Ruth Hiatt
Encyclopedia
Ruth Hiatt was an actress in motion pictures beginning in the silent film
era. She is best known for performing in 1920s comedies directed by Jack White
, Norman Taurog
, and Mack Sennett
.
. Hiatt made her film debut at the age of nine with the Western Lubin Company in San Diego, California
. She made two two-reel comedies The Inner Chamber (1915) and The Vigilantes
(1918). Afterward she reuturned to high school which she
completed around 1922.
. She became his leading lady
at United Artists
studios in 1922. Hiatt was a former classic dancer who was Hamilton's successor to Irene Dalton
. Their first work together is the short comedy The Speeder (1922). It is a production of the Hamilton Comedy Film Company.
Hiatt played a street urchin in support of Hamilton in Lonesome (1924). In the role she wears high top shoes which were once worn by United States Senator Harry Lane
of Oregon
. Lane discarded them at the home of his cousin, cartoonist Pinto Colvig
.
In Smith's Baby (1925) Hiatt is the female lead with Raymond McKee. Sennett cast Hiatt and McKee with Our Gang
child star Mary Ann Jackson
in 1927. The short comedies continued the Jimmy Smith series with titles like Smith's Pony (1927), Smith's Cook (1927), Smith's Cousin (1927), and Smith's Modiste Shop (1927). The movies were produced by Pathe Pictures. Jackson and McKee teamed with Hiatt and Hoot Gibson
in The Flying Cowboy (1928).
Hiatt appeared in the second chapter of the Ken Maynard
Sunset Trail (1932) serial entitled Battling With Buffalo Bill
. Maynard's horse, Tarzan, was in this story of the open range before the army and law enforcement established themselves in western cattle towns.
Hiatt's film career endured through 1941. Some of her later appearances were in the Three Stooges comedy Men In Black
, the Our Gang
entry Beginner's Luck
, Just Speeding (1936) and Double Trouble (1941).
. She won first prize for beauty at the annual Venice Beach bathing beauties parade in August 1923. She wore a costume of black and white checkered silk, with hat and slippers that matched. The Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers (WAMPAS) selected Hiatt among its thirteen baby star actresses for 1924. Blanche Mahaffey, Carmelita Geraghty
, and Clara Bow
were also chosen. Hiatt was blonde but one reporter covering the WAMPAS banquet in San Francisco, in December 1923, wrote that she was brunette.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
era. She is best known for performing in 1920s comedies directed by Jack White
Jack White (film producer)
Jack White was an American film producer, director and writer. His career with film began in the late 1910s and continued until the early 1960s. White produced over 300 films; directed more than 60 of these, and wrote more than 50...
, Norman Taurog
Norman Taurog
Norman Rae Taurog was an American film director, and screenwriter.Between 1920 and 1968, Taurog directed over 140 films, and directed Elvis Presley in more movies than any other director...
, and Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett was a Canadian-born American director and was known as the innovator of slapstick comedy in film. During his lifetime he was known at times as the "King of Comedy"...
.
Child actress
Hiatt was born in Cripple Creek, ColoradoCripple Creek, Colorado
The City of Cripple Creek is a Statutory City that is the county seat of Teller County, Colorado, United States. Cripple Creek is a former gold mining camp located southwest of Colorado Springs near the base of Pikes Peak. The Cripple Creek Historic District, which received National Historic...
. Hiatt made her film debut at the age of nine with the Western Lubin Company in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. She made two two-reel comedies The Inner Chamber (1915) and The Vigilantes
The Vigilantes
The Vigilantes was a twentieth century American publishing syndicate. Their pamphlets and newspapers were distributed with the intention of inspiring patriotism and Allied involvement in World War I. The membership was largely composed of men, who dominated its leadership, though much of the...
(1918). Afterward she reuturned to high school which she
completed around 1922.
Film comedian
As teenager she was discovered by comedian Lloyd HamiltonLloyd Hamilton
Lloyd Vernon Hamilton was a major silent film star. Hamilton is best remembered as the stocky half of silent comedy's "Ham and Bud" , and later, his own series of short comedies...
. She became his leading lady
Leading lady
Leading lady is an informal term for the actress who plays a secondary lead or supporting role, usually a love interest, to the leading actor in a film or play. It is not usually applied to the leading actress in the performance if her character is the protagonist.A leading lady can also be an...
at United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
studios in 1922. Hiatt was a former classic dancer who was Hamilton's successor to Irene Dalton
Irene Dalton
Irene Dalton was an American silent film actress.She came to prominence in motion pictures through her appearances in Christie comedies produced by Charles Christie....
. Their first work together is the short comedy The Speeder (1922). It is a production of the Hamilton Comedy Film Company.
Hiatt played a street urchin in support of Hamilton in Lonesome (1924). In the role she wears high top shoes which were once worn by United States Senator Harry Lane
Harry Lane
Harry Lane was an American physician and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he worked as the head of the state insane asylum before entering local politics and served as mayor of Portland...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Lane discarded them at the home of his cousin, cartoonist Pinto Colvig
Pinto Colvig
Vance DeBar "Pinto" Colvig was an American vaudeville actor, radio actor, newspaper cartoonist, prolific movie voice actor, and circus performer whose schtick was playing clarinet off-key while mugging....
.
In Smith's Baby (1925) Hiatt is the female lead with Raymond McKee. Sennett cast Hiatt and McKee with Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
child star Mary Ann Jackson
Mary Ann Jackson
Mary Ann Jackson was an American former child actress who appeared in the Our Gang short subjects series from 1928 to 1931. She was a native of Los Angeles, California.-Career:...
in 1927. The short comedies continued the Jimmy Smith series with titles like Smith's Pony (1927), Smith's Cook (1927), Smith's Cousin (1927), and Smith's Modiste Shop (1927). The movies were produced by Pathe Pictures. Jackson and McKee teamed with Hiatt and Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson was an American rodeo champion and a pioneer cowboy film actor, director and producer.-Early life and career:...
in The Flying Cowboy (1928).
Hiatt appeared in the second chapter of the Ken Maynard
Ken Maynard
Ken Maynard was an American motion picture stuntman and actor.-Biography:Born Kenneth Olin Maynard in Vevay, Indiana, he was one of five children. His younger brother, Kermit Maynard, also became a stuntman and actor....
Sunset Trail (1932) serial entitled Battling With Buffalo Bill
Buffalo Bill
William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a United States soldier, bison hunter and showman. He was born in the Iowa Territory , in LeClaire but lived several years in Canada before his family moved to the Kansas Territory. Buffalo Bill received the Medal of Honor in 1872 for service to the US...
. Maynard's horse, Tarzan, was in this story of the open range before the army and law enforcement established themselves in western cattle towns.
Hiatt's film career endured through 1941. Some of her later appearances were in the Three Stooges comedy Men In Black
Men in Black (1934 film)
Men in Black is the third short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
, the Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
entry Beginner's Luck
Beginner's Luck
Beginner's Luck is a 1935 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 135th Our Gang short that was released.-Plot:...
, Just Speeding (1936) and Double Trouble (1941).
Modeling career
In August 1922, Hiatt modeled for Beckman Furs of West 7th Street in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. She won first prize for beauty at the annual Venice Beach bathing beauties parade in August 1923. She wore a costume of black and white checkered silk, with hat and slippers that matched. The Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers (WAMPAS) selected Hiatt among its thirteen baby star actresses for 1924. Blanche Mahaffey, Carmelita Geraghty
Carmelita Geraghty
Carmelita Geraghty was an American silent-film actress.-Early life:Her father was screenwriter Tom Geraghty. She was the sister of writers Maurice Geraghty and Gerard Geraghty....
, and Clara Bow
Clara Bow
Clara Gordon Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom in the silent film era of the 1920s. It was her appearance as a spunky shopgirl in the film It that brought her global fame and the nickname "The It Girl." Bow came to personify the roaring twenties and is described as its leading sex...
were also chosen. Hiatt was blonde but one reporter covering the WAMPAS banquet in San Francisco, in December 1923, wrote that she was brunette.