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.

[6] In 1919, she married Ivan Kahn, an actor, businessman, scenario writer, and amateur boxer.