Dear Ruth

Dear Ruth is a successful 1944 Broadway play written by Norman Krasna. It ran for 680 performances.

Krasna wrote a serious play, The Man with Blond Hair, which received a tepid response. He said that Moss Hart suggested he write a commercial comedy instead along the lines of Junior Miss. Krasna based the family in the play on that of 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 and starred John Dall. It was a big success, running for 680 performances.^[4]

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.^[5][6] The film, also titled Dear Ruth, premiered on June 10, 1947.

Dear Ruth was also published as an Armed Services Edition, distributed to American servicemen during World War II.^{[citation needed]}