Jane Froman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jane Froman
Froman in 1934
Born	Ellen Jane Froman (1907-11-10)November 10, 1907 University City, Missouri, U.S.
Died	April 22, 1980(1980-04-22) (aged 72) Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, singer

Ellen Jane Froman (born November 10, 1907 – died April 22, 1980) was a famous American actress and singer. She had a long career of thirty years, performing on stage, radio, and television. Jane faced many health challenges because of serious injuries from a plane crash in 1943.

Her amazing life story was even made into a movie in 1952 called With a Song in My Heart. Actress Susan Hayward played Jane Froman in the film. Susan Hayward was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role.

Jane Froman's Early Life and School

Ellen Jane Froman was born in University City, Missouri. Her parents were Anna Tillman and Elmer Ellsworth Froman. She spent her childhood and teen years in a small town called Clinton. When Jane was about five years old, her father disappeared and was never seen again. Her mother later married William Hetzler. Around this time, Jane developed a stutter, which means she sometimes had trouble speaking smoothly. However, her stutter always disappeared when she sang.

In 1919, Jane and her mother moved to Columbia, Missouri. Jane always thought of Columbia as her hometown. In 1921, when she was 13, Jane and another young lady performed a piano and song show at Christian College. This college is now called Columbia College (Missouri). Jane's mother was a teacher there, and Jane later graduated from the college. In 1926, Jane graduated from Christian College. She then studied at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Two years later, in 1928, Jane moved to Cincinnati. There, she studied singing at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music until 1930.

Jane Froman's Radio Career

Even though Jane Froman had training in classical music, she loved the popular songs of her time. Famous songwriters like George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin were making new and exciting music. Jane met another performer named Don Ross when they both tried out for a job at a radio station in Cincinnati called WLW. She first sang on WLW on October 9, 1929.

Jane made her first national radio appearance on NBC on July 31, 1931. She was heard on a show called Florsheim Frolic. Jane and Don Ross later had their own radio program starting on July 4, 1937. This show was a summer replacement for The Jack Benny Program on the NBC Red Network.

While working with Henry Thies' orchestra, Jane was a main singer on many of his recordings for RCA Victor. Don Ross believed Jane would become a big star. He became her unofficial manager and convinced her to move to Chicago. They got married in 1933. That same year, Jane moved to New York City. There, she sang on the Music that Satisfies radio show with Bing Crosby. On January 4, 1948, Jane joined the cast of The Pause That Refreshes. This was a Sunday evening music show sponsored by Coca-Cola on CBS. It was her first regular radio role after her serious plane crash.

Jane Froman in the Ziegfeld Follies

In 1933, Jane Froman joined the famous Ziegfeld Follies. This was a very popular series of stage shows. There, she became good friends with another famous performer, Fannie Brice. By 1934, when she was 27, Jane was voted the top "girl singer." A famous producer named Billy Rose once said that Jane Froman was one of the best female singers. Radio listeners agreed with him, as Jane was voted "the number-one female singer on the radio" in 1934.

Jane Froman's Film and Television Work

Jane Froman acted in three movies: Kissing Time (1933), Stars Over Broadway (1935), and Radio City Revels (1938).

Starting on October 15, 1952, Jane hosted her own TV show called Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen. This 30-minute CBS show featured talented members of the armed forces performing with Jane. Later, the show was shortened to 15 minutes and aired twice a week. Its name changed to The Jane Froman Show in late 1953. The show ended on June 23, 1955.

The very first hit song introduced on television was I Believe. It was written for Jane Froman by the musicians on her show. This song became a huge success and earned her a gold record in 1953.

The U.S.O. Airplane Crash

Jane Froman was badly hurt in a plane crash on February 22, 1943. She was flying on a USO plane called the Yankee Clipper. The plane was carrying Jane and 38 other people. As the plane was turning to land, its wing hit a wave. The plane then crashed into the Tagus River in Lisbon, Portugal.

Jane was one of only 15 people who survived the crash. She suffered very serious injuries. The co-pilot, John Curtis Burn, broke his back in the crash. He quickly made a raft from parts of the wrecked plane to help keep himself and Jane floating. After they were rescued, they both went to the same hospital to recover from their injuries.

Less than a year after the crash, Jane Froman bravely returned to Broadway. She performed in a show called Artists and Models. She had to wear a leg brace and use a wheelchair because of her injuries. Over the years, she had 39 operations. She fought against having her leg removed and wore a leg brace for the rest of her life.

In 1945, Jane returned to Europe to entertain American troops. Even though she had to use crutches, she performed 95 shows across Europe.

With a Song in My Heart and Later Career

Froman in 1953

Jane Froman's life story was made into the movie With a Song in My Heart in 1952. Susan Hayward played Jane in the film. Jane Froman was very involved in making the movie. She actually sang all the songs for Susan Hayward in the film. She also helped as a technical advisor, making sure the movie was accurate.

The album of songs from the movie was the best-selling album of 1952. It remained popular for many years. In 2003, the album was re-released on a CD.

After her TV show Jane Froman's U.S.A. Canteen ended in 1956, Jane appeared on various other television programs. She also performed on stage in Las Vegas.

Jane Froman's Family Life

Jane Froman was the only child of Anna T. Barcafer and Elmer Ellsworth Froman. She married Donald McKaig Ross in September 1933, but they divorced in 1948. She then married John Burn on March 12, 1948. This marriage also ended in divorce in 1956. Jane later moved back to Columbia, Missouri. There, she reconnected with an old college friend, Rowland Hawes Smith. They got married on June 22, 1962.

Life After Stardom

In 1961, Jane Froman retired from performing and moved to her home in Columbia, Missouri. After retiring, Jane continued her volunteer work, which she was known for throughout her career. She spent more time helping groups like the Easter Seals campaign and the Missouri Mental Health Association.

In 1969, Jane came out of retirement to sing in a Christmas program in Arrow Rock, Missouri. This event helped raise money for the Jane Froman Music Camp. Jane started this project to help young people develop their musical talents.

Jane Froman's Death

Jane Froman passed away on April 22, 1980, at the age of 72. She died at her home in Columbia, Missouri from heart and lung problems. She reportedly never fully recovered from a car accident that happened on December 24, 1979.

Her funeral was held on April 25, 1980, at Calvary Episcopal Church in Columbia. She was buried in Columbia Cemetery.

Charitable Work and Legacy

In 1957, Jane Froman started the Jane Froman Foundation. This foundation helped the children's hospital at the Menninger Clinic. Funds from her many fan clubs helped support this work. Jane volunteered with many charity groups. Two of these were the Easter Seals campaign, which helps people with disabilities, and the Missouri Mental Health Association.

Jane Froman was famous for her deep, rich singing voice, known as a contralto. There are three books written about Jane Froman's life. The first two were by Ilene Stone: One Little Candle: Remembering Jane Froman and Jane Froman, Missouri's First Lady of Song. A newer, more detailed book, Say It With Music – The Life and Legacy of Jane Froman, by Barbara Seuling, was published on November 10, 2007. This was to celebrate 100 years since Jane's birth.

To honor what would have been Jane Froman's 100th birthday, a special event called The Jane Froman Centennial Celebration was held in Columbia, Missouri. This celebration took place from November 9–11, 2007. A DVD of the movie With a Song in My Heart with new parts was shown for the first time on November 9, 2007. It is now widely available.

For her many contributions, Jane Froman received three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame:

• For Radio at 6321 Hollywood Blvd.
• For Recording at 6145 Hollywood Blvd.
• For Television at 1645 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Jane Froman para niños

• University of Missouri School of Music