Lois Ranson obit

 Actress Lois Ranson has died

She was not on the list.

Dark-haired 'B' picture heroine of vixenish prettiness who had a brief screen career before retiring to marry. Signed by Republic in her teens after a few bit parts, her films included Trade Winds (1938), Money to Burn (1939), Winter Carnival (1939), Grandpa Goes to Town (1940), Under Texas Skies (1940), Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941), Angels With Broken Wings (1941), Pierre of the Plains (1942) and The Renegade (1943), her last. A popular Hollywood pin-up with GIs during WW2, she did not return to show business after marrying in 1944. She died a few months short of her 100th birthday.

An exceedingly pretty starlet who briefly flashed across cinema screens in the early 40s was L.A. native Lois Ranson. She began with bit parts in 1939 and was signed by Republic Pictures a year later to play young ingénue Betty Higgins in the modest family comedy Money to Burn (1939). A winner at the box office, it spawned a trio of equally unambitious sequels (Grandpa Goes to Town (1940), Earl of Puddlestone (1940) and Meet the Missus (1940)). In between, the petite brunette joined The Three Mesquiteers on the range in Under Texas Skies (1940) and (on loan to United Artists) played a high school student seduced by a married man in Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941). To underpin her status as a budding starlet, her face was featured on the cover of several fanzines. Lois was also a wartime favourite pin-up with GI's and did her bit to entertain military personnel at the famed Hollywood Canteen. However, there were lean pickings for her in Hollywood. When Republic dropped her contract, she made just one more film, co-starring with Buster Crabbe as the perfunctory love interest in The Renegade (1943), released by Poverty Row outfit PRC. After just four years in show biz, Lois called it quits and vanished from the scene.

 

Filmography

 

Winter Carnival (1939) as Patsy (uncredited)

What a Life (1939) as student (uncredited)

Money to Burn (1939) as Betty Higgins

Grandpa Goes to Town (1940) as Betty Higgins

The Crooked Road (1940) as street girl (uncredited)

Grand Ole Opry (1940) as Susie Ann Weaver

Earl of Puddlestone (1940) as Betty Higgins

Under Texas Skies (1940) as Helen Smith

Friendly Neighbors (1940) as Nancy Williams

Meet the Missus (1940) as Betty Higgins

Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941) as Gretchen Clark

Petticoat Politics (1941) as Betty Higgins

Angels with Broken Wings (1941) as Lois Wilson

Pierre of the Plains (1942) as Clara

The Renegade (1943) as Julie Martin