Elizabeth Barton, later known as Betty Francisco, was born on September 26, 1900, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and began her acting career at a young age, performing in stock companies alongside her younger sister Evelyn Francisco as "The Dancing Franciscos" in vaudeville.
As she grew older, Betty's talents led her to work as an artist's model and eventually star in the Ziegfeld Follies for two years. Her film debut came in 1920 with the movie A Broadway Cowboy, followed by supporting roles in various films, including Flaming Youth, Across The Continent, and Gambling Wives, which ultimately led to her being typecast as "the other woman".
In 1923, Betty was chosen as a WAMPAS baby star and also named "America's Most Perfect Blonde", solidifying her status as a Hollywood darling. She continued to secure small roles in films like The Gingham Girl and Broadway Daddies, but struggled to break free from her typecast persona.
In 1930, Betty married Fred Spradling, a New York stock broker, and decided to leave the Hollywood spotlight behind, opting to become a full-time housewife instead. Her final film appearance was in the 1934 comedy Romance In Rain, after which she devoted herself to her domestic life.
Betty and her husband lived on a ranch in Corona, California, but never had children. Tragically, her life was cut short on November 25, 1950, when she passed away suddenly from a heart attack at the age of fifty. She was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
