1960s portrait of Ruth Prins (Dolph Zubick, courtesy Debra Prins)
Often in the public eye, Ruth Prins‘ life was documented by countless professional photographers along with the camerawork of her fans.
Below, in roughly chronological order, are images that didn’t make the cover story but still merit a look:
In 1939, Ruth performs in “Disraeli” at University of Washington Showboat Theatre. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In 1940, Ruth stars in “Holiday” at University of Washington Showboat Theatre. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In 1940, Ruth performs in “Outward Bound” at University of Washington Showboat Theatre. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In 1940, Ruth stars as Elizabeth Barrett opposite her future husband, Robert Prins, playing Robert Browning, in “The Barretts of Wimpole Street” at University of Washington Showboat Theatre. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On May 19, 1941, Ruth (left), future husband Robert Prins (right) celebrate the first anniversary of University of Washington Penthouse Theater with (center) professor and Mrs. Glenn Hughes. (Charles Bell, courtesy Debra Prins)March 21, 1942, wedding of Ruth Balkema and Robert Prins at University Temple. (Courtesy Debra Prins)Circa 1946, Ruth and Robert Prins pose with son Bob, born in 1943. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In 1948, following World War II service, Robert Prins plays the lead role in “Life with Father” at University of Washington Showboat Theatre. Son Robert is on the couch. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In August 1951, Ruth (right) guides a University of Washington Junior Theater production of “The Man Who Married a Dumb Wife,” about a man who has married a speechless woman who has her speech restored. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In a 1952 episode, Ruth as “The Story Lady” perfoms with local grade-schoolers on her weekly “Telaventure Tales” show on KING-TV. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On a 1950s black-and-white TV set, a boy watches “Wunda Wunda.” (Courtesy Debra Prins)On a 1950s black-and-white TV set, a girl watches “Wunda Wunda.” (Courtesy Debra Prins)On Feb. 27, 1954, Ruth performs as Wunda Wunda at Rhodes department store in downtown Seattle. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On Feb. 27, 1954, Ruth performs at Rhodes department store in downtown Seattle. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On May 4, 1954, Ruth, in Wunda Wunda garb, receives an “outstanding achievement” award from the Music and Art Foundation at its annual May breakfast in the Spanish ballroom of the Olympic Hotel. (Courtesy Debra Prins)Dressed as Wunda Wunda and backed by a display of mailed-in children’s drawings, Ruth (left) greets young fans June 5, 1954, at the grand opening of The Toy Shop at Seventh and Pike. (Forde Photographers, courtesy Debra Prins)Dressed as Wunda Wunda and backed by a display of mailed-in children’s drawings, Ruth greets young fans June 5, 1954, at the grand opening of The Toy Shop at Seventh and Pike. (Forde Photographers, courtesy Debra Prins)On Nov. 9, 1954, Ruth celebrates the first anniversary of “Wunda Wunda” on her show set. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On Dec. 4, 1954, Ruth visits a Mercer Island preschool to promote Toys for Tots. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In 1954, Ruth appears as Wunda Wunda at an area grocery store. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On Dec. 18, 1955, Ruth as Wunda Wunda entertains a throng for the KING-TV Kiddies Christmas Party at the Orpheum Theatre downtown.On April 7, 1956, Ruth as Wunda Wunda greets children at Renton High School for the Altrusa Club. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In May 1956, Ruth as Wunda Wunda visits a Renton preschool. (Courtesy Debra Prins)Elliott Brown, the first unseen Music Man on the “Wunda Wunda” show, is shown in 1957 with Ruth’s daughter, Debra, at age 6. (Forde Photographers, courtesy Debra Prins)In a 1950s episode of “Wunda Wunda,” an elephant raises its trunk while Ruth tells the story of “The Elephant Child,” Rudyard Kipling’s ode to curiosity. (Courtesy Debra Prins)Through 1950s special effects, Ruth as “Wunda Wunda” appears to sit in a desert.(Courtesy Debra Prins)In a 1950s episode, Ruth appears as Wunder Wunda with a horse. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In a 1950s episode, Ruth appears as Wunder Wunda with a horse. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In the 1950s, the Wright family holds a “Wunda Wunda” party, in photos given to Ruth. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In the 1950s, Ruth as “Wunda Wunda” poses with Friendly Tiger. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On Feb. 12, 1958, Ruth greets children at what was billed as a Valentine Party at Northgate mall. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On Feb. 12, 1958, Ruth greets children at what was billed as a Valentine Party at Northgate mall. (Courtesy Debra Prins)Ruth’s coveted Peabody Award for 1957, presented April 2, 1958. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On June 9, 1958, during her first trip to Portland since “Wunda Wunda” expanded to the city’s KGW-TV, Prins teaches an audience of Children and adults one of her signature songs, “I’m a Little Teapot.” (Allen J. Delay, the Oregonian, courtesy Debra Prins)On June 9, 1958, Ruth as Wunda Wunda performs in Portland. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On June 9, 1958, Ruth as Wunda Wunda performs in Portland. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On June 14, 1958, Ruth as Wunda Wunda rides in the Portland Rose Festival Parade. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On June 14, 1958, Ruth as Wunda Wunda rides in the Portland Rose Festival Parade. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On June 14, 1958, Ruth as Wunda Wunda rides in the Portland Rose Festival Parade. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In August 1958, Ruth as Wunda Wunda and children ride in a University District Seafair Parade prize-winning float. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In July 1959, Ruth as Wunda Wunda and two boys ride an elephant to promote a children’s drawing contest. (University Herald, courtesy Debra Prins)In 1959, Ruth pats a dog on set as she launches her nationally distributed “Compass Rose” show on Native American culture. (Forde Photographers, courtesy Debra Prins)In the 1960s, Ruth as Wunda Wunda reads from the 1943 classic “Little Folks of Other Lands.” (Courtesy Debra Prins)In the 1960s, Ruth as Wunda Wunda reads from the 1943 classic “Little Folks of Other Lands.” (Courtesy Debra Prins)In the early 1960s, Ruth poses with Dephne Duck on her new “Wunda Wunda” set, a rotating hut. (Grady-Jentoft photo, courtesy Debra Prins)In the early 1960s, Ruth poses with Daphne Duck on her new “Wunda Wunda” set, a rotating hut. (Grady-Jentoft photo, courtesy Debra Prins)In the early 1960s, Ruth bows on her new “Wunda Wunda” set, a rotating hut. (Grady-Jentoft photo, courtesy Debra Prins)In the early 1960s, Ruth poses inside her new “Wunda Wunda” set, a rotating hut. (Grady-Jentoft photo, courtesy Debra Prins)In the early 1960s, Ruth poses inside her new “Wunda Wunda” set, a rotating hut. (Grady-Jentoft photo, courtesy Debra Prins)On May 6, 1961, Ruth as Wunda Wunda takes part in a Friday Harbor parade. (Courtesy Debra Prins)On May 6, 1961, Ruth as Wunda Wunda takes part in a Friday Harbor parade. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In December 1961, (from left) the real-life Bozo the Clown, Stan Boreson and Ruth Prins mug while standing next to their inanimate doppelgangers. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In 1961, Ruth (left) receives the Sugar Plum Award for creative TV from Washington Press Women. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In the early 1970s, as her Los Angeles TV character Mrs Alphabet, Ruth poses with a sizeable porpoise at Marineland of the Pacific. (Bob Noble, courtesy Debra Prins)In 1979, Ruth Prins is flanked by one of her preschool students, Kentaro Yamada, and Kentaro’s mother, Teruko Yamada. (Courtesy Mitsuo and Teruko Yamada)Gov. John Spellman’s Jan. 19, 1981, appointment of Ruth to the state Public Broadcasting Commission. (Courtesy Debra Prins)At a reunion party in 1991 are (from left) Teruko Yamada, teachers Shirley Wright and Martha Nester (who taught at Ruth Prins’ preschool), Ruth Prins and Mitsuo Yamada. The Yamadas are the parents of Kentaro Yamada (not pictured), who attended prins’ preschool in Magnolia from 1978 to 1980. (Courtesy Mitsuo and Teruko Yamada)In the mid-1990s, Ruth is flanked by daughter Debra and son Bob. (Courtesy Debra Prins)In 2001, Ruth poses with (from left) her brother Dean, her son Bob and a Debra’s uncle’s wife Virginia during Debra’s nephew’s wedding in Malibu. (Debra Prins)
