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Katharine "Kay" Raht (May 8, 1901 – December 2, 1983) was an American character actress of radio, stage and screen, best known as the longtime radio voice of Mrs. Alice Aldrich, mother of Henry Aldrich.

Early life and career

Born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Raht was the daughter of Kate Mears Edmiston and prominent wool manufacturer Charles Augustus Raht, and the granddaughter of mining engineer Julius Eckhardt Raht. She attended the Shipley School and Bryn Mawr College, where she earned both her Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees, in 1923 and 24, respectively.

Following her graduation, Raht spent the better part of the 1920s and thirties teaching French at Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia and at the University of Chattanooga, school years preceding occasional forays into summer stock. Finally, in 1937, prior to launching her acting career in earnest, Raht put in several months' work with Bob Porterfield's Barter Theatre (an experience she later described as "better training than any acting school"), including roles in Frederick Jackson's The Long Night and actor/director John Cromwell's Alice.

The Aldrich Family

In 1938, what began as a small, non-speaking role in the Broadway production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, upgraded eventually to understudy—and, later still, replacement— for Evelyn Varden, as Mrs. Julia Gibbs, led in turn to a successful audition for what, over nearly a decade and a half, became Raht's signature role as Aldrich Family matriarch Alice Aldrich. (Mrs. Aldrich is the wife of Sam, mother of Henry and Mary, and, most notably, the family member whose "stentorian" summons—"Hen-ry-y-y-y?! Hen-ry Aldrich!"—opens each episode, eliciting the equally iconic reponse, "Coming, Mother," from the show's young protagonist.) During World War II, Raht served for two years as senior hostess at the Stage Door Canteen, where visiting GIs were especially appreciative of the running gag regarding her "three sons named Henry"—those being Ezra Stone, Norman Tokar, and Dick Jones, each of the three "Henry Aldriches" who had performed alongside Raht before himself joining the armed services. In total, Raht numbered among her Aldrich offspring at least five Henrys—the aforementioned plus Raymond Ives and Bobby Ellis—as well as six Marys, including Jone Allison, Charita Bauer, Betty Field, Ann Lincoln, Mary Mason, and Patricia Peardon.

One striking irony regarding the show is the fact that neither Raht nor her customary Aldrich spouse House Jameson—these being by far the most frequently and famously featured of Aldrich Family parents (and the ones who, as a result, received myriad parenting-related correspondence)—had ever, in real life, been a parent; indeed, Raht never married.

Theater

In the fall of 1956, struck by what would prove her penultimate Broadway appearance, several critics drew attention to Raht's brief but impactful contribution as Aunt Mary Drexel in the biographical comedy The Happiest Millionaire, starring Walter Pidgeon as Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle. Commending both her work and that of fellow cast member Ruth White—as "the formidable and caustic Mrs. Benjamin Duke"—was the Cleveland Plain Dealer's William F. McDermott, who then noted that "in the similar role of Aunt Mary Drexel, Katharine Raht moves with the authority of a battleship in a fleet of rowboats." Likewise noting that similarity was Boston Globe critic Cyrus Durgin, whose observation is tinged with regret.

Katharine Raht as old Aunt Mary Drexel is well-matched with Ruth White as the sharp-spoken and domineering Mrs. Duke. A pity the two could not have had a whole scene of venomous conversation with each other.

An amusing—albeit initially concerning—Millionaire sidelight, pitting the typically indomitable Raht against a whole new 'breed' of female adversary, is recounted by entertainment writer Dorothy Kilgallen.

uring rehearsals in New York an alligator handbag tied to a stick had served as a substitute for the real thing so often that the actress quite forgot she would eventually be confronted by a genuine 'gator. When Abigail, a six-foot long, 200-pound, utterly repulsive creature writhed on stage on cue, Miss Raht delivered her line, "Don't you dare!", gulped, and fainted dead away.

Personal life and death

An only child who lost her mother at age nine and her father twenty years later, Raht never married and, whether by design or happenstance, she appears to have all but flown under the radar of the entertainment/gossip columnists. That said, she did maintain at least some ties to her birthplace and her extended family, specifically her cousin, Mrs. Charles Scott Thomas (née Louise Raht Llewellyn). In addition, Raht did at least briefly reside with fellow stage and radio actress Dorothy Sands. Self-described "partner" and "head" on their respective 1940 U.S. Census form entries, the roommates did eventually collaborate professionally on at least one substantial project, when, in April 1943, both Raht and Sands were added to the regular cast of the NBC serial Snow Village Sketches.

Raht died in December 1983 at age 82 in her home town of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Works

Plays

TV appearances

References

1. "Kay Wants Out". The Billboard. September 11, 1943. p. 5.
2. ^ Cox, Jim (2007). The Great Radio Sitcoms. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7864-6912-3.
3. ^ "News in Society". The Chattanooga Daily Times. May 26, 1901. p. 10.
4. ^ "Former Teacher Plays Mother Role; Katharine Raht Is Heard as Mrs. Aldrich in WIBA Series". The Capital Times. Jul 30, 1939. p. 8.
5. "United States, Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MG61-4Z8 : Sun Mar 10 19:53:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Charles A Raht and Kate Raht, 1910.
6. ^ "News Notes of Clinton: Manager McFarland Is Released; Mrs. Kate Raht Dies in Chattanooga". The Pantagraph. May 30, 1910. p. 1.
7. "Social and Personal". The Chattanooga Daily Times. March 5, 1893. p. 10.
8. ^ "Charles A. Raht Dies of Injuries; Fall Down Stairs Proves Fatal for Manufacturer". The Chattanooga Daily Times. September 3, 1030. p. 3.
9. "Faculty". University of Chattanooga Bulletin. Volume IX, No. 1. April 1929. p. 10.
10. Culhane, Thomas J. (October 10, 1937). "Virginia Barter Theater Has Growing Success; Gets Good Professional Talent, Abingdon Patronage and Road Schedule; Resting between rehearsals". The Washington Star. p. F-3.
11. "A Barter Graduate". The Buffalo News. August 26, 1939. p. 42.
12. "Barter Theatre to Give Play, Waynesboro". The Richmond News Leader. June 26, 1937. p. 14.
13. "Show Stopping". The Washington Herald. August 9, 1937. p. 11.
14. ^ DeLong, Thomas (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 221. ISBN 978-0-7864-0149-9.
15. "The Democrat Snapshots: The Aldrich Family". Butler Daily Democrat. August 16, 1941. p. 2.
16. ^ "'Mother Aldrich' Vacationing Here; Katharine Raht Left Out of Script During Visit". Chattanooga Daily Times. August 8, 1945. p. 4.
17. "Tonight's WBEN Features: Rosalind Russell and Robert Young Star; Kay Raht as Mother Aldrich". The Buffalo News. April 12, 1951. p. 36.
18. ^ Dave (September 24, 1952). "Radio Review: The Aldrich Family". Variety. p. 28. ProQuest 963124707. With Bobby Ellis, Johnny Fiedler, House Jamison, Katherine Raht, Patricia Hosley, others. After a year's layoff the familiar 'Coming, Mother' trademark of the Aldrich clan is again being heard on NBC. Return Sunday (21) marks the family's 14th season on the airwaves.
19. "The Aldrich Family". The Sacramento Bee. July 1, 1939. p. 14.
20. Handsaker, Gene (Associated Press writer). "Remember Hennr-e-e-e-e Aldrich?". Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin. May 3, 1969. p. 21.
21. "'The Aldrich Family' Cast and Crew". Old Time Radio Researchers.
22. "Henry Aldrich's Patient Father". Minneapolis Star Tribune Roto Magazine. May 24, 1953. p. 36.
23. "Noted Radio 'Mother' Is Masquerading Schoolma'm". The Fresno Bee. Sep 14, 1941. p. 27.
24. "Katharine Raht credits". IBDB.
25. "Squaring Off". New York Daily News. June 9, 1957. Pt. 2, p. 3
26. Hobe (November 28, 1956). "'The Happiest Millionaire' Lyceum Theatre". Variety. p. 32. ProQuest 1017022600. Notable in the large company that frolics through George Jenkin's artfully cluttered World War I era living room setting are Diana van der Vlis as the handsome, spirited Cordelia; George Grizzard as her initially awed but indomitable suitor Angier Duke, who proves himself with jiu-jitsu and ultimately takes over the situation; Katharine Raht as a tribally haughty dowager aunt, and Ruth White as the sardonic Mrs. Duke.
27. Dash, Thomas R. (November 23, 1956). "'The Happiest Millionaire' Lyceum Theatre". Women's Wear Daily. p. 32. ProQuest 1523341445. Katharine Raht is just right as an imperious dowager whose authority seems to cower the Biddles.
28. McDermott, William F. (October 30, 1956). "Walter Pidgeon Stars in a Comedy About Life of a Happy Millionaire". The Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 25.
29. Durgin, Cyrus (Nov 13, 1956). "'The Happiest Millionaire' Life With Philadelphia Father; Others". The Boston Globe. p. 15.
30. Kilgallen, Dorothy (October 5, 1956). "On Broadway". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 33.
31. "Social Activity". The Chattanooga Daily Times. July 8, 1956. p. 26.
32. "MISS LLEWELLYN BRIDE OF TODAY; Marriage to Dr. Charles R. Thomas of Baltimore to Be Solemnized This Afternoon". The Chattanooga News. September 1, 1923. p. 11.
33. "United States, Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQT8-1NB : Wed Jul 24 10:30:21 UTC 2024), Entry for Dorothy Sands and Katherine Raht, 1940.
34. "Snow Village Population Is On Increase". The Fresno Bee Magazine. April 11, 1943. p. 4.
35. Reinhard, Mark S. (2009). Abraham Lincoln on Screen: Fictional and Documentary Portrayals on Film and Television. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-7864-3536-4.
36. Talent Showsheet September 15-21, 1952: Monday September 15. Ross Reports on Television. September 14-20, 1952. Vol. 4, No. 4. Supplement C.
37. Shanley, J. P. (May 22, 1956). "'All Expenses Paid' Stars Lee Remick". The New York Times. p. 67. ProQuest 113837905. 'All Expenses Paid,' the play on 'Robert Montgomery Presents' last night over Channel 4 was rewarding entertainment for several reasons. The principal one was the appearance of Lee Remick The play in which she appeared, written by Robert J. Shaw, was a fragile but diverting story about a salesgirl who won a trip to the Bahamas and met a wary bachelor, played by Lee Bowman. Bowman also perfarmed engagingly and did an impressive turn as a Bongo drummer in one tropical sequence. There also was a bright contribution by Katharine Raht, as Bowman's understanding aunt.
38. Terrace, Vincent (1995). Television Specials: 3,201 Entertainment Spectaculars, 1939 through 1993. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-7864-3773-3.
39. Roberts, Jerry (2003). The Great American Playwrights on the Screen: A Critical Guide to Film, TV, Video and DVD. New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 93. ISBN 1-55783-512-8.
40. Hubler, Dough (Sep 8, 2020). "Harvey with Art Carney (9-22-58)". YouTube.
41. "The Cast". Detroit Free Press. November 15, 1959. p. 18-TV.
42. Karman, Harvey (November 17, 1959). "Television Reviews: Hallmark Hall of Fame ('A Doll's House')". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 11. ProQuest 2338131508. Hume Cronyn, Eileen Heckart and Jason Robards gave the expert readings expected of them and were ably supported by Katherine Raht, Mildred Trares, Maggie King, Randy Gaynes and Richard E. Thomas.
43. Art (December 16, 1959). "Television Reviews: The Children of Strangers". Variety. p. 27. ProQuest 1032416569. 'The Children of Strangers' was a piece of video blah written by Virginia Mazer and upon which many actors were wasted. She had some old biddy of 'The Founders Club' interfering with an essay contest winner because the prize essayist was a Hungarian refugee, who began, 'America is my mother in a babushka,' the only memorable line in the playlet. Of course, the nasty old biddy was nullified when the brave school teacher wrote a letter to the local newspaper. The biddy was played tongue-in-cheek by Katharine Raht.
44. Powers, Thomas (April 12, 1960). "Television Reviews: 'Hallmark Hall of Fame' ('The Cradle Song')". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 11. ProQuest 2338358846. The cast of the most recent production, again using James Costigan's adaptation of the original by Maria Martinez Sierra, was essentially the same as thta when the play was done four years ago, except for Helen Hayes this time in a leading role. The cast was gilt-edged, and through force of personality, often lifted the creaking drama above its station. Helen Hayes, Judith Anderson, Charles Bickford, Geoffrey Horne, Joanna Roos and Kathy Willard were memorable. Assisting were Mildred Trares, Deidre Owen, Zohra Lampert, Katharine Raht and Kate Harrington. Siobhan McKenna's peculiar style must be an acquired taste, like strong cheese.
45. "The Cradle Song". The Daily Gleaner Radio-TV Guide. April 2, 1960. p. 8.
46. "A Priest's Problems in Changing Church". The Binghamton Evening Press. October 15, 1966. pp. 5, 20. ProQuest 2043652158. A three-part drama by award-winning author Robert Crean, 'The Priest,' will be presented by the Frontiers of Faith on NBC and Channel 40 in color on successive Sundays starting Oct. 16 (4:30-5 p.m.). It will be produced by the Television Religious Program Unit of NBC News in cooperation with the National Council of Catholic Men. Fred J. Scollay will portray the priest, Linda Prochnicka will play the nun who is serving as his nurse, and Stephen Joyce will be Connors, one of his friends. Also in the cast of Part One will be Katherine Raht as the matron, Jenny Egan as the spinster, Lois Kibbee as Mum, Eugene Roche as Pa, Michael Prince as Msgr. Joe, Mel Jurden as Msgr. Mike, and Florence Anglin as Amelia.
47. "New York Sound Track". Variety. June 25, 1969. p. 22. ProQuest 1014857173. Burgess Meredith will narrate a children's fantasy 'Winter of the Witch,' a short by new filmmaker Gerald Herman featuring Hermione Gingold and Anna Strasberg.

External links

• Katharine Raht at the Internet Broadway Database
• Katharine Raht at IMDb
• Katharine Raht at Old Time Radio Researchers

• 1901 births
• 1983 deaths
• American radio actresses
• American stage actresses
• American television actresses
• Actresses from Tennessee
• Bryn Mawr College alumni
• Shipley School alumni
• People from Chattanooga, Tennessee
• 20th-century American actresses