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Jean Ruth

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Jean Ruth
Ruth in At War with the Army (1950)
Born(1917-09-10)September 10, 1917
DiedSeptember 18, 2004(2004-09-18) (aged 87)
Alma materUniversity of Colorado[1]
OccupationActress
Years active1939–1957
Spouses
(m. 1945; div. 1948)
John Hay
(m. 1951)
[2]

Jean Ruth (September 10, 1917[3] – September 18, 2004) was an American actress and radio personality.[4]

Early life and career

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Born in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Ruth was the daughter of Davis Clifford Ruth and Evelyn Read Hillyer.[5][6] She graduated from Monrovia High School in 1935[7] and the University of Colorado in 1941.[8]

As an actress, she is best known for appearing in the Martin and Lewis film At War with the Army (1950).[9] Her radio broadcasts during WWII from 1941-44 were the basis for the musical film Reveille with Beverly. She claimed later that while broadcasting she would be asked to read out the titles of songs that didn't exist, which served as secret messages to the French Resistance. She also later befriended the famous wartime Japanese-American radio announcer Iva Toguri after she was prosecuted for treason for radio broadcasts from Tokyo.[10]

Personal life

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She was married to American swing and boogie-woogie pianist and bandleader Freddie Slack from 1945 to 1948.[2][8]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1939 The Star Maker Butch (uncredited)
1945 Youth for the Kingdom Carlotta Manson
1946 O.S.S. Brady's Secretary (uncredited)
1946 Double Rhythm Waitress (uncredited)
1947 Ladies' Man Caroline (uncredited)
1947 Suddenly It's Spring WAC Cpl. Michaels
1949 Alias Nick Beal Adding Machine Worker (uncredited)
1950 No Man of Her Own Nurse (uncredited)
1950 Riding High Nurse (uncredited)
1950 Fancy Pants Miss Wilkins (uncredited)
1950 Union Station Pretty Girl
1950 At War with the Army Millie
1951 The Mating Season Bridesmaid (uncredited)
1952 Something to Live For Secretary (uncredited)
1952 The Lady and the Rocket Lucille (uncredited)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1955 Cavalcade of America
1956 Matinee Theater
1957 Panic! Florence 1 episode
1957 Highway Patrol Alma Wigram 1 episode
1957 Harbor Command Jeanne Gorman 1 episode

References

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  1. ^ Associated Press (October 3, 2004). "Jean Hay, 87, Host During War of 'Reveille With Beverly' Show, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  2. ^ a b McLellan, Dennis (October 1, 2004). "Jean Hay, 87; Host of Radio's 'Reveille With Beverly' Gave GIs Their Wake-Up Call". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  3. ^ Lentz, Harris (April 20, 2005). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2004. McFarland. pp. 160–161. ISBN 9780786421039 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Jean Gets Raves For Stage Role". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September 23, 1948. p. 13. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  5. ^ "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KWF-19PR : 10 February 2023), Jean Ruth, .
  6. ^ "New Jersey Notes". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 27, 1914. p. 3. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  7. ^ Knudsen, Elizabeth (June 5, 1935). "Elizabeth Looks Into Future for Class of 1935 (Continued from page one)". Monrovia News-Post. p. 3. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Miller, Stephen (September 27, 2004). "Jean Ruth Hay, 87, Morning Radio Host of 'Reveille with Beverly' During World War II". The New York Sun. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  9. ^ Neubaur, James; Okuda, Ted (1995). The Jerry Lewis Films: An Analytical Filmography of the Innovative Comic. McFarland. pp. 33–35. ISBN 9780899509617 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Miller, Stephen (September 27, 2004). "Jean Ruth Hay, 87, Morning Radio Host of 'Reveille with Beverly' During World War II". The New York Sun. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
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