Ruth Lyons, (born Ruth Evelyn Reeves October 4, 1905, died November 7,
1988) was a pioneer radio and television broadcaster in Cincinnati,
Ohio. It is said Ruth Lyons accidentally invented the daytime TV talk
show. Like Arthur Godfrey and others of the era, Lyons built a TV
empire.Ruth Evelyn Reeves was born in Cincinnati, the older daughter
of Margaret Keturah Henry and Samuel Spencer Reeves. Her father was a
travel agent who taught music at the University of Cincinnati in the
evenings; her mother was also a musician. It was a close-knit family
with other family members living in the immediate neighborhood. The
Reeves family was a religious one; many of their activities were based
at the local Presbyterian church. The women of the family had both
strong faith and strong determination to provide help wherever it was
needed. Grandmother Reeves was a great influence on her granddaughter;
she began her household duties early and when they were completed, she
went into the neighborhood to do good deeds. She was a well-read woman
with strong opinions and was unafraid to voice them. Lyons' mother
always reminded her daughter to do her best at everything she did. The
family considered books and reading, as well as music, to be as
necessary to living as food, clothing and shelter.Lyons' first public
performance was in a grammar school play. Her mother was embarrassed
when her daughter misspoke her lines and there was laughter, but Lyons
was glad she had made everyone laugh. By age twelve, she was
interested enough in performing to write and produce her own musical.
As a young girl during World War I, Lyons was involved in fund-raising
activities for the Red Cross and worked with her minister to help
entertain patients at local hospitals.
1988) was a pioneer radio and television broadcaster in Cincinnati,
Ohio. It is said Ruth Lyons accidentally invented the daytime TV talk
show. Like Arthur Godfrey and others of the era, Lyons built a TV
empire.Ruth Evelyn Reeves was born in Cincinnati, the older daughter
of Margaret Keturah Henry and Samuel Spencer Reeves. Her father was a
travel agent who taught music at the University of Cincinnati in the
evenings; her mother was also a musician. It was a close-knit family
with other family members living in the immediate neighborhood. The
Reeves family was a religious one; many of their activities were based
at the local Presbyterian church. The women of the family had both
strong faith and strong determination to provide help wherever it was
needed. Grandmother Reeves was a great influence on her granddaughter;
she began her household duties early and when they were completed, she
went into the neighborhood to do good deeds. She was a well-read woman
with strong opinions and was unafraid to voice them. Lyons' mother
always reminded her daughter to do her best at everything she did. The
family considered books and reading, as well as music, to be as
necessary to living as food, clothing and shelter.Lyons' first public
performance was in a grammar school play. Her mother was embarrassed
when her daughter misspoke her lines and there was laughter, but Lyons
was glad she had made everyone laugh. By age twelve, she was
interested enough in performing to write and produce her own musical.
As a young girl during World War I, Lyons was involved in fund-raising
activities for the Red Cross and worked with her minister to help
entertain patients at local hospitals.
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