Ruth Terry was born Ruth McMahon in Benton Harbor, Michigan, in 1920. She got her start in show business as a child when she would sing with the band in a dance hall where her father worked as a bouncer. She began entering amateur talent contests in the local area, and her beautiful singing voice resulted in her winning many of them. When she was ...
[about Republic Pictures chief Herbert J. Yates, her boss for several years] He was a mean man--very cheap--a tyrant, especially when it came to money! I guess Vera [wife Vera Ralston] ended up with all his money--she earned it, for putting up with him all those years!
2
[on being under contract to Howard Hughes, who at the time owned RKO Pictures, and how she wound up at Republic Pictures] Howard was notorious for having women stashed all over town. When he found out I wouldn't give him anything, he sold me to Republic.
3
[on working with Gene Autry] I did Call of the Canyon (1942) with Gene Autry, my first western. Two things I remember about the picture and Gene Autry. First, I never ever talked to the man! He did speak to the fellows on the picture, but not with the girls. I never said anything to him, nor he to me. I don't even recall him saying "Good morning". We just did the scenes and that was it. The other thing I remember is he kept us waiting one night. Gene was a very big star then, and he had it in his contract he wouldn't have to work after 6 pm. Gene was punctual, knew his lines; always there in the morning. But on the last day of shooting, they needed another two hours. They didn't want to bring everybody back the next day for just a couple of hours shooting. They argued with Gene about breaking his rule, just this once. He firmly said, "No". Finally, he said, "Okay, let's eat dinner". He never came back--he left us all there, waiting on his return, which didn't happen until the next morning! A lot of people got an extra day's pay as a result, but not me as I was under contract to Hughes [Howard Hughes].
4
[on working with Roy Rogers in Heart of the Golden West (1942)] It was a lot of fun, because Roy was a lot of fun. He joked with us; he was so sweet. Gabby Hayes [George 'Gabby' Hayes], Smiley Burnette and the Sons of the Pioneers were all in it--all people Roy had worked with over and over; so he was comfortable. It was one of the films I made in Lone Pine.
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Fact
1
Walter Winchell, an admirer, suggested the name Ruth Terry, an amalgam of the names of the New York Yankees baseball players Babe Ruth and Bill Terry.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
The New Interns
1964
Carolyn's Mother (uncredited)
Hand of Death
1962
Woman with Packages
Cheyenne
1961
TV Series
Neighbor Woman
Coronado 9
1961
TV Series
Paula Rhem
Maverick
1960
TV Series
Librarian
77 Sunset Strip
1959
TV Series
Mrs. Blanton
The Real McCoys
1958
TV Series
Grace Harwick
The Donna Reed Show
1958
TV Series
Ruth Sterling
Behind Closed Doors
1958
TV Series
Sally Anderson
Smoky River Serenade
1947
Sue Greeley
Tell It to a Star
1945
Carol Lambert
The Cheaters
1945
Therese Pidgeon
Steppin' in Society
1945
Lola Forrest
Lake Placid Serenade
1944
Susan Cermak
My Buddy
1944
Lola
Sing, Neighbor, Sing
1944
Virginia Blake
Three Little Sisters
1944
Hallie Scott
Goodnight, Sweetheart
1944
Caryl Martin
Jamboree
1944
Ruth Cartwright
Hands Across the Border
1944
Kim Adams
Pistol Packin' Mama
1943
Vicki Norris
Sally Benson
Mystery Broadcast
1943
Jan Cornell
Man from Music Mountain
1943
Laramie Winters
Heart of the Golden West
1942
Mary Lou Popen
Youth on Parade
1942
Patty Flynn / Betty Reilly
Call of the Canyon
1942
Kit Carson
The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine
1942
Bonnie Forbes
Sleepytime Gal
1942
Sugar Caston
Appointment for Love
1941
Edith Meredith
Rookies on Parade
1941
Lois Rogers
Blondie Goes Latin
1941
Lovey Nelson, the Singer
Sing, Dance, Plenty Hot
1940
Irene
An Angel from Texas
1940
Valerie Blayne
Slightly Honorable
1939
Ann Seymour
Hotel for Women
1939
Craig's Receptionist
The Hound of the Baskervilles
1939
Betsy Ann (uncredited)
Wife, Husband and Friend
1939
Carol (secretary)
Hold That Co-ed
1938
Edie
Alexander's Ragtime Band
1938
Ruby
International Settlement
1938
Vera Dale
Love and Hisses
1937
Hawaiian Specialty Singer
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Smoky River Serenade
1947
performer: "Suppose a Girl" - uncredited
My Buddy
1944
performer: "Who Done It?"
Sing, Neighbor, Sing
1944
performer: "Dear Old Blake", "The Popcorn Polka" - uncredited
Three Little Sisters
1944
performer: "Three Little Sisters"
Goodnight, Sweetheart
1944
performer: "I'm Not Myself Anymore"
Jamboree
1944
performer: "Jamboree"
Pistol Packin' Mama
1943
performer: "Pistol Packin' Mama"
Call of the Canyon
1942
performer: "When It's Chilly Down In Chile"
Rookies on Parade
1941
performer: "Mother Never Told Me"
Blondie Goes Latin
1941
performer: "You Don't Play a Drum, You Beat It", "You Can Cry On My Shoulder"
Slightly Honorable
1939
performer: "Cupid's After Me"
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Republic Pictures Story
1991
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys
1992
Documentary
Herself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2002
Golden Boot
Golden Boot Awards
Known for movies
Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) as Ruby
Pistol Packin' Mama (1943) as Vicki Norris / Sally Benson
$12 Million
