Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Known as the “First Lady of Radio,” Lurene Tuttle was a talented actress on both television, stage and radio, as well as a drama and diction coach. Her most memorable roles included Effie from “Girl Friday” and numerous characters on radio series “The Adventures of Sam Spade.” Tuttle often appeared in 15 shows a week, from soap operas to crime dramas to thrillers and she was admired for her versatility in the field.  

Tuttle was born in Pleasant Lake, Indiana, on August 29, 1907, but was raised on a ranch at the Arizona border. From an early age, Tuttle studied acting in Phoenix, Arizona.  

When she was 15, her family moved to Monrovia, California and Tuttle appeared in numerous productions for the Pasadena Playhouse, where she received the equivalent of a college drama education. She was also a troupe member of Murphy’s Comedians, a vaudeville company. 

Tuttle voiced several characters in “The Adventures of Sam Spade.” The radio series created by Dashiel Hammett ran on ABC in 1946, CBS from 1946-1949 and NBC from 1949-1951.  

In the 1940’s, Tuttle began teaching radio technique and re-trained some prominent actors who were returning from extensive WWII duty. Following a lengthy departure in the 1950’s due to TV commitments, she returned to teaching acting almost to the end. Some of her more famous students included Red Skelton, Orson Welles, Milton Berle, Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows. 

In 1947, she debuted in the film Heaven Only Knows. She acted in plenty of films, including Psycho, Ma Barker’s Killer Brood, Goodbye, My Fancy and many more. She also played in numerous sitcoms such as Life with Father and Julia, where Tuttle played as amusing regulars. 

Tuttle also made various guest appearances in shows such as The Whistler and Dragnet.    

Tuttle passed away on May 28, 1986, due to cancer. She was 78 years old. 

March 2025

By Lily Saylor