Frances Farmer, Seattle girl, who found stardom in Hollywood but later became mentally ill, told her mother yesterday as she prepared to leave the Western Washington State Hospital at Steilacoom that she is through with the entertainment world.
Her mother, Lillian V. Farmer, of 2636 47th Ave. S.W., said today that Miss Farmer will become a typist, but will not return to Seattle. The former actress went to Hollywood after attending the University of Washington.
"The doctor said Frances should avoid the old patterns, and should not return to Seattle," Mrs. Farmer said. "She has a position in the state, although we aren't saying where it is because of the publicity which might result. Her doctor suggested she might even change her name."
"Frances has been singing in the choir at the hospital. She has a very fine singing voice, so I suggested to her that sometime in the future she may want to go into radio work. She looked at me a minute, then said:
"'No, Mom. I don't want to go into radio or back to the stage, or have anything to do with anything even remotely related to the entertainment world. I just want to work.'"
Mrs. Farmer said her daughter is "perfectly normal and like herself once more." Miss Farmer was committed to the hospital last May, after having spent a year there previously.
Article appeared in the Seattle Times, October 22, 1945
Provided by Ulrich
Fritzsche M.D.