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Lurene Tuttle (August 29, 1907 – May 28, 1986) was an American actress and acting coach, who made the transition from
vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...
to radio, and later films and television. Her most enduring impact was as one of network radio's more versatile actresses. Often appearing in 15 shows per week, comedies, dramas, thrillers, soap operas, and crime dramas, she became known as the "First Lady of Radio".


Early years

Tuttle was born August 29, 1907, at Pleasant Lake, Indiana, into a family with strong ties to entertainment. Her father, Clair Vivien Tuttle (1883–1950), had been a performer in minstrel shows before becoming a station agent for a railroad. Her grandfather, Frank Tuttle, managed an opera house and taught drama. Her mother was Verna Sylvia (Long) Tuttle. She discovered her own knack for acting after moving with her family to Glendale, Arizona. She later credited a drama coach there for "making me aware of life as it really is—by making me study life in real situations." After her family moved to Southern California, Tuttle appeared in productions at the Pasadena Playhouse, then joined the
vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...
troupe Murphy's Comedians. By the time of the
Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...
, Tuttle had put her vocal versatility to work in radio, and within a decade, she became an in-demand actress in the medium.


Radio roles

Tuttle's radio debut came in 1936 when she appeared on '' Hollywood Hotel'' with
Dick Powell Richard Ewing Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American actor, musician, producer, director, and studio head. Though he came to stardom as a musical comedy performer, he showed versatility, and successfully transformed into ...
. Despite having never performed before a microphone, Tuttle's audition won her a three-year contract with the program. Thirteen years later, one newspaper columnist called her "quite possibly the most-heard woman in America." On radio's ''
The Adventures of Sam Spade ''The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective'' was a radio series based loosely on the private detective character Sam Spade, created by writer Dashiell Hammett for '' The Maltese Falcon''. The show ran for 13 episodes on ABC in 1946, for 157 episod ...
'' she played just about every female role as well as Spade's secretary Effie Perrine. She appeared in such shows as '' The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'' and concurrently appeared on '' The Great Gildersleeve'' as the niece Marjorie Forrester. Tuttle had regular roles in such shows as ''Brenthouse'', '' Dr. Christian'', '' Duffy's Tavern'', '' One Man's Family'', '' The Red Skelton Show'' (as Junior's mother and as Daisy June, roles that she shared with Harriet Nelson), '' Hollywood Hotel'', and ''Those We Love''. '' Dr. Christian'' was unusual in that the show, according to critic Leonard Maltin in ''The Great American Broadcast: A Celebration of Radio's Golden Age'', solicited scripts from listeners (one of whom was a young
Rod Serling Rodman Edward Serling (December 25, 1924 – June 28, 1975) was an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and narrator/on-screen host, best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his anthology television series ...
) and put them on the air—with a little help. Tuttle recalled:
The real writers on the show had to fix them quite often a lot, because they were really quite amateurish. But they had nice thoughts, they had nice plots. They just needed fixing; the dialogue didn't work too well.
Tuttle guest starred on the radio police series '' Dragnet'', starring Jack Webb, '' Lux Radio Theater'', '' The Screen Guild Theater'' and ''
Suspense Suspense is a state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, being Decision-making, undecided, or being Doubt, doubtful. In a Drama, dramatic work, suspense is the anticipation of the wikt:outcome, outcome of a plot (narrative), plot or of the solution t ...
'', in the episode "The Sisters", with Rosalind Russell. In '' The Whistler'', she played good and evil twins and used separate microphones to stay in character for each twin. It was during her time on ''Hollywood Hotel'' that Tuttle became involved in the founding of the American Federation of Radio Artists. According to Maltin, Tuttle's male counterpart on the show, veteran actor Frank Nelson (a frequent guest performer on
Jack Benny Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky, February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was an American entertainer who evolved from a modest success playing violin on the vaudeville circuit to one of the leading entertainers of the twentieth century wit ...
's program), tried to get both a raise to $35 per show—at a time when the show paid $5,000 per appearance to headlining guest stars. Nelson eventually got the raises, but the negotiations prompted him to become an AFRA co-founder and one of its active members. Tuttle later became the first female president of the federation's Hollywood local. Tuttle also remembered the day the ''Hollywood Hotel'' sound effects man was upstaged by a Hollywood legend:
The soundman was supposed to do a little yipping, yappy dog, like a terrier. He sounded like a Newfoundland dog or something, and the director kept saying "That won't do." So
Olivia de Havilland Dame Olivia Mary de Havilland (; July 1, 1916July 26, 2020) was a British-American actress. The major works of her cinematic career spanned from 1935 to 1988. She appeared in 49 feature films and was one of the leading actresses of her time. ...
was sitting next to me, and she says "I can do a very good dog." And I said "Well, I don't think they'll let you do a dog. This is an audience show; you're a star, you can't do a dog." And Olivia says "I'm going to do it." So she went over to the director, went into the booth and said "I'd like to try doing this dog for you." So they put her behind the screen, and she went on the show and she did that yipping dog."


Films and television

Tuttle became a familiar face to millions of television viewers with more than 100 appearances from 1950 to 1986, often in the role of an inquisitive busybody. On television and in films, Tuttle streamlined herself into a pattern of roles between wise, loving wives/mothers or bristling matrons. She was familiar to the early television audience as wife/mother Lavinia "Vinnie" Day in '' Life with Father'' (1953–1955). Columnist Hedda Hopper called the selection of Leon Ames as Father and Tuttle as Mother "what I consider 22 carat casting with two all-Americans." '' Heaven Only Knows'' (1947) was her first film. She went on to appear in such films as
Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...
's '' Macbeth'' (1948, as one of the Three Witches), '' Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House'' (1948, as Mr. Blandings' secretary, Mary), and
Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...
's '' Psycho'' (1960, as the wife of Sheriff Chambers). In '' Don't Bother to Knock'' (1952), she portrayed a mother who unknowingly lets a disturbed woman (played by
Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic " blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as wel ...
) babysit her daughter. The next year she appeared again with Monroe in '' Niagara'', as Mrs. Kettering. She had a rare starring role in ''
Ma Barker's Killer Brood ''Ma Barker's Killer Brood'' is a neo noir crime film, released in 1960. The low-budget film was directed by Bill Karn and starred Lurene Tuttle as the title character, Ma Barker. The film is a highly fictionalized account of the life of Ma Ba ...
'' (1960). She played Grandma Pusser in the original '' Walking Tall'' film trilogy, and also appeared in horror films such as '' The Manitou'' (1978), starring Tony Curtis. Her final film role was in the 1983 film '' Testament''. She guest-starred twice on Edmond O'Brien's 1960 crime drama '' Johnny Midnight''. She then played a supporting role in the 1961 '' Father of the Bride'' television situation comedy. She made six guest appearances on '' Perry Mason'', with
Raymond Burr Raymond William Stacy Burr (May 21, 1917September 12, 1993) was a Canadian actor known for his lengthy Hollywood film career and his title roles in television dramas '' Perry Mason'' and '' Ironside''. Burr's early acting career included roles ...
, during the nine-year run of the show from 1957 to 1966. She usually played the role of the defendant, such as Anna Houser in "The Case of the Substitute Face" in 1958, Sarette Winslow in "The Case of the Artful Dodger" in 1959, Sarah Breel in "The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe" in 1963, and Josephine Kempton in "The Case of the Grinning Gorilla" in 1965. However, in 1966, she played the murderess, Henny McLeod, in "The Case of the Avenging Angel". In 1958 and 1959, she was cast in two episodes as Gladys Purvis, the mother of series character Kate McCoy, played by Kathleen Nolan, in the sitcom ''
The Real McCoys ''The Real McCoys'' is an American situation comedy starring Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, and Kathleen Nolan. Co-produced by Danny Thomas's Marterto Productions in association with Walter Brennan and Irving Pincus's Westgate Compan ...
'', with Walter Brennan and
Richard Crenna Richard Donald Crenna (November 30, 1926 – January 17, 2003) was an American film, television and radio actor. Crenna starred in such motion pictures as '' The Sand Pebbles'', ''Wait Until Dark'', ''Un Flic'', '' Body Heat'', the first three ...
. She appeared twice on the NBC western series '' The Californians'', once as Belle Calhoun in "Skeleton in the Closet" (1958) and then as Maude Sorel in "The Painted Lady" (1959). She guest-starred with Andrew Duggan in his crime series '' Bourbon Street Beat''. Tuttle appeared three times each on sitcoms ''
The Danny Thomas Show ''The Danny Thomas Show'' (titled ''Make Room for Daddy'' for its first three seasons) is an American sitcom that ran from 1953 to 1957 on ABC and from 1957 to 1964 on CBS. Starring Danny Thomas as a successful night club entertainer, the show ...
'' and '' Petticoat Junction'' and twice on the following: '' Leave It to Beaver'', '' The Bob Cummings Show'', ''
The Ann Sothern Show ''The Ann Sothern Show'' is an American sitcom starring Ann Sothern that aired on CBS for three seasons from October 6, 1958, to March 30, 1961. Created by Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf, the series was the second starring vehicle for Sothern, who ...
'', ''
Pete and Gladys ''Pete and Gladys'' is an American sitcom television series starring Harry Morgan and Cara Williams that aired on CBS on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time for two seasons, beginning on September 19, 1960. The last episode was ...
'', '' The Andy Griffith Show'', '' Hazel'', '' General Electric Theater'', '' Switch'', and ''
Fantasy Island ''Fantasy Island'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Gene Levitt. It aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tatto ...
''; she appeared as
Lee Meriwether Lee Ann Meriwether (born May 27, 1935) is an American actress, former model, and the winner of the Miss America 1955 pageant. She has appeared in many films and television shows, notably as Betty Jones, the title character's secretary and daught ...
's aunt in the final episode of '' Barnaby Jones'' in 1980. In 1960, she was cast as Mrs. Courtland in the episode "The Raffle Ticket" of the sitcom based on the
comic strip A comic strip is a Comics, sequence of drawings, often cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often Serial (literature), serialized, with text in Speech balloon, balloons and Glossary of comics ter ...
'' Dennis the Menace'', with Jay North and Joseph Kearns. She also played the part of Eddie Haskell's landlady in Leave It to Beaver's 1962 episode called "Bachelor at Large". Tuttle guest-starred in such westerns as '' Buckskin'', '' The Restless Gun'', '' Colt .45'', '' Johnny Ringo'', '' The Cowboys'', '' Little House on the Prairie'', '' Wanted Dead or Alive'', '' Bonanza'', '' Gunsmoke'', '' The Adventures of Jim Bowie'', '' Lawman'', and '' The Iron Horse.'' Tuttle was cast as Mrs. Grange in the 1963 episode "The Risk" on the drama series '' Mr. Novak'', starring James Franciscus as an idealistic high school teacher. She later appeared on the popular 1960s sitcoms '' I Dream of Jeannie'', '' The Munsters'', and '' Petticoat Junction''. Tuttle's best-known role to the general public was likely in 32 episodes of the series '' Julia'' (1968–1971) as Hannah Yarby. In 1972, she appeared as Bella Swann on the episode "Farmer Ted and the News" on ''
The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. Moo ...
'' and as Mrs. Sharp on '' The Partridge Family''. In 1980, Tuttle appeared as Mrs. McIntyre in the television movie '' White Mama'', with
Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her p ...
. From 1981–1984, Tuttle appeared six times on the drama series '' Trapper John, M.D.'' One of her last roles was in episode 25 ("Murder in the Afternoon") of '' Murder, She Wrote'' as Agnes Cochran. The episode first aired on October 13, 1985.


Recognition

In 1944, Tuttle received Radio Life magazine's Distinguished Achievement Award for Best Supporting Feminine Player. Tuttle has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – "Star of Radio" at 1760 Vine Street and "Star of Television" at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard. Both stars were dedicated February 8, 1960.


Personal life

Tuttle married
Melville Ruick Melville Ruick (July 8, 1898 – December 24, 1972) was an American actor. Early years Ruick was born in Boise, Idaho in 1898. His father was a U.S. district attorney in Idaho, and Ruick studied law at the University of California. Milit ...
, an actor whom she had met during her radio years; the couple had a daughter, Barbara (1930-1974), who was married to film composer John Williams. Tuttle and Ruick eventually divorced. She remarried, to Frederick W. Cole, an engineer, on November 27, 1950, in
Pasadena, California Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. ...
. She sued him for divorce on January 4, 1956. She became a respected acting coach and teacher—something she had always done, even at the height of her acting career (she often re-trained radio actors who had been away from the craft during service in World War II). Tuttle had a hobby of collecting toy dogs. A 1930 newspaper article reported "Her dressing room shelf is filled with more than 200 miniature replicas of every variety of dog known." Tuttle, a registered Republican, campaigned for Dwight Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election.


Death

Tuttle died from cancer on May 28, 1986 at a hospital in Encino, California. Memorial services were held June 2, 1986 at Church of the Recessional at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale. Her ''Sam Spade'' co-star Howard Duff, who delivered her eulogy, remembered Tuttle:
She could just take hold of a part and do something with it...I think she never met a part she didn't like. She just loved to work; she loved to act. She's a woman who was born to do what she was doing and loved every minute of it.


Filmography

*'' Stand Up and Cheer!'' (1934) – Stenographer (uncredited) *''
Tom, Dick and Harry The phrase "Tom, Dick, and Harry" is a placeholder for unspecified people. The phrase most commonly occurs as "every Tom, Dick, and Harry", meaning ''everyone'', and "any Tom, Dick, or Harry", meaning ''anyone'', although ''Brewer's Dictionary o ...
'' (1941) – Girl Lead in Movie (voice, uncredited) *'' Heaven Only Knows'' (1947) – Mrs. O'Donnell *'' Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House'' (1948) – Mary *''
Homecoming Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States, Canada and Liberia. ...
'' (1948) – Miss Stoker *'' Macbeth'' (1948) – Witch / Gentlewoman to Lady Macduff *'' The Admiral Was a Lady'' (1950) – Unemployment Clerk (uncredited) *'' A Life of Her Own'' (1950) – Secretary (uncredited) *'' Watch the Birdie'' (1950) – Millie (uncredited) *''
Goodbye, My Fancy ''Goodbye, My Fancy'' is a 1948 play by Fay Kanin. A comedy in 3 Acts and 4 scenes, the work premiered at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario on October 21, 1948 for tryout performances before the production moved to Broadway in New York City. ...
'' (1951) – Ellen Griswold *'' Tomorrow Is Another Day'' (1951) – Stella Dawson *'' The Whip Hand'' (1951) – Molly Loomis *'' Room for One More'' (1952) – Miss Kenyon *'' Don't Bother to Knock'' (1952) – Ruth Jones *'' Niagara'' (1953) – Mrs. Kettering *''
Never Wave at a WAC ''Never Wave at a WAC'' is a 1953 American comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod, and starring Rosalind Russell, Paul Douglas and Marie Wilson. Plot Divorced socialite Jo McBain, daughter of United States Senator Reynolds, would like to joi ...
'' (1953) – Capt. Murchinson, Company CO *'' The Affairs of Dobie Gillis'' (1953) – Mrs. Eleanor Hammer *'' Give a Girl a Break'' (1953) – Mrs. Doolittle *'' The Glass Slipper'' (1955) – Cousin Loulou *''
Sincerely Yours Sincerely Yours may refer to: Film * Sincerely Yours (film), ''Sincerely Yours'' (film), a 1955 American romantic music comedy featuring Liberace * ''Sincerely Yours...'', a 1985 Soviet comedy Music * Sincerely Yours (record label), a Swedish rec ...
'' (1955) – Mrs. McGinley *'' Slander'' (1957) – Mrs. Doyle *''
Untamed Youth ''Untamed Youth'' is a 1957 American teen film directed by Howard W. Koch, written by John C. Higgins and Stephen Longstreet, and starring Mamie Van Doren and Lori Nelson as two starstruck sisters who are sentenced to farm labor. Plot Sisters ...
'' (1957) – Judge Cecilia Steele Tropp *'' Sweet Smell of Success'' (1957) – Loretta Bartha (uncredited) *''
Ma Barker's Killer Brood ''Ma Barker's Killer Brood'' is a neo noir crime film, released in 1960. The low-budget film was directed by Bill Karn and starred Lurene Tuttle as the title character, Ma Barker. The film is a highly fictionalized account of the life of Ma Ba ...
'' (1960) – Ma Barker *'' Psycho'' (1960) – Mrs. Chambers *'' Critic's Choice'' (1963) – Mother in "Sisters Three" *'' The Shoplifters'' (1964) – The Shoplifter *'' Nightmare in the Sun'' (1965) – Gideon's wife *''The Restless Ones'' (1965) *'' The Ghost and Mr. Chicken'' (1966) – Mrs. Natalie Miller *'' The Fortune Cookie'' (1966) – Mother Hinkle *'' The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit'' (1968) – Aunt Martha *'' Walking Tall'' (1973) – Grandma *''Dirty Duck'' (1974) – Duck's Mother (voice) *''
Walking Tall Part 2 ''Walking Tall Part 2'' is the 1975 sequel to the crime/action film, '' Walking Tall''. ''Walking Tall Part 2'' was directed by Earl Bellamy, and produced by Charles A. Pratt. The film stars Bo Svenson as Buford Pusser, replacing Joe Don Baker, ...
'' (1975) – Grandma Pusser *''The World Through the Eyes of Children'' (1975) – Tuttle *''
Evil Town ''Evil Town'' is a 1987 United States, American zombie film, zombie horror film directed by Curtis Hanson, Mardi Rustam, Larry Spiegel and Peter S. Traynor. ''Evil Town'' was the last film with the actor Dean Jagger. Synopsis The film dep ...
'' (1977) – Mildred Phelps *'' Walking Tall: Final Chapter'' (1977) – Grandma Pusser *'' The Manitou'' (1978) – Mrs. Herz *''The Story of Heidi'' (1979) – Clara's Grandmother (voice) *'' Nutcracker Fantasy'' (1979) – Aunt Gerda (voice) *'' Parts: The Clonus Horror'' (1979) – Anna Noble *''
Human Experiments ''Human Experiments'' (also known as ''Beyond the Gate'') is a 1979 American horror film directed and co-produced by Gregory Goodell. It stars Linda Haynes, Geoffrey Lewis, Ellen Travolta, Aldo Ray, Jackie Coogan and Lurene Tuttle. This film e ...
'' (1979) – Granny *'' The Dukes of Hazzard'' (1979–1985) – Annie Cargill *'' White Mama'' (1980) – Mrs. McIntyre *'' Return of the Beverly Hillbillies'' (1981) – Mollie Heller *'' Testament'' (1983) – Rosemary Abhart *'' It Came Upon the Midnight Clear'' (1984) – Mrs. Hunt


Records

Tuttle played the swallow in " The Happy Prince", an adaption of Oscar Wilde's short story with
Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...
and
Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...
(1946). The story had been adapted for radio by Orson Welles in 1944, featuring a musical score by
Bernard Herrmann Bernard Herrmann (born Maximillian Herman; June 29, 1911December 24, 1975) was an American composer and conductor best known for his work in composing for films. As a conductor, he championed the music of lesser-known composers. He is widely r ...
. It aired on the Philco Radio Hall of Fame broadcast on December 24, 1944 with Lurene Tuttle playing The Swallow and featuring Bing Crosby alongside Orson Welles, with Herrmann's music conducted by Victor Young.


See also


References


Citations


General references

* Frank Buxton and Bill Owen, ''The Big Broadcast 1920–1950''. * Leonard Maltin, ''The Great American Broadcast: A Celebration of Radio's Golden Age''. New York: Dutton, 1997. * Gerald Nachman, ''Raised on Radio''. New York: Pantheon, 1998.


Audio


''The Great Gildersleeve'', "Marjorie's Cake" (7 September 1941)

''The Adventures of Sam Spade'', "The Dry Martini Caper" (1 August 1948)

''Suspense'', "Can't We Be Friends?"
(25 July 1946)
''Suspense'', "The Sisters"
(with Rosalind Russell, 9 December 1948)


External links

*
From radioGOLDINdex: a partial list of radio programs in which Lurene Tuttle appeared


{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuttle, Lurene 1907 births 1986 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Indiana American radio actresses American television actresses Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) California Republicans Deaths from cancer in California People from Steuben County, Indiana People from Greater Los Angeles Vaudeville performers