# Dear Ruth

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This article is about the Broadway play. For the film adaptation, see [Dear Ruth (film)](/source/Dear_Ruth_(film)).

***Dear Ruth*** is a successful 1944 [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) play written by [Norman Krasna](/source/Norman_Krasna). It ran for 680 performances.

## History

Krasna wrote a serious play, *[The Man with Blond Hair](/source/The_Man_with_Blond_Hair)*, which received a tepid response. He said that [Moss Hart](/source/Moss_Hart) suggested he write a commercial comedy instead along the lines of *[Junior Miss](/source/Junior_Miss)*. Krasna based the family in the play on that of [Groucho Marx](/source/Groucho_Marx), who was a good friend and occasional collaborator.[1][2]

The play was named in honor of Krasna's first wife, Ruth.[3]

The original production of the play was directed by [Moss Hart](/source/Moss_Hart) and starred [John Dall](/source/John_Dall).[4] It was a big success, running for 680 performances.[5]

Film rights were sold for a reported $450,000 with the proviso that a movie not be made until the play finished a two-year run.[6][7] The film, also titled *[Dear Ruth](/source/Dear_Ruth_(film))*, premiered on June 10, 1947.

*Dear Ruth* was also published as an [Armed Services Edition](/source/Armed_Services_Edition), distributed to American servicemen during [World War II](/source/World_War_II).[citation needed]

## References

1. McGilligan, Patrick, "Norman Krasna: The Woolworth's Touch", *Backstory: Interviews with Screenwriters of Hollywood's Golden Age*, University of California Press, 1986. pp. 218, 226

1. Davis, George Kidder. ["Columbia vs Krasna"](https://books.google.com/books?id=hHcFrwffiXIC&q=krasna&pg=PP97). *Supreme Court Appellate Division-First Department*

1. "Norman Krasna's Wife Is Awarded Divorce". *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. April 28, 1950.

1. Vagg, Stephen. ["Not Quite Movie Stars: John Dall"](https://www.filmink.com.au/not-quite-movie-stars-john-dall/). *Filmink*. Retrieved 30 July 2025.

1. [*Dear Ruth*](http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/13545/Dear-Ruth) at Playbill

1. "Screen News: 'Dear Ruth' Is Bought For Reported $450,000". *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. February 8, 1945.

1. Joseph W. Taylor (July 21, 1947). "Biggest Film Firm: Paramount's Puzzler: Will Attendance Slide Be Brief or Prolonged? Takes Precautions: Markets Borderline Movies, Keeps Best in 9-Month Backlog Televised Newsreels Tried Paramount Pictures' Puzzler: Will Drop In Attendance Be Brief Or Prolonged? Company Is Taking Precautions Markets Borderline Movies, Keeps Best in 9-Months Backlog; Pre-Tests Films". *[The Wall Street Journal](/source/The_Wall_Street_Journal)*

## External links

- [Review of Broadway production](https://archive.org/details/variety156-1944-11/page/n249) at Variety

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dear Ruth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Ruth) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Ruth?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.