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]

Ruth Terry
Terry in 1940
Born
Ruth Mae McMahon

(1920-10-21)October 21, 1920
DiedMarch 11, 2016(2016-03-11) (aged 95)
Resting placeForest Lawn Cemetery, Cathedral City, California
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1937–1964
Spouses
  • John Martin
    (m. 1942; div. 19??)
  • John P. Gilmour
    (m. 1946; div. 19??)
John Ledbetter
(m. 1966)
[1]

Early years

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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

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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

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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]

Terry was a Republican who supported Dwight Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election.[9]

Death

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Terry died on March 11, 2016, at the age of 95. She was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City).[10]

Filmography

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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

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  1. ^ "Ruth Terry, Hollywood actress – obituary". The Telegraph. May 4, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Ruth Terry, Hollywood actress – obituary". The Telegraph. May 4, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  3. ^ Fitzgerald, Mike. "Ruth Terry Interview". Western Clippings. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  4. ^ "Ruth Terry -- A Local Product". The News-Palladium. Michigan, Benton Harbor. January 1, 1938. p. 134. Retrieved June 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ 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.  
  6. ^ "Ruth Terry, Miami film discovery, appears at Lincoln Theater tonight". The Miami News. December 27, 1939. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  7. ^ Rathbun, Joe (August 15, 1943). "Joe's Radio Parade". The Times Recorder. Ohio, Zanesville. p. 22. Retrieved June 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ "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.  
  9. ^ Motion Picture and Television Magazine, November 1952, page 34, Ideal Publishers
  10. ^ "Ruth Mae Ledbetter Obituary (2016) the Desert Sun".
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