Meet Fort Worth and Poly High’s version of Ginger Rogers: Mary Frances Roberson

She was Poly High School’s answer to Central High School’s Ginger Rogers.

And although her star never rose as high in the Hollywood heavens as that of Ginger Rogers, Mary Frances Roberson dated Howard Hughes, was proclaimed “the real Miss America” by the Max Factor cosmetics company and read her name in Hollywood entertainment columns.

She appeared in some big-budget films top-billed by stars of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s: Ray Milland, Betty Grable, Jimmy Durante, Lucille Ball, Victor Mature, Lloyd Nolan, Donald O’Connor, Joan Bennett, Dorothy Lamour, Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, June Allyson, Lana Turner, Jean Peters, Esther Williams, Walter Pidgeon and Gig Young.

Roberson was born in Handley in 1918. She attended Poly High School (when it was on Nashville Avenue), where she was in ROTC and on the yearbook staff.

Then Roberson attended TCU. While at TCU she performed at the original Casa Manana in the Frontier Centennial in 1936 and 1937. Producer Billy Rose chose her to be a lead dancer. Then Roberson headed to Hollywood and toured with Paul Whiteman, who had performed at the Frontier Centennial. While performing at the Paramount Theater in Los Angeles she was discovered by Paramount Studios and signed to a film contract.

Roberson broke into the movies with the stage name Punkins Parker. She would make 17 films — as an actress and dancer — between 1938 and 1954. Sometimes she was not credited, sometimes she was billed as the second lead.

She appeared in five films in her first year in Hollywood. Her first film was “Cocoanut Grove” in 1938 with Fred MacMurray. That year she also appeared in “Artists and Models Abroad” with Jack Benny and in “Sing, You Sinners” starring Bing Crosby. In one scene she danced with Crosby.

Roberson soon changed her stage name from Punkins Parker to Mary Parker. But she found that shedding the Punkins came with a hitch: In “St. Louis Blues,” her first movie after the name change, she played a character named - wait for it - Punkins.

In 1941, Roberson was dating Howard Hughes, and there were rumors of a possible marriage. Hughes was giving her flying lessons.

Two years later, Roberson went over to MGM Studios. Hollywood columnist Sheilah Graham reported that MGM planned to emphasize Roberson’s acting over her dancing.

Poly High’s Mary Roberson and Central High’s Ginger Rogers appeared in a film together in 1944: “Lady in the Dark.”

That year, Roberson also appeared in MGM’s “Music for Millions” starring Margaret O’Brien and June Allyson.

About 1947, Roberson left Hollywood and returned to Fort Worth to care for her ailing father. Back in her hometown, she hosted a pioneer children’s show on WBAP-TV in 1949-1950: “Mary Parker Playtime.” She also hosted “Dance Parade.”

In the early 1950s, Roberson appeared in four Hollywood movies but was not credited. Her last film was “The Great Diamond Robbery” starring Red Skelton in 1954.

In 1956, she opened Mary Parker School of Dance on Forest Park Boulevard.

On March 2, 1998, “The End” came at age 79 for Mary Frances Roberson, the girl who went from the Poly ’hood to Hollywood.

Mike Nichols blogs about Fort Worth history at www.hometownbyhandlebar.com.

This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 7:00 AM.