Betty Ruth Smith Explained

Betty Ruth Smith (May 25, 1915 – February 1, 2008)[1] [2] [3] [4] was an American actress best known for her work in old-time radio.

Early years

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sloan H. Smith and a native of Wichita, Kansas, Smith began taking drama lessons when she was five years old.[5] By 1922, she was "well known to theater patrons" when she performed a dance number in a musical program at the Wichita Theater.[6]

She acted on the campus radio station at the University of Kansas, from which she graduated in 1937. While she was a student at the university, students chose her as Homecoming Queen and Intercollegiate Festival Queen.[7] She also acted in Little Theater productions in Wichita.

Career

After her college graduation, Smith took a job at radio station KFH in Wichita, having leading parts on The Phantom Theater, Parlor Playhouse, and other programs.[8] While there, she also learned to write for radio. After 18 months on that station, she took a vacation in Chicago and auditioned successfully for NBC radio while she was there.[9] In Chicago, she began working on network radio programs. In 1943, she became the star of The Romance of Helen Trent, a popular CBS soap opera.[10] She had temporarily filled that role in 1942 when the star, Virginia Clark, had a baby.[11]

Besides her work on Helen Trent, Smith's other roles on network radio programs included those shown in the table below.

Program Role
Doctors at Work Alice Riggs[12]
Judy and Jane Jane Lee[13]
Lone Journey Nita Bennett
Road of Life Judith[14]
Vic and Sade Crisco Spokeswoman[15]
Woman in White Karen Adams
She was also heard on Backstage Wife,[16] Stepmother, and Mary Marlin.

In 1942, Smith was designated the "radio actress with the most beautiful eyes."[17]

Personal life and death

In 1943, Smith married U. S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant Junior Grade Robert Francis Zech.[18] In 1951, they relocated to Dallas, where she became active in community affairs, serving as lay reader at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. She also sat on the boards of the local Junior League, the Dallas Museum of Art, and of PBS member station KERA-TV,[2] on whose behalf she was an especially vocal advocate.[19]

On February 1, 2008, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Betty Ruth Zech died at age 92, preceded in death by her husband and survived by their three children.[2]

Notes and References

  1. News: Local . April 1, 2023 . The Eureka Herald . June 3, 1915 . Kansas, Eureka . 5. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Obituaries, Notices . April 1, 2023 . The Dallas Daily News . February 10, 2008 . Texas, Dallas .
  3. "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF61-43Y : 1 February 2021), Sloan H Smith, 1920.
  4. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X776-WTF : accessed 1 April 2023), Sloan H Smith, Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 76, sheet 40A, line 15, family 2007, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 721; FHL microfilm 2,340,456.
  5. News: Betty Ruth Smith Is Top Dramatic Actress . November 23, 2019 . The Times . September 24, 1943 . Louisiana, Shreveport . 9. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Extra Features on Program of Wichita Theater . September 4, 2021 . The Wichita Beacon . January 15, 1922 . 2. Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Little . Mary . Betty Ruth Smith Wins Title Role in Romance of Helen Trent . September 4, 2021 . The Des Moines Register . July 7, 1943 . 7. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: KFH dramatic star crashes big time . September 4, 2021 . The Wichita Eagle . July 30, 1939 . 12 D. Newspapers.com.
  9. News: New Girl Drama Star In Rapid Rise To Fame . November 23, 2019 . The Honolulu Advertiser . June 16, 1940 . Hawaii, Honolulu . 31. Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Betty Ruth Smith Portrays 'Helen Trent' Over WNBF . November 22, 2019 . Press and Sun-Bulletin . July 10, 1943 . New York, Binghamton . 7. Newspapers.com.
  11. Honigberg . Sam . Chicago . September 4, 2021 . Billboard . April 11, 1942 . 7.
  12. Doctors at Work . Hygeia . May 1942 . 20 . 5 . 377 . September 4, 2021.
  13. Book: Terrace. Vincent. Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. 1999. McFarland & Company, Inc.. 978-0-7864-4513-4. 181–182.
  14. News: KTSP advertisement . November 23, 2019 . Star Tribune . December 17, 1943 . Minnesota, Minneapolis . 16. Newspapers.com.
  15. Book: Terrace . Vincent . Radio Program Openings and Closings, 1931-1972 . 2010 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-4925-5 . 243 . September 4, 2021 . en.
  16. Book: Cox . Jim . The Great Radio Soap Operas . 14 June 2015 . McFarland . 978-1-4766-0414-5 . 15–16 . September 4, 2021 . en.
  17. News: Tribute to Her Eyes . November 23, 2019 . Chicago Tribune . December 9, 1942 . Illinois, Chicago . 7. Newspapers.com.
  18. Green . Nat . Chicago . September 4, 2021 . Billboard . February 13, 1943 . 7.
  19. News: Fischer, Marge . Helen Trent Found Real Life Romance . April 1, 2023 . The Shreveport Journal . October 27, 1977 . Shreveport, Louisiana . 10. Newspapers.com.

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