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»» For over six decades, our lives have been enriched by the talents of a singer, dancer and actress we know as Debbie Reynolds. Born Mary Frances Reynolds on April 1, 1932, in El Paso, Texas to Raymond Francis Reynolds and Maxene Harman Reynolds; her brother Bill was just a year older. When her father lost his job at the height of the Great Depression, the little family moved in with Maxene's parents. Providing for a family in those desperate times, was often a struggle which could be lost. Perhaps because of the hardships, the Reynolds children grew to be happy and resilient, secure in their parents' love. In 1939, Raymond Reynolds went to Southern California to take a job with the Southern Pacific Railroad. As the year drew to a close, his wife and children joined him. Just one year later, they built a home in Burbank.

Mary Frances (or Frannie, as she was known) attended public school, excelling in sports, baton twirling and music; her specialty was the French horn. She was an ardent member of the Girl Scouts, a love she would never lose. Despite her Mother's Nazarene upbringing, Frannie was allowed to go to the movies, and her flair for comedy and entertaining began to develop. Mary Frances the comedienne would often entertain friends and family with her mimicry of radio personalities and by lip-syncing to popular recordings of the day.

In 1948, Lockheed Aircraft sponsored the local "Miss Burbank" beauty pageant; Mary Frances entered and won. She was sixteen, and her talent entry was lip-syncing to a record of Betty Hutton's "I'm a Square in the Social Circle." Two of the judges of the pageant were talent scouts from Warner Brother's and MGM. Both scouts perceived the young girl's potential. The Warner Bros. Scout won a coin toss which gave him first chance to offer Mary Frances a screen test. The result was so impressive, that she was signed to a contract which paid $65 a week. Jack Warner changed her name to Debbie. It was suggested that her last name be changed to Morgan, but she adamantly refused. She was required to leave public school and continue her education on the studio lot. Mary Frances' Mother would not allow her daughter's education to be compromised. She arranged for Debbie to attend John Burroughs High School in Burbank on an adjusted schedule.   more »