1958| spouse = Lee Young| children = 1| mother = Viola Franklin| father = | awards = }}Louise Franklin, nicknamed Beau[1] and Bo, was an American dancer and actress active during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. From childhood, she was interested in various forms of dance and also practiced as an actress before starring in vaudeville roles with Bryon Ellis as the duo "Bryon and Beau". Her film roles afterwards primarily saw her dance in various productions both in media and on stage and occasionally starred as a well dressed and well spoken love interest to the male lead, such as when cast alongside Eddie "Rochester" Anderson.

Career

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, to mother Viola Franklin,[2] Franklin was involved in multiple areas of dance as a child, including ballet and tap dancing, along with taking acting classes.

Her vaudeville career saw her partner with Bryon Ellis under the name "Bryon and Beau" after having been a member of the Cotton Club Cuties chorus group.[3] [4] Her 1935 theatre role in School Days alongside Dickie Walker had the California Eagle refer to the pair's performance as akin to Aurora Greely and Leroy Broomfield. That same year she signed onto Maceo Burch's Kansas City theatre company and was said to "possibly be called the leader of the group" by the California Eagle due to her talents as an entertainer.[5] After the company toured in California, she stayed and played in a number of film and stage roles in the following years. Harry Levette in the California Eagle said she was "Hollywood's prettiest, cleverest, most personable dancer".[6] In 1943 during World War II, she reportedly joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, though this was denied by her husband.[7]

After Dorothy Dandridge was injured in a car accident, Franklin had to fill in for her primary dancing role in the 1945 film Pillar to Post in extended music scenes in order to conceal the cuts between the two actresses. Her cast role as Rochester's girlfriend in Brewster's Millions after her previous high profile acting roles had the director praise her as a "real find".[8] As bonus for her acting quality in the 1945 film Crime Incorporated, the director gifted her with a box of then expensive cigarettes from Franklin's favorite brand after she completed her final scene.[9]

She continued her tours with Bryon Ellis under the "Bryon and Beau" name in 1948, doing a theatre tour across the Eastern United States in late August of that year.[4] She was cast as Louise Ritchie in the 1949 film Look-Out Sister alongside Louis Jordan and was noted by the Alabama Tribune as being "one of the screen's best dancers". Lloyd Binford, film censor for Memphis, Tennessee, banned films showing Franklin and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson from the city because he disliked African Americans being portrayed as "well-dressed, intelligent acting sweethearts" in films.[10] She competed in the 1954 Miss Brew 102 competition and, while not victorious, received attention and more television acting opportunities afterwards.[11] [12]

Filmography

Theatre

Personal life

Franklin was married to singer and jazz drummer Lee Young,[36] and they had a son together.[37]

Notes and References

  1. News: . January 27, 1949 . Stars, Celebrities To Appear At Premiere . . August 24, 2023 . . August 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825021225/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-stars-celebrities-to-a/130604740/ . live .
  2. News: King . Leontyne . December 13, 1947 . Thrilling News . . August 20, 2023 . . August 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230821020644/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-courier-thrilling-news-by/130369957/ . live .
  3. News: Levette . Harry . October 12, 1951 . Louise Franklin . . August 19, 2023 . . August 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230819184610/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-call-louise-franklin-by-harry-levett/130287591/ . live .
  4. News: . August 5, 1948 . Tops In Terpsichorean Art . . August 19, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820023245/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-tops-in-terpsichorean-a/130314029/ . live .
  5. News: . August 2, 1935 . Company Of K. C. Artists Here . . August 19, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820003619/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-company-of-k-c-artist/130307815/ . live .
  6. News: Levette . Harry . June 3, 1943 . Verbal Gasps, Point Rationed . . August 19, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820003721/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-verbal-gasps-point-rat/130308192/ . live .
  7. News: . June 26, 1943 . Denies Film Dancer Will Join WAACs . . August 19, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820024226/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-courier-denies-film-dance/130314221/ . live .
  8. News: . September 18, 1944 . Louise Franklin Plays Rochester's Girl In Film . . October 20, 2023.
  9. News: . November 21, 1944 . Louise Franklin Gets Cigarets As Bonus . . October 20, 2023.
  10. News: Levette . Harry . June 21, 1957 . Talk of the Week . . August 19, 2023 . . August 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230819190439/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-call-talk-of-the-week-by-harry-levet/130289763/ . live .
  11. News: Rowe . Izzy . December 18, 1954 . Out West They're Talking About . . August 20, 2023 . . August 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230821000326/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-courier-out-west-theyre/130364527/ . live .
  12. News: Levette . Harry . July 3, 1954 . This Is Hollywood - Louise Franklin . . August 20, 2023 . . August 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230821010006/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-new-york-age-this-is-hollywood-lou/130366516/ . live .
  13. News: Daniels . George . September 26, 1952 . "See How They Run" . . August 20, 2023 . . August 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230821011315/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-call-see-how-they-run-by-george-da/130369633/ . live .
  14. News: Levette . Harry . September 28, 1951 . Gossip on the Movie Lots . . August 24, 2023 . . August 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825015202/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-call-gossip-on-the-movie-lots-by-har/130605127/ . live .
  15. News: Levette . Harry . April 9, 1948 . 20 Hollywood Bathing Beauties Star With Louis Jordan . . August 18, 2023 . . August 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230819023028/https://www.newspapers.com/article/alabama-tribune/66600701/ . live .
  16. Book: Murray . Florence . 1947 . The Negro Handbook 1946-1947 . . 265.
  17. Book: African American Films Through 1959: A Comprehensive, Illustrated Filmography . Larry Richards . 2015 . . 123 . 9781476610528 . April 11, 2023 . April 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230411085829/https://books.google.com/books?id=sTGSCgAAQBAJ&q=Negro+sailor&pg=PA112 . live.
  18. News: . September 16, 1944 . Newcomer Doubles For Dot Dandridge In "Pillar To Post" . . August 20, 2023 . . August 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230821012534/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-courier/16928149/ . live .
  19. News: Levette . Harry . September 16, 1944 . Scene Saved As Louise Take Over For Injured Dandridge . . August 24, 2023 . . August 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825011040/https://www.newspapers.com/article/jackson-advocate-scene-saved-as-louise-t/130603981/ . live .
  20. News: . September 23, 1944 . Louise Franklin Plays Rochester's Girl In New Film . . August 19, 2023 . . August 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230819051057/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-detroit-tribune-louise-franklin-play/130259542/ . live .
  21. News: . November 19, 1942 . Pattie McDaniel, Huge Cast Finish "Thank Your Lucky Stars" . . August 20, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820230248/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-pattie-mcdaniel-huge-c/130361728/ . live .
  22. News: Levette . Harry . January 22, 1943 . Favorite Chorus Girl . . August 19, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820022229/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-favorite-chorus-girl-by/130308697/ . live .
  23. News: . June 3, 1943 . 600 Extras In Universal's "Her's To Hold" . . August 18, 2023 . . August 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230819022749/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle/117839633/ . live .
  24. News: Levette . Harry . April 2, 1942 . Ink Spots In "Pardon My Sarong" At Universal . . August 20, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820070121/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-ink-spots-in-pardon-my/130320693/ . live .
  25. News: . April 3, 1941 . Big Cast In "Take My Life" . . August 20, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820174048/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-harold-slickum-garrison/110593227/ . live .
  26. News: . April 23, 1942 . Quest for Girls, Women Exhausts Screen Guild List . . August 20, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820061214/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle/117839460/ . live .
  27. News: . January 30, 1943 . Rowe's Notebook: Ralph Cooper . . August 19, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820033507/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-courier-rowes-notebook/130316513/ . live .
  28. News: Levette . Harry . December 7, 1940 . Gossip of the Movie Lots . . August 20, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820220417/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-phoenix-index-gossip-of-the-movie-lo/130357518/ . live .
  29. News: . July 18, 1940 . 'Lady Luck', Dixie National Comedy, Gets Under Way . . August 19, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820033429/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-lady-luck-dixie-nati/130315527/ . live .
  30. Web site: Entertainer Louise Franklin, star of Sweet and Hot, Los Angeles, 1940s . Gordon Jr. . Walter L. . 2019 . digital.library.ucla.edu . . September 3, 2023 . September 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230903174440/https://digital.library.ucla.edu/catalog/ark:/21198/zz0025pgm6 . live .
  31. News: Levette . Harry . March 9, 1946 . New Play Is Great Show . . August 19, 2023 . . August 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230819184955/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-detroit-tribune-new-play-is-great-sh/130288651/ . live .
  32. News: . March 27, 1943 . Noble Sissle Brings Harlem To Hollywood, So Say Coast Scribes . . August 20, 2023 . . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820221410/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-courier-noble-sissle-brin/130358351/ . live .
  33. News: . July 27, 1941 . Dancers . . August 20, 2023 . . October 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231020202202/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-al-gustar-and-danc/90729071/ . live .
  34. News: . August 23, 1935 . Behind the Scenes with Harry . . August 19, 2023 . . August 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230819235918/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-behind-the-scenes-with/130293059/ . live .
  35. News: . September 13, 1935 . Behind the Scenes with Harry: Club Alabam . . August 19, 2023 . . August 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230819235920/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-behind-the-scenes-with/130293022/ . live .
  36. News: Rowe . Billy . November 4, 1944 . Billy Rowe's Notebook . . August 19, 2023 . . August 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230819191858/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-courier-billy-rowes-note/130290660/ . live .
  37. News: Gipson . Gertrude . October 23, 1947 . Cannin' The News Ticker Tape . . August 20, 2023 . . August 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230821022059/https://www.newspapers.com/article/california-eagle-cannin-the-news-ticker/130370128/ . live .