Ruth Martin (television character)
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- Not to be confused with Ruth Martin (Neighbours)
| Ruth Martin | |
|---|---|
 June Lockhart as Ruth Martin. |
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| First appearance | "Transition" (1957) |
| Last appearance | "The Wayfarers" (1964) |
| Created by | Robert Maxwell Jack Wrather |
| Portrayed by | Cloris Leachman(1957) June Lockhart (1958-1964) |
| Information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Age | @32 years (in 1957 debut) |
| Date of birth | ca.1925 |
| Family | Paul Martin (husband) Timmy Martin (adopted son) Petrie J. Martin (uncle in law) Lisa (niece) Lassie (beloved companion animal) |
| Spouse(s) | Paul Martin |
| Children | Timmy Martin |
Ruth Martin is a fictional dramatic character on the long running television program Lassie (1954 – 1973). Ruth is the wife of farmer Paul Martin and the adoptive mother of Timmy Martin. Ruth makes her first appearance in the fourth season episode, "Transition" (1957) and her last appearance in the tenth season episode, "The Wayfarers" (1964). The character is portrayed on the series, first, by Cloris Leachman (1957) and, secondly, by June Lockhart (1958-1964).
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[edit] Overview
Ruth Martin first appears on Lassie in the show's fourth season episode, "Transition" (1957). Ruth and her husband Paul arrive in the fictional community of Calverton to purchase the Miller farm when Ellen Miller and her teenage son Jeff decide to move to Capitol City. The Martins also permanently adopt Timmy, a boy whom the Millers have provided with a foster home. Lassie, a rough collie on the farm, becomes Timmy's companion animal when the Millers depart for Capitol City. The dog finds a home with the Martins.
Ruth's husband Paul is an agricultural college graduate. In the episode "The Pied Piper", Paul and Timmy visit Paul's alma mater. Paul was stationed in England during WWII and, in one episode, the Martins entertain the son of Paul's war-time English friends. Paul's uncle, Petrie J. Martin ("Uncle Petrie") of Millvale, Pennsylvania, takes up residence on the farm when Ruth becomes concerned about the amount of farmwork overwhelming her husband. She phones Petrie and invites him to become a member of the farm family.
Ruth is familiar with authors like Isaak Walton and mythological characters like Leander -- knowledge which perhaps indicates a college background.
Ruth is a practical, competent woman and is sometimes solely in charge of the farm when her husband is away. She milks her cow, Bessie and gathers eggs from the hens nesting in the barn. She prepares healthful, nutritious meals for her family from farm-fresh ingredients. Her farmhouse table -- set with gay checkered cloth, eye-catching Blue Willow china, and heaps of wholesome goodies, is a fond memory for many fans of the show.
Ruth is a courageous and quick thinking outdoorswoman, In one episode, she calmly shoots and kills a mountain lion who threatens her after she steps in a leghold trap on a lonely road near the farm. In another episode, she takes a job as a fire watcher in a forestry tower. In in yet another episode, she accompanies Timmy to a Coon Dog Race and pitches a tent as their overnight accommodation.
In spite of being a strong, determined woman, Ruth has a few losing clashes of wills with Lassie. In one episode, Lassie won't part with her worn out blanket when Ruth provides a new one, and, in another episode, Lassie frustrates the lady of the house when she stubbornly insists upon lounging in a rocking chair festooned with Ruth's newly crafted cushions. In yet another episode, Lassie annoys Ruth when she refuses to eat anything from a new refrigerator.
Ruth is the daughter of a National Park Service officer and grew up at Yellowstone Park. In one episode, she vacations with her son at the Grand Canyon and meets an old family friend at the park. Ruth has a young niece Lisa who visits the farm and is instrumental in saving her aunt's life when she becomes locked in a shed poisoned by a leaking gas line.
[edit] Closure
As Lassie entered the mid-sixties, it was obvious that teenaged Jon Provost was outgrowing his role as Timmy Martin. The producers felt he was too old for a dog as a nursemaid and decided the show should strike a different course. In "The Wayfarers", the opening three part episode of the tenth season (1964), the producers shipped the Martins to Australia, where Paul would teach agriculture.
Lassie was forced to remain in the States due to Australia's strict quarantine regulations. She became Cully Wilson's companion animal. When Cully suffered a disabling heart attack, she found a home with United States Forestry Service worker, Corey Stuart (Robert Bray). Lassie would see several seasons of wilderness adventures with Corey and his co-worker friends, Scott Turner (Jed Allan} and Bob Erikson (Jack De Mave). "The Wayfarers" (1964) was the last appearance of the Martin family. They would never be seen or heard again.
[edit] Miscellanea
- Ruth Martin was initially portrayed by Cloris Leachman. Leachman was unhappy playing second fiddle to a dog and refused to sign a contract. She was replaced by June Lockhart.
- In 1964, the producers decided that the Martins would move to Australia where Paul would teach agriculture. Lockhart commented wryly, "We were supposed to go over there so that Paul could show the Australians how to grow things. We hadn't had a successful bean crop in six seasons. What could they possibly learn from us?"
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[edit] References
- Collins, Ace. Lassie: a dog's life. Penguin Books, 1993.
