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Ruth Terry
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Ruth Mae Terry (born Ruth Mae McMahon, October 21, 1920 – March 11, 2016)[2] was an American singer and actress in film and television from the 1930s to the 1960s. She claimed her stage name came from Walter Winchell, who combined the names of two then-famous baseball players, Babe Ruth and Bill Terry.[3]
Key Information
Early years
[edit]Terry was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan,[2] the daughter of Irish-American parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. E. McMahon.[4] She attended St John's Catholic School in Benton Harbor.[5]
Terry won a number of prizes for singing before singing with the Paul Ash Theater Orchestra at the age of twelve. At that same age, she left her hometown to sing with Clyde McCoy's orchestra.[5]
Career
[edit]Terry's first movie was Love and Hisses in 1937 with Walter Winchell, at which time she was earning $400 per week. Her first western was Call of the Canyon with Gene Autry. She appeared in several Roy Rogers movies. Her best-known movie was Pistol Packin' Mama, based on the song of the same name with Robert Livingston. She retired when she married her second husband in 1947.[6]
While making films, Terry continued her singing career in a limited way. On August 15, 1943, she appeared as guest female singer on The Bob Crosby Show on NBC radio.[7]
Personal life
[edit]On June 20, 1942, Terry and test pilot John Martin eloped and were married in Las Vegas, Nevada.[5] On October 25, 1947, she married John P. Gilmour, a Canadian. A November 8, 1947, article in her hometown newspaper, The News-Palladium, reported, "She has given up her career as an actress and she and her husband and her four-year-old son by a previous marriage will make their home at St. Genevieve de Pierre Fonds, Quebec."[8]
Death
[edit]Terry died on March 11, 2016, at the age of 95. She was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City).[9]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Love and Hisses | Hawaiian Specialty Singer | |
| 1938 | International Settlement | Vera Dale | |
| Alexander's Ragtime Band | Ruby | 20th Century Fox | |
| Hold That Co-ed | Edie | ||
| 1939 | Wife, Husband and Friend | Carol | |
| The Hound of the Baskervilles | Betsy Ann | Uncredited | |
| Hotel for Women | Craig's Receptionist | ||
| Slightly Honorable | Ann Seymour | United Artists | |
| 1940 | An Angel from Texas | Valerie Blayne | |
| Sing, Dance, Plenty Hot | Irene | ||
| 1941 | Blondie Goes Latin | Lovey Nelson, the Singer | Columbia |
| Rookies on Parade | Lois Rogers | ||
| Appointment for Love | Edith Meredith | ||
| 1942 | Sleepytime Gal | Sugar Caston | Republic |
| The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine | Bonnie Forbes | Republic | |
| Call of the Canyon | Katherine 'Kit' Carson | Republic | |
| Youth on Parade | Patty Flynn / Betty Reilly | Republic | |
| Heart of the Golden West | Mary Lou Popen | Republic | |
| 1943 | The Man from Music Mountain | Laramie Winters | Republic |
| Mystery Broadcast | Jan Cornell | Republic | |
| Pistol Packin' Mama | Vicki Norris / Sally Benson | Republic | |
| 1944 | Hands Across the Border | Kim Adams | Republic |
| Jamboree | Ruth Cartwright | ||
| Goodnight, Sweetheart | Caryl Martin | ||
| Three Little Sisters | Hallie Scott | ||
| Sing, Neighbor, Sing | Virginia Blake | ||
| My Buddy | Lola | ||
| Lake Placid Serenade | Susan Cermak | ||
| 1945 | Steppin' in Society | Lola Forrest | |
| The Cheaters | Therese Pidgeon | ||
| Tell It to a Star | Carol Lambert | Republic Robert Livingston and Aurora Miranda | |
| 1947 | Smoky River Serenade | Sue Greeley | Columbia |
| 1962 | Hand of Death | Woman with Packages | |
| 1964 | The New Interns | Carolyn's Mother | Uncredited, (final film role) |
References
[edit]- ^ "Ruth Terry, Hollywood actress – obituary". The Telegraph. May 4, 2016.
- ^ a b "Ruth Terry, Hollywood actress – obituary". The Telegraph. May 4, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Mike. "Ruth Terry Interview". Western Clippings. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ "Ruth Terry -- A Local Product". The News-Palladium. Michigan, Benton Harbor. January 1, 1938. p. 134. Retrieved June 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Ruth Terry Wed At Las Vegas To Test Pilot On Saturday". The News-Palladium. Michigan, Benton Harbor. June 22, 1942. p. 4. Retrieved June 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ruth Terry, Miami film discovery, appears at Lincoln Theater tonight". The Miami News. December 27, 1939. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ Rathbun, Joe (August 15, 1943). "Joe's Radio Parade". The Times Recorder. Ohio, Zanesville. p. 22. Retrieved June 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Actress Ruth Terry Marries Canadian, Drops Film Career". The News-Palladium. Michigan, Benton Harbor. November 8, 1947. p. 8. Retrieved June 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ruth Mae Ledbetter Obituary (2016) the Desert Sun".
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ruth Terry.
- Ruth Terry at IMDb
- Ruth Terry at Find a Grave
- Ruth Terry at the American Film Institute
| International | |
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| National | |
Ruth Terry
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Birth and family background
Ruth Mae McMahon, later known as Ruth Terry, was born on October 21, 1920, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to Irish-American parents Milton and Dorothy McMahon.[4][1] Milton McMahon worked in real estate sales during the early 20th century, a profession that became increasingly challenging amid the Great Depression's onset in 1929, as property markets collapsed and families like the McMahons navigated widespread economic hardship.[1] Dorothy McMahon, who played the piano, fostered an early appreciation for music in the household, singing to her daughter and encouraging her budding vocal talents from a young age.[5] Her aunt served as Irving Berlin's private secretary.[5] This formative setting in Michigan shaped her early years before the family's relocation to California in the late 1930s.[1]Early musical talents and training
Ruth Terry's musical talents emerged early in her childhood in Benton Harbor, Michigan, where her mother's piano playing at home encouraged her to sing along from a young age.[5] Around the age of 10, during the Great Depression, she began entering local amateur talent contests and quickly demonstrated a remarkable singing voice, winning multiple competitions and prizes in the Benton Harbor area.[1] These victories often included small cash awards, such as $1 per win, which were significant in the economic hardship of the era, allowing her to afford local movie tickets.[5] Her frequent successes led to restrictions, as she was banned from some contests for winning too often, a testament to her precocious ability as a child performer.[5] By age 12, Terry had earned the nickname "Youngest Blues Singer in America" for her soulful renditions of blues numbers, which set her apart from other young contestants.[4] This moniker highlighted her early affinity for the genre, blending youthful charm with mature emotional delivery. Terry's initial professional opportunities built on these local triumphs, starting with performances alongside bands and orchestras in the region.[1] She made her first radio appearances on stations in Benton Harbor and nearby St. Joseph, Michigan, singing as a child.[1] In her early teens, around 1933, she won a contest on Chicago's WLS radio, securing a contract to perform with the Paul Ash Theater Orchestra at events like the Chicago World's Fair and the Pabst Blue Ribbon Casino.[5] This marked her transition to broader circuits, including vaudeville acts with groups like the Capps Family acrobatic dance team at fairs and theaters.[5]Career
Vaudeville, radio, and film debut
In the mid-1930s, Ruth Terry transitioned from local performances to national vaudeville and radio circuits, building on her early experiences in Chicago. She joined the acrobatic dance team known as the Capps Family for fairs and vaudeville shows, and secured a radio contract at age 12 with the Paul Ash Theater Orchestra on WLS in Chicago, where she was billed as the "Youngest Blues Singer in America." Her radio work expanded to include appearances at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, establishing her as a rising talent in entertainment.[5] While performing in Miami at Jack Dempsey's nightclub, Terry was spotted by talent scouts from 20th Century Fox, leading to her adoption of the stage name "Ruth Terry," suggested by gossip columnist Walter Winchell as a combination of baseball stars Babe Ruth and Bill Terry. Winchell, who had frequently mentioned her in his columns alongside Ed Sullivan's coverage, helped propel her visibility. At age 16 in 1937, she signed a contract with the studio, earning $400 per week along with drama and singing lessons from Jule Styne.[5][4] Terry made her film debut in the 1937 musical Love and Hisses, starring opposite Walter Winchell as a Hawaiian specialty singer. She followed with supporting roles as a singer-dancer in International Settlement (1938), portraying Vera Dale, and in the Irving Berlin musical Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938), where she appeared as Ruby in the ensemble. These early films marked her entry into Hollywood, showcasing her vocal and dance abilities in musical productions.[5][2]Musical and Western films at major studios
In 1940, Ruth Terry signed a personal contract with producer Howard Hughes, marking her entry into major studio work and a brief association with the reclusive mogul who loaned her to other studios during the contract's duration through 1941.[4] Under this arrangement, she appeared as Valerie Blayne in the Warner Bros. comedy An Angel from Texas (1940), a film about a Texas girl pursuing Broadway dreams, co-starring Jane Wyman and Ronald Reagan.[6] This role highlighted her vocal abilities, building on her earlier film debut as a singer.[4] In 1942, Terry shifted to Republic Pictures, where she secured a salaried contract and quickly became one of the studio's most popular leading ladies in B-movies.[4] She starred in the Western musical Call of the Canyon (1942) opposite Gene Autry, playing a singer caught in a range war, which established her in the genre.[1] Subsequent collaborations included Heart of the Golden West (1942) and Man from Music Mountain (1943) with Roy Rogers, as well as Pistol Packin' Mama (1943) with Robert Livingston, where she sang the titular song amid a plot involving a female bandit leader.[4][1] By 1947, Terry had completed over 20 films for Republic, masterfully integrating her singing performances into the narratives of B-Westerns and musicals, which defined her peak Hollywood period.[1] A standout non-Western entry was The Cheaters (1945), a screwball comedy about a dysfunctional wealthy family reformed by Christmas spirit, in which she played the daughter Therese Pidgeon alongside Joseph Schildkraut and Billie Burke.[7] These roles solidified her reputation for versatile, genre-blending work at the studio.[4]Later television and film roles
Following the end of her contract with Republic Pictures in 1947, Ruth Terry retired from acting to focus on her personal life after marrying Canadian businessman John P. Gilmour, with whom she relocated to Quebec.[8][1] This marked a significant hiatus in her career, as she had been active in film since 1937, primarily in musicals and Westerns.[2] The marriage dissolved in 1957, after which Terry returned to the United States but did not pursue a full return to entertainment.[8] In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Terry made sporadic guest appearances on television, reflecting a selective re-engagement with the medium rather than a major comeback. Notable examples include her role as Ruth Sterling in the episode "The Baby Contest" on The Donna Reed Show (1958), Helen Blanton in "Mr. Paradise" on 77 Sunset Strip (1959), and Paula Rhem in "Come with Thy Loot" on Coronado 9 (1961).[9][10][11] These minor roles aligned with the era's growing television landscape, where former film actors often took supporting parts in episodic series.[12] Terry's final film appearances came in the early 1960s, both in uncredited or small capacities. She portrayed a woman with packages in the low-budget horror film Hand of Death (1962), directed by Gene Nelson.[13] Her last screen credit was as Carolyn's mother in The New Interns (1964), a medical drama sequel to The Interns (1962), marking the end of her on-screen career spanning nearly three decades. By then, her priorities had shifted toward family, culminating in her third marriage to John Ledbetter in 1966.[4]Personal life
Marriages and divorces
Ruth Terry's first marriage occurred on June 20, 1942, when she eloped with Douglas Aircraft test pilot John Martin in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1] The union ended in divorce in the mid-1940s.[4] Her second marriage took place on October 25, 1947, to John P. Gilmour, a resident of Quebec, Canada.[14] Following the wedding, Terry relocated to Canada and retired from her acting career for a decade.[1] The marriage ended in divorce, after which she returned to the United States.[15] This period marked a significant pause in her professional endeavors. Terry's third marriage was to John E. Ledbetter, vice president of Household Finance Corporation, in January 1966.[1][4] The couple settled in California, and the marriage endured until Terry's death in 2016, offering her personal stability during her later years.[4]Family and notable friendships
Ruth Terry had three children from her first two marriages. Her first marriage to test pilot John Martin produced a son born in March 1943, during her time under contract with Republic Pictures.[1] Her second marriage to Canadian John P. Gilmour in October 1947 resulted in two additional children, a son and a daughter, after which Terry temporarily stepped back from her career to focus on family life in Quebec.[14] During her early Hollywood years from 1940 to 1941, Terry developed a close platonic friendship with Howard Hughes while under his personal contract at RKO Pictures. Hughes, known for his aviation interests, often invited her to his factory to observe him tinkering with his planes, sharing insights into his engineering passions. She later recalled his quirky personal habits, such as always wearing two pairs of white socks, which added a lighthearted dimension to their interactions despite his reputation for pursuing romantic interests with contract players. Terry appreciated the mentorship aspect of their relationship, which ultimately led to Hughes loaning her exclusively to Republic Studios when she resisted his advances.[4] In her later years, Terry resided in Rancho Mirage, California, with her third husband, John Ledbetter, whom she married in 1966; he was a vice president at Household Finance Corporation. The couple enjoyed a stable retirement together, where she focused on caring for Ledbetter.[4][16]Death and legacy
Final years and health
Following her final film appearance in The New Interns (1964), Ruth Terry retired from acting and married John E. Ledbetter, a finance executive, in January 1966.[1] The couple settled in Rancho Mirage, California, near Palm Springs, where they led a low-profile life centered on family and domestic pursuits.[16] Terry described her post-retirement focus succinctly: "I've been retired ever since, and my career today is taking care of my husband."[16] Her stable third marriage enabled these quiet years, allowing Terry to step away from the public eye after decades in entertainment.[1] Ledbetter passed away in 2004, after which Terry remained in Rancho Mirage, continuing her private retirement.[1] In recognition of her earlier Western film work, Terry occasionally engaged with retrospectives during retirement. She received the Golden Boot Award in 2002 as one of the "sweethearts of the West" at the 20th Annual Golden Boot Awards in Hollywood, alongside honorees including Marsha Hunt and Gloria Winters.[17]Death, burial, and posthumous recognition
Ruth Terry died on March 11, 2016, at the age of 95 in Rancho Mirage, California, near Palm Springs.[4][1] The cause of her death was not publicly disclosed, though it occurred naturally at an advanced age.[3] She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California, alongside her husband John E. Ledbetter, who had predeceased her in 2004.[3][1] Terry was survived by three children: one son from her first marriage and a son and daughter from her second marriage.[4][1] Posthumously, Terry has been recognized as an enduring icon of B-movie musical Westerns from the 1940s, often celebrated in obituaries for her rags-to-riches journey from a teenage vaudeville performer to a Hollywood "screen cowgirl" who starred alongside Gene Autry and Roy Rogers.[4] Her legacy endures through archival appreciation of her lighthearted roles in low-budget productions, highlighting the vibrant era of singing cowgirls in American cinema.[4]Filmography
Feature films
Ruth Terry's feature film career began in 1937 and concluded in 1964, encompassing roles in musicals, comedies, Westerns, and dramas, often highlighting her vocal talents as a singer.[2] She debuted at 20th Century Fox with a specialty singing part, later shifting to Republic Pictures for leading roles in low-budget Westerns and musicals that capitalized on her energetic performances and song numbers.[18] Notable contributions include her musical sequences in the ensemble cast of the Fox production Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938), where she played Ruby and performed in Irving Berlin-inspired numbers, and her dual lead as Vicki Norris/Sally Benson in the Republic Western Pistol Packin' Mama (1943), which featured her singing the title song "Pistol Packin' Mama."[19][20] Production notes from her Republic era reflect efficient B-movie assembly lines, with films like Hands Across the Border (1943) pairing her with Roy Rogers for quick-release Westerns blending action and music. By the mid-1940s, her output included multiple releases in a single year, emphasizing her versatility before a career lull until brief 1960s cameos. The following table lists her feature film roles chronologically:| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Love and Hisses | Hawaiian Specialty Singer |
| 1938 | International Settlement | Vera Dale (specialty)[21] |
| 1938 | Hold That Co-ed | Edie |
| 1938 | Alexander's Ragtime Band | Ruby[19] |
| 1939 | The Hound of the Baskervilles | Betsy Ann (uncredited)[22] |
| 1939 | Slightly Honorable | Ann Seymour[23] |
| 1940 | An Angel from Texas | Valerie Blayne |
| 1941 | Appointment for Love | Edith Meredith |
| 1941 | Blondie Goes Latin | Lovey Nelson |
| 1942 | Youth on Parade | Patty Flynn / Betty Reilly |
| 1942 | Call of the Canyon | Katherine "Kit" Carson |
| 1942 | Affairs of Jimmy Valentine | Bonnie Forbes |
| 1942 | Heart of the Golden West | Mary Lou Popen |
| 1943 | Pistol Packin' Mama | Vicki Norris / Sally Benson |
| 1943 | Man from Music Mountain | Laramie Winters |
| 1943 | Hands Across the Border | Kim Adams |
| 1943 | Mystery Broadcast | Jan Cornell |
| 1944 | My Buddy | Lola |
| 1944 | Lake Placid Serenade | Susan Cermak |
| 1944 | Goodnight Sweetheart | Caryl Martin |
| 1944 | Sing, Neighbor, Sing | Virginia Blake |
| 1944 | Three Little Sisters | Hallie Scott |
| 1944 | Jamboree | Ruth Cartwright |
| 1945 | Tell It to a Star | Carol Lambert |
| 1945 | Steppin' in Society | Lola Forrest |
| 1945 | The Cheaters | Therese Pidgeon |
| 1947 | Smoky River Serenade | Sue Greeley[24] |
| 1962 | Hand of Death | Woman with Packages[13] |
| 1964 | The New Interns | Carolyn's Mother (uncredited) |