Marcia Ralston

Marcia Ralston
Born
Marie Mascotte Ralston

(1906-09-19)19 September 1906
Died23 November 1988(1988-11-23) (aged 82)
Other namesMascotte Ralston
OccupationActress
Years active1933–1976
Spouses
(m. 1927; div. 1940)
    Bud Henderson
    (m. 1954)
    Children1
    RelativesRobert Young (brother-in-law)

    Marcia Mascotte Ralston (19 September 1906 – 23 November 1988) was an Australian-born American actress who appeared in Hollywood films in the 1930s and 1940s.

    In Australia

    Ralston's father was well known Australian singer and actor John Ralston. She attended Bethlehem College, Ashfield and won third place in a 1926 Miss Australia competition.[1] Known as Mascotte Ralston, she won a place in J. C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company, working her way up from the chorus until she was playing Lili in Lilac Time.[2] She had a leading part in the "comedy mystery" The Ghost Train from January 1927, and during its run she met drummer Phil Harris and they married on 2 September 1927,[3] then moved to California.[4] She had a Warner Bros. contract by 1937 and appeared in a number of supporting and leading roles, mostly in B films.[5]

    Career in Hollywood

    Ralston's marriage to Harris ended in divorce in 1940. She continued to act in various bit parts and supporting roles until the late 1940s. Work after this included instructing for the Arthur Murray dance studio in the early 1950s. Ralston married Bud Henderson in 1954.[6] Henderson's sister Betty was married to actor Robert Young. The connection resulted in an occasional supporting role as Nurse Donnelly in the TV series Marcus Welby, M.D. in the early 1970s. Ralston died at Rancho Mirage, California in 1988.

    Filmography

    Year Title Role Notes
    1933 Night Flight Nightclub Vamp Uncredited
    1934 Hollywood Party Show Girl Uncredited
    1937 Her Husband's Secretary Mrs. Garron (scenes deleted)
    Call It a Day Beatrice Gwynn
    Fly Away Baby Ila Sayre
    Ever Since Eve Camille Lansing
    The Singing Marine Helen Young
    Sh! The Octopus Vesta Vernoff
    Missing Witnesses Mabel Jones Uncredited
    1938 Gold Is Where You Find It Molly Featherstone
    Fools for Scandal Jill
    Men Are Such Fools Wanda Townsend
    Crime Takes a Holiday Margaret 'Peggy' Stone
    1941 San Antonio Rose Diner Uncredited
    The Kid from Kansas Linda Walker
    Never Give a Sucker an Even Break Stewardess Uncredited
    Sea Raiders Leah Carlton Serial
    Keep 'Em Flying USO Girl Uncredited
    Paris Calling Renee
    1942 Sunday Punch Blonde Uncredited
    1947 Out of the Blue Patricia Uncredited

    References

    1. ^ Finalists in Miss Australia, 1926. Morning Bulletin, (Rockhampton, Queensland) Jan 24, 1927. Accessed 31 December 2013
    2. ^ "Music & Drama". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXXIV, no. 18, 154. Tasmania, Australia. 6 January 1926. p. 3. Retrieved 25 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
    3. ^ "Dancing Time". Table Talk. No. 3095. Victoria, Australia. 1 September 1927. p. 22. Retrieved 25 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
    4. ^ Pittsburgh Post Gazette, September 17, 1940 p.27 Accessed 31 December 2013
    5. ^ "Australian Marcia Ralston Describes Life in Hollywood" The Mail, (Adelaide, South Australia) 17 July 1937, Page 2 Accessed 31 December 2013
    6. ^ "Behind the Hollywood Scene" The Day, November 15, 1954. Harrison Carroll Accessed 31 December 2013