One of Monogram Studios brightest stars was Frankie Darro. Darro was born Frank Johnson in Chicago Illinois. His parents were the "Flying Johnsons" with the Sells Floto Circus. It was a profession that his father had tried to train him in, but young Franke had a fear of heights. In 1922 while the circus was in California his parents separated, and the circus act ended with their Marriage, and the motion picture industry found use for a small child that could perform his own stunts. Young Frankie Johnson became Frankie Darro and appeared in his first film at the age of Six.

As a child Franke appeared in many silent adventure and western films, and became a very prolific actor as an adolescent. He was completely comfortable in front of the camera and could deliver dialog  very convincingly. His most important role was In William Wellman’s social commentary "Wild Boys of the Road", filmed in 1930. Darro remained popular in serials and appeared in Gene Autry’s first starring film "The Phantom Empire". Darro’s build often got him typecast in films about jockeys (Charlie Chan At The Races, A Day At The Races). In 1938, Frankie signed with Monogram Pictures to star in a series of action melodramas.