Ruta Lee on the back story of the “Mr. Wonderful” Award
Original Airdates: Sept. 5-8, 2025
TVC 705.4: Ed welcomes back Ruta Lee (High Rollers, Witness for the Prosecution, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Consider Your Ass Kissed), legendary singer, actress, and philanthropist, and the chairperson emeritus of The Thalians, the charitable organization to which Ruta has dedicated much of her life over the past seventy years, and which to date has raised has raised more than $50 million for mental health related causes. Ruta recently announced that The Thalians will honor Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Neil Sedaka with its Mr. Wonderful award at this year’s Thalians Christmas gala, which will take place at the Bel Air Country Club Saturday, Dec. 6. The evening will also include a special appearance by the one and only Ann Jillian. For tickets and more information, Thalians.org. Topics this segment include the back story of Mr. Wonderful award (which was designed by Walt Disney), and why Ruta believes that Southern California “is the place where God lives.”
(L to R) Raymond Burr, Ruta Lee, Don Gardner, and Philip Ober, from “The Case of the Screaming Woman,” an episode of Perry Mason that originally aired in April 1958
Ruta Lee on the power of live theatre
Original Airdates: Sept. 5-8, 2025
TVC 705.5: Entertainment legend Ruta Lee talks to Ed about why live theatre has always been near and dear to her heart. The Thalians, the charitable organization to which Ruta has dedicated much of her life over the past seventy years, will present Neil Sedaka with its annual Mr. Wonderful award at this year’s Thalians Christmas gala, which will take place at the Bel Air Country Club Saturday, Dec. 6. The evening will also include a special appearance by the one and only Ann Jillian. For tickets and more information, Thalians.org.
(L to R) Ruta Lee, Clint Eastwood, and Debbie Reynolds
Ruta Lee, Clint Eastwood, and Lucille Ball
Original Airdates: Sept. 12-15, 2025
TVC 706.4: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Ruta Lee (High Rollers, Witness for the Prosecution, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Consider Your Ass Kissed), entertainment legend and the chairperson emeritus of The Thalians. Ruta recently announced that The Thalians will honor Neil Sedaka with its Mr. Wonderful award at this year’s Thalians Christmas gala, which will take place at the Bel Air Country Club Saturday, Dec. 6. The evening will also include a special appearance by Ann Jillian. For tickets and more information, Thalians.org. Topics this segment include some of the previous recipients of Mr. Wonderful award, which include Lucille Ball (that year, of course, it became the “Ms. Wonderful” award) and Clint Eastwood.
