Leora Thatcher (May 12, 1894 – March 5, 1984) was an American actress on stage, film, and television, and a teacher.

Early years

Thatcher was born in Logan, Utah, on May 12, 1894, the daughter of Sarah Catherine Hopkins and Moses Thatcher, Jr. She had a brother and two sisters. She attended

Brigham Young College Brigham Young College was a college and high school in Logan, Utah. It was founded by Brigham Young on 6 August 1877, 23 days before his death. He deeded several acres of land to a board of trustees for the development of a college. This was ...

, Utah State Agricultural College, and the

University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...

(UU), from which she graduated in 1921. At UU, she studied speech and theater under

Maud May Babcock Maud May Babcock (May 2, 1867 – December 31, 1954) was the first female member of the University of Utah's faculty. She taught at the university for 46 years, beginning in 1892. While there she established the University Theater, originated the ...

. She taught speech at Logan High School for two years before she became an actress.

Career

Thatcher's career began with her acting with the KSL Players in Utah. She joined the

Moroni Olsen Moroni Olsen (June 27, 1889November 22, 1954) was an American actor. Life and career Olsen was born in Ogden, Utah to Latter-day Saint parents Edward Arenholt Olsen and Martha ( Hoverholst) Olsen, who named him after the Moroni found in the ...

Players in 1923 and spent eight years performing with that touring repertory company. For eight years she played Ada Jester in '' Tobacco Road'' on Broadway, after which she continued in that role in the play's touring company. Her other Broadway credits included ''

One Bright Day ''One Bright Day'' is the fourth album by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, released in 1989. It won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album The Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was ...

'' (1952), ''The Male Animal'' (1952), '' The Children's Hour'' (1952), ''

The Music Man ''The Music Man'' is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments ...

'' (1957), and '' J.B.'' (1958), Films in which Thatcher appeared included ''

Counsel for Crime ''Counsel for Crime'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by John Brahm starring Otto Kruger, Douglass Montgomery and Jacqueline Wells. Plot Following his graduation from law school, Senator Robert Maddox's (Hall) adopted son Paul (Montgomer ...

'' (1937), ''

Theodora Goes Wild ''Theodora Goes Wild'' is a 1936 American screwball comedy film that tells the story of the residents in a small town who are incensed by a risqué novel, unaware that the book was written under a pseudonym by a member of the town's leading fami ...

'' (1936), and a series of comedies starring Andy Clyde. On radio, Thatcher portrayed Marge Mulvaney on ''Lora Lawton'' and Mrs. Kramer on ''The Right to Happiness'' and was a supporting player on ''

The Mel Blanc Show ''The Mel Blanc Show'' was a radio situation comedy in the United States. It was broadcast on CBS from September 3, 1946 to June 24, 1947. Format Although Mel Blanc "did countless character impersonations on other radio programs, as well as bein ...

''. She also was heard on '' Aunt Jenny's Stories'', ''Ellen Randolph'', ''Good Neighbors'', and ''

Second Husband ''Second Husband'' is a radio soap opera in the United States.Buxton, Frank and Owen, Bill (1972). ''The Big Broadcast: 1920–1950''. The Viking Press. SBN 670-16240-x. P. 209. The program told " e dramatic story of Brenda Cummings and the probl ...

'', and she directed some radio programs. Television programs on which Thatcher appeared included ''I Remember Mama'', ''

Kraft Theatre ''Kraft Television Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series running from 1947 to 1958. It began May 7, 1947 on NBC, airing at 7:30pm on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. It first promoted MacLaren's Imperial Cheese ...

'', ''

NBC Matinee Theater ''Matinee Theater'' is an American anthology series that aired on NBC during the Golden Age of Television, from October 31, 1955, to June 27, 1958. Its name is often seen as ''Matinee Theatre''. The series, which ran daily from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. E ...

'', ''

Robert Montgomery Presents ''Robert Montgomery Presents'' is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC from January 30, 1950, until June 24, 1957. The live show had several sponsors during its eight-year run, and the title was altered to feature the ...

'', and '' Studio One''. In 1943, while her parents were ill, Thatcher taught a play production class at USAC. Thatcher was inducted into the Pioneer State Theatre Hall of Fame in 1976.

Death

Thatcher died on March 5, 1984, in Salt Lake City, aged 89.

Photographs

The Leora Thatcher Photograph Collection is housed at the

Utah State Historical Society The Utah State Historical Society (USHS), founded in 1897 and now part of the Government of Utah's Division of State History, encourages the research, study, and publication of Utah history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the ...

in Salt Lake City, Utah. It contains 36 photographs, most of which are of Thatcher and her relatives.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thatcher, Leora 1894 births 1984 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Utah American film actresses American radio actresses American soap opera actresses American stage actresses American television actresses University of Utah alumni