Ted and Eileen Salter: Talented artists and performers 

By Steve Roush
HCP columnist

NOTE: This is Part 3 of a series leading up to the Highland County Historical Society inducting the 2023 class of its Hall of Fame. This week, we profile the late Ted and Eileen Salter. 

Ladies and gentlemen, Ted and Eileen Salter performed variety act shows of puppetry, music and British pantomime for audiences, paying or not. The Salters appeared on “Truth of Consequences,” “To Tell the Truth” and “The Steve Allen Show,” as well as several short films. The Salters made Highland County their home, and Ted even wrote a song for Hillsboro entitled “Hillsboro, O-HI-O.” 

Up until his death in 2001 at the age of 86, Ted created hundreds of caricatures of currently performing magicians for the Hollywood Magic Castle. The Magic Castle is a “Magician’s Mecca” located in Los Angeles, Calif. 

Edwin B. “Ted” Salter was born Sept. 26, 1914 in Croydon County, England, and Eileen Ruth Taylor Salter was born Nov. 6, 1924 in London, England. Ted served in the military for England during World War II. Ted and Eileen were married in Kenton, Middlesex, England on Sept. 21, 1946. They entered the United States and moved to Chicago, Illinois on Oct. 8, 1950. They then moved to Los Angeles, California in 1953, and became U.S. citizens in 1957.  

Eileen was a singer and variety arts performer, particularly puppetry of all types.  

The Salters moved to Hillsboro in 1989. Ted and Eileen volunteered locally. Specifically, Ted did artwork and made signs for Samaritan Outreach and the Highland County Animal Shelter, free of charge. As mentioned earlier, the Salters loved Hillsboro and Highland County and Ted wrote a song for Hillsboro that is entitled “Hillsboro, O-HI-O,” and the lyrics are as follows: 

“If you travel on Route Fif-ty to High-way Six-ty two, you be sure to stop, and rest a minute, before you drive on through. When you see a lot of friendly faces, smiling everywhere, you will know that you’re in Hills-bor-o, where people really care. 

“It may not be the biggest city in the USA. But we’re proud of our rich heritage and give thanks ev’ry day. For the sky of blue and the trees so green, the sparkling winter snow. Through fate may tear us from our roots, and order us away, and if Uncle Sam should need us, we are ready to obey.  

“But we all agree that our hearts will be back in Hills-bor-o, O-HI-O!” 

The Salters were married for 54 years. Ted passed away June 19, 2001 at the age of 86. Eileen passed away Oct. 26, 2012 at the age of 87. They are buried at the Hightop Cemetery in Highland County.  

In addition to Ted and Eileen Salter, the 2023 Highland County Historical Society Hall of Fame inductees are Admiral John Jennings Ballentine, Albert “Uncle Al” Lewis and Wanda Lou “Captain Windy” Lewis and Maynard Roberts Surber.

The recipients will be honored at an induction ceremony Sunday, Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Hillsboro, followed by a reception at Highland House directly across the street from the church. The public is cordially invited.

For more information on the Highland County Historical Society, please call (937) 393-3392 or email the society at hchistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

Steve Roush is chairman of the Highland County Historical Society Board of Trustees, a board member of the Highland District Hospital Foundation, a vice president of an international media company and a columnist and contributing writer for The Highland County Press. He can be reached by email at roush_steve@msn.com.  

Pictured are Ted and Eileen Salter.