Frances Guihan (September 22, 1890 – December 21, 1951) was an American screenwriter.[1] She worked on more than 40 films during her career, including a number of B westerns.
Frances was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, the youngest daughter of Dennis Guihan and Catherine Fagan.[2] She began her career working in a St. Louis office for $12 a week, writing scenarios at night (most of which were rejected).[3]
Her scenarios eventually attracted notice from people in high places, and soon she was in Hollywood commanding $70,000 a year.[3] In those early years, she was known for writing (and, in one case, directing) scenarios for Japanese actor Sessue Hayakawa. She then transitioned into writing for actress and producer Ruth Roland.[4] Over the course of her career, she also wrote at Balboa, Metro, and Haworth.[5] She'd later work extensively on the Buck Jones Westerns.[6]
In 1919, she married Ivan Kahn, an actor, businessman, scenario writer, and amateur boxer. The pair met while Kahn started writing comedies for Pathe and Kalem.[5] After they divorced, she'd remarry.
She also owned an anti-gray hair tonic company she purchased from a friend. "You'd be surprised how many stars use the stuff," she'd later tell a reporter (although she declined to name names).[4]