Ruth Hale, a multifaceted individual, primarily identified herself as a writer, having penned over 70 plays. However, she was better recognized for her acting talents and her role as a theater owner. Alongside her husband Nathan, Ruth co-founded community theaters in California, Utah, and Arizona, with their children and grandchildren continuing the family legacy to this day.
After completing two years of study at the University of Utah, Ruth taught school until the age of 19, when she left to serve a religious mission in the eastern United States for the LDS (Mormon) Church. Upon her return to Utah, she met and married Nathan Hale, and they were subsequently asked to serve as drama leaders in their ward (Mormon congregation). The couple began writing their own plays to avoid paying royalties and toured around the Salt Lake Valley, performing in their productions for eight years.
However, Nathan's dissatisfaction with his job at Utah Copper led Ruth to suggest that he pursue a career in film, taking advantage of the shortage of leading men in Hollywood during World War II. The couple relocated to southern California in 1943, with Nathan taking a job as a milkman to accommodate his acting schedule. He began appearing with the Altadena Players at the Pasadena Playhouse, while Ruth continued to write plays, selling some for $100 each.
In 1946, the Hales participated in the production of two films about the Mormon welfare program, marking the beginning of film production within the Mormon Church. Despite limited film opportunities, the couple opened the 125-seat Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, California in 1947. They soon expanded the theater, which became a hub for family-friendly productions, attracting bookings from church groups and other denominations.
The Hales' children frequently appeared in productions, with their home often serving as a makeshift stage. Ruth drew inspiration from her personal experiences, incorporating them into her writings. "Lilacs in the Rain" was based on a young man who had proposed to her before she left on her mission, while "Thank You Papa" was about her life with her feisty English father.
The Hales also produced their own films, releasing three Mormon-themed films from 1955 to 1957. These productions were assisted by their nephew William Hale and numerous members of the Glendale West Ward. The films included "Choice Land," "Oliver Cowdery," and "Is Fast Day a Headache?"
The Hales and their children went on to appear in multiple films produced for the Mormon Church. Ruth wrote the story for the controversial "Til Death Do Us Part" (1960),in which daughter Sherry played a young woman considering an interfaith marriage. After retiring to Utah in 1983, Ruth continued to act, even appearing in a wheelchair after suffering a major stroke in 2001. She made a cameo appearance in "The Singles Ward" (2002),the directorial debut of grandson Kurt Hale, and another grandson, Will Swenson, has also ventured into LDS Cinema as a director.
