Frances Mohelnitzky and Arthur Kussman
Frances Christina Mohelnitzky was born January 3, 1885 in Wisconsin; possibly in La Valle, Richland County, Wisconsin.
Frances Mohelnitzky baptism:
Baptism: Jan. 3, 1885, Frances Christina MohelnitzkyParents: Anton Mohelnitzky, Mary RuskauffSponsors: Thomas Keegan, Francisa VoserleySource: Hand-copied records from St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Germantown, Richland County, Wisconsin.
Frances Christine Mohelnitzky
Frances grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Before her marriage, she modeled for Gimbels Brothers, a leading department store in Milwaukee. Frances' mother, Mary Ruskauff, was not pleased with the modeling job. Frances had hopes of becoming a movie star one day and began acting in movies at age 14.
Frances lived in Chicago from 1911 to 1912:
August 11, 1911
Local Gleanings - Miss Frances Mohelnitzky of Chicago is spending this week with her parents here.
September 15, 1911
Local Gleanings - Miss Frances Mohelnitzky who visited her parents here the past week returned to Chicago Wednesday.
Feb. 2, 1912, page 1, col. 1
Miss Frances Mohelnitzky arrived home Monday from Chicago for an extended visit with her parents here.
Source: Cazenovia Reporter (Cazenovia, Richland County, Wisconsin)
By 1915, Frances was living in California:
December 30, 1915
Frances Mohelnitzky arrived last week from California for a visit with her parents here.
Source: Cazenovia Reporter (Cazenovia, Richland County, Wisconsin)
Frances Mohelnitzky was married to Arthur Kussman on May 2, 1917 at St. Vibiana Cathedral, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.
As of 1920, they resided at 609-1/2 Heliotrope Drive in Los Angeles, California.
Art belonged to the Freemasonry brotherhood and became Catholic after the death of his wife. Art Kussman was in the oil business and worked for Standard Oil. During the Depression in the 1920s, things got bad and he went broke.
Frances acted in movies for 30 years in Hollywood, California. She had no major acting rolls, but rather, she played bit parts.
Frances was in the movie, “Three Cheers for Miss Bishop” where she appeared in a square dance. She acted in many of movies with the famous actor, Mickey Rooney. Frances would write back to Wisconsin and tell people what movie she was in and they would go watch the movie at the theater. Many of the relatives back home could identify her in the movies.
Frances played the part of the mother in the movie, "Daddy Long Legs" from the sentimental novel about a May-December romance. However, there were three movies made of the same name, and it is unknown which of the three that Frances acted in:
1) 1919 Daddy Long Legs, directed by Neilan, with Mary Pickford & Mahlon Hamilton, 7 hours, First National.
2) 1931 (or 1930) Daddy Long Legs, directed by Santell, cinematographer Andriot, with Janet Gaynor & Warner Baxter, 73 min., Fox.
3) 1955 Daddy Long Legs, with Leslie Caron & Fred Astaire, musical.
Some examples of the daily pay Frances received when acting in movies:
$9.00 if she only sat
$18.00 if she stood up
$27.00 if she danced or said at least one word
Frank Braun Jr. spent some winters visiting his Aunt Frances Mohelnitzky Kussman in California. While there, he spent some time on the movie set watching the actors. After Art and Frances went to California, Art was a carpenter who worked on the movie sets in which Frances acted.
In 1930, the United States Federal Census shows that the Kussman's were renters, living at 1178 Normandi Avenue in Los Angeles, California.
Frances and Arthur had one child.
Frances is the daughter of Anton Mohelnitzky and Mary Ruskauff.
Photo of Frances Mohelnitzky Kussman with her sister Theresa Mohelnitzky Williams and brother Frank (Mohelnitzky) Mohr.
Frances died at age 82 on January 1, 1968 in Los Angeles, California. She is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Slauson Ave, in Los Angeles.
Burial Records:
Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum5835 W. Slauson Avenue, Culver City, California 90230Deceased name: Kussman, Frances [Mohelnitzky]Date of interment: January 5, 1968Location: Grave 10, Lot 328-Section CDate of birth: 1/3/1885Deceased name: Kussman, Arthur F.Date of interment: April 27, 1968Location: Grave 9, Lot 328, Section CDate of birth: 8/25/1886Obituary:
Kussman, Frances Christina, beloved wife of Arthur F., loving mother of Bernice Taaff, sister of Henrietta Duren, grandmother of Barbara and Kathleen Taaff. Rosary Thursday, 7 pm at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Requiem Mass Friday, 9 am at the church. Utter-McKinley Wilshire, directors.
Source: Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California); January 3, 1968, page 22, Part 1, Col. 5.