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

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)

In Australia

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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

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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.[citation needed]

Filmography

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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

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  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
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