Ruth Landers was born in 1938 in Frankfurt, Germany. Her family fled to Shanghai in November 1938 after Kristallnacht. She immigrated to the United States in 1948.[1] Her eldest daughter Audrey was born in Philadelphia in 1959.[2]
In 1973, she established a printing company called Office Research Corporation, which she sold in 2000.[3][4] In the 1980s, Landers began to establish herself as a producer of television and films, alongside managing her daughters Audrey and Judy's careers.[5][6]
The Huggabug Club
In 1995, she created and executive produced the children's television series The Huggabug Club (1995–2000).[1][7] The family self funded the production, which initially launched on 70 PBS stations, soon growing to 144 the next spring.[8] Landers would later donate the rights to The Huggabug Club to PBS.[6]
Landers STAR Collection
In 1998, Landers moved to Sarasota, Florida to live near her daughters. They discovered the town after visiting while doing live performances for The Huggabug Club.[9] In Florida, Landers would go on to develop a line of affordable fashion for women alongside her daughters, which she sold through Home Shopping Europe, QVC and Shop NBC called Landers STAR Collection.[1][6] The fashion line was inspired by the Landers family's personal taste and desire to create a collection wearable by mothers, daughters and grandmothers.[10]
Landers died of natural causes in Sarasota on April 18, 2024.[1]
