Shirley Ritts
Encyclopedia
Shirley Ritts was an American
interior designer whose company helped to popularize rattan furniture in the United States
during the 1950s and 1960s. Ritts was the mother of acclaimed photographer and music video director
, Herb Ritts
(August 13, 1952-December 26, 2002).
Shirley Ritts was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 28, 1920. Her father was an ophthalmologist. She married her husband, Herb Ritts (senior) in 1950, who happened to own a furniture
company at the time. The Ritts Company benefited from the popularity of rattan
furniture during the post-World War II era. Herb Ritts acted as the company's furniture designer
, while Shirley was in charge of sales
and marketing
. The couple had four children, including photographer Herb Ritts, whom they raised in a 27 room Spanish-style house in Brentwood, California
.
Shirley Ritts assisted with the set design on Elvis Presley
's 1961 film, Blue Hawaii
, in which she used rattan furniture and Polynesian
design. Ritts often traveled extensively once her company introduced a line of high-end acrylic furniture.
Ritts and her husband, Herb, divorced during the late 1970s. She never remarried.
Shirley Ritts died of emphysema
at her home in Brentwood, California
, on February 24, 2008, at the age of 87.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
interior designer whose company helped to popularize rattan furniture in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the 1950s and 1960s. Ritts was the mother of acclaimed photographer and music video director
Music video director
A music video director is driven by a given music track. These are called music videos and are then used as promotional tools for popular music singles...
, Herb Ritts
Herb Ritts
Herbert "Herb" Ritts was an American fashion photographer who concentrated on black-and-white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture.-Early life and career:...
(August 13, 1952-December 26, 2002).
Shirley Ritts was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 28, 1920. Her father was an ophthalmologist. She married her husband, Herb Ritts (senior) in 1950, who happened to own a furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
company at the time. The Ritts Company benefited from the popularity of rattan
Rattan
Rattan is the name for the roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.- Structure :...
furniture during the post-World War II era. Herb Ritts acted as the company's furniture designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
, while Shirley was in charge of sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
and marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
. The couple had four children, including photographer Herb Ritts, whom they raised in a 27 room Spanish-style house in Brentwood, California
Brentwood, California
Brentwood is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population is 51,481 as of 2010....
.
Shirley Ritts assisted with the set design on Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's 1961 film, Blue Hawaii
Blue Hawaii
Blue Hawaii is a 1961 musical film set in the state of Hawaii and starring Elvis Presley. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written American Musical. The movie opened at no...
, in which she used rattan furniture and Polynesian
Polynesian culture
Polynesian culture refers to the indigenous peoples' culture of Polynesia who share common traits in language, customs and society. Chronologically, the development of Polynesian culture can be divided into four different historical eras:...
design. Ritts often traveled extensively once her company introduced a line of high-end acrylic furniture.
Ritts and her husband, Herb, divorced during the late 1970s. She never remarried.
Shirley Ritts died of emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
at her home in Brentwood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, on February 24, 2008, at the age of 87.