Tom Smothers Parents: Meet Thomas B. Smothers And Ruth Smothers

Publish date: 2024-04-09

This article shares a piece of in-depth information about the parents of Tom Smothers; Thomas and Ruth Smothers.

Tom Smothers, half of the renowned Smothers Brothers comedy and song combo, has died at the age of 86. They were known for their irreverent humor that challenged problems such as racism, the Vietnam War, and television censorship.

His death was reported at his Santa Rosa, California home by his family, who revealed that he died of an aggressive form of cancer.

Tom’s legacy includes not only comedic talent but also a persistent collaboration with his younger brother, Dick Smothers. They weathered the intricacies of a six-decade career together, leaving an enduring influence on the entertainment world.

Career of Tom Smothers

The Smothers Brothers initially wanted to be folk musicians. Tom did not feel that he was good enough to be a professional musician, but he was funny enough to do comedy. The two began adding comedy bits to their act.

It was a series of performances when we started as a duet in Aspen. I did all the introductions. I’d just make up stuff for every song. And Dickie said, “Why don’t you try repeating some of that stuff?” I said, “I don’t know.” I didn’t know that you could repeat the stuff. And I started repeating it and Dickie would say, “That’s wrong.” And pretty soon he’d say, “That’s wrong, you’re stupid.” It sort of became an argument.

Tom’s first foray into the medium of television was as a regular on The Steve Allen Show in 1961. He followed that role with a single episode of Burke’s Law.

The Smothers Brothers next appeared on the CBS sitcom The Smothers Brothers Show from 1965 to 1966. Tom felt that the show did not play to the brothers’ strengths and wanted creative control over their next venture.

Tom Smothers negotiated creative control over their next CBS show, a variety show entitled The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1967. The documentary Smothered describes how the brothers (particularly Tom) fought CBS censors to sneak in references to religion, recreational drugs, sex, and the Vietnam War. Tom Smothers is widely quoted as having said: “The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen.”

The brothers’ oppositional politics led to their show’s demise, with David Steinberg later claiming “The most innovative variety show on television shut down because of political pressure”. During the same years, Tom wrote and recorded mainstream songs, such as “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.” Tom later stated, “When the Smothers Brothers came on the air we had no political point of view or social consciousness, it just evolved as the show was on the air.”

Smothers introduced some musical acts at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. As he became more politically active, he befriended similarly inclined celebrities like John Lennon.

In 1969, Smothers and Lennon played acoustic guitars on Lennon’s recording of his single “Give Peace a Chance” (Smothers’ name was also mentioned in the song). The song was written and performed during Lennon’s and Yoko Ono’s ‘Bed-In’ honeymoon on June 1, 1969, in Room 1742 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Smothers can be seen in the hotel room in the 1988 documentary film Imagine John Lennon.

Who is the father of Tom Smothers?

Tom Smothers’s father was called MAJ Thomas Bolyn Smothers Jr. He was born on 27 Jul 1908 in Rockingham County, North Carolina, USA and died on 26 Apr 1945 (aged 36) in Japan.

Major Smothers served in the 45th Infantry Regiment and died during World War II, while being transported from a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Fukuoka, Japan to a POW camp in Mukden, Manchukuo. He is the father of Thomas and Dick Smothers — The Smothers Brothers.

Survived the sinking of the Oryoku Maru at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, and the bombing of the Enoura Maru at Takao, Formosa. He was held in Japan at Fukuoka #3 and #22. Since he had been scheduled to be sent to Manchuria, the Japanese boarded him onto a transport, on which he died, to Korea.

Graduated from West Point, Class of 1929. Became a member of the 45th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts. Report date: 7 May 1942, he was held at Hoten POW Camp (Mukden) Manchuria 42-123. He survived the Bataan Death March only to die on a Japanese Hell ship, they were en route to Korea when an Allied pilot mistakenly bombed the ship, he was a victim of friendly fire.

He was buried at sea. There is a monument at Fort William McKinley, Manila, Philippines. His family was awarded the Purple Heart Medal & Bronze Star Medal. He left three children: Tom, Dick & Sherry, and his wife, Ruth Remick Smothers.

Who is the mother of Tom Smothers?

Tom Smothers’s mother was called Ruth Genevieve Remick Smothers. She was born on 15 Jan 1916 in Colorado, USA, and died on 3 Jan 1988 (aged 71) at Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, USA.

Widowed mother to 2 sons, Tom and Dick (“The Smothers Brothers” – American folk singers, musicians and comedians), and daughter, Sherry Smothers. Also, mother to daughter, Michelle, from a later marriage.

source: www.ghbase.com

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLTBmqqeZpOkunDAzqZkrKWfqbWmvtJmp5qqlaPBtHnMnpytZaSdvK6t0maZZqudpMGpsdGsZJqmlGK%2FtsDHZqqmp6SdsrO%2Fjg%3D%3D