Shirley Ritts (October 28, 1920 – February 24, 2008) was an American interior designer whose company helped to popularize rattan furniture in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s.[1] Ritts was the mother of photographer and music video director, Herb Ritts (August 13, 1952 – December 26, 2002).[1][2]
Early life
Shirley Ritts (Roos) was born in Baltimore, Maryland on October 28, 1920.[1] Her father, Martin Roos, was an ophthalmologist and she had two sisters. Ritts was raised Jewish. [1] She married her husband Herb Ritts, Sr. in 1950, who happened to own a furniture company at the time.[1]
The Ritts Company
The Ritts Company benefited from the popularity of rattan furniture during the post-World War II era.[1] Herb Ritts acted as the company's furniture designer, and Shirley was in charge of sales and marketing.[1] The couple had four children whom they raised in a 27-room, Spanish-style house in Brentwood, California.[1] Ritts assisted with the set design on Elvis Presley's 1961 film Blue Hawaii, in which she used rattan furniture and Polynesian design.[1] Ritts often traveled extensively once her company introduced a line of high-end Lucite furniture.[1][3][4]
Personal life
Ritts was married three times, and had five children. Her first husband was Leo Arthur Herringman (1916-1991), and they had one daughter Susan Herringman Ritts who was later adopted by Herb Ritts Sr. Her third husband was Herb Ritts Sr., and they had 4 children; Herb Ritts, Rory Ritts, Gary Ritts, and Christina Ritts. Ritts and her husband Herb divorced during the late 1970s.[1] They remarried in the 1990s.[1] She was also known for introducing Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere to each other.[5] Shirley Ritts died of emphysema at her home in Brentwood, California on February 24, 2008 at the age of 87.[1]
Popular culture
In the first installment of Lethal Weapon film series, the Ritts Co. store can be seen from a rooftop where Mel Gibson's character Martin Riggs is trying to subdue a suspect.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Designer, mother of Herb Ritts." Los Angeles Times Archives. March 1, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ "Shirley Ritts (L), mother of the late fashion photographer Herb Ritts, blows the crowd a good-bye kiss as actor Patrick Swayze watches during a ceremony honoring fashion photographers Ritts and Mario Testino with the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award in Beverly Hills, California March 20, 2005." www.alamy.com. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- ^ "Ritts Co. \ Shirley & Herb Ritts: American." (Vintage (Lucite) furniture created by Shirley and Herb Ritts.) www.incollect.com. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- ^ "Lucite furniture from the Ritts Company." www.tenondesign.com. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- ^ Avins, Mimi. "Welcome to Her Matriarchy." Los Angeles Times, September 26, 1999. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
External links
- "Vintage Rattan Set – a Tiki – Tastic Addition to the Hacienda." Retro Road Map with Mod Betty (features photographs of Ritts Co. Rattan furniture.)
- " A 1970s Astrolite Lucite Fish by Shirley Ritts."
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This page was last edited on 28 March 2024, at 21:14