The June 1958 TV Radio Mirror article I put up a few years back.

always dark and often cold. When at last I was able to rent an apartment of my own, I painted every inch of it white.

The story of how Jose Quintero and the other young people around him converted a ramshackle structure into a theater and built up a much-respected acting company could make a book as long as "Gone With the Wind" and as funny as "My Sister Eileen" (which was written just a few blocks away.

Describing her part of it, Kathy says, "We were always painting and cleaning and repairing. Our big aim was to improve the place so that we wouldn't get scared every time the fire inspectors came. All of us did everything. To start, I was captain of the john detail. My mother, who had a hard time getting me to clean the bathtub at home, would have been astounded to see the way I scrubbed."

After all their manual labor, they also put shows on the boards. Kathy had her first part in "Dark of the Moon," in which she played a sixty-five-year-old woman. "We split the take. I got three dollars a week."

But she gained experience and a new attitude toward life. "It wasn't so bad to be shy and sensitive when I discovered the others were, too. We worked out our problems together."

Drama critics from the daily newspapers discovered, about that time, that something exciting, stage-wise, was happening down in the Village. They began to review the plays. Among the little off-Broadway theaters, The Circle gained a reputation for excellence. Its production of "Summer and Smoke" became a hit, made Geraldine Page a star and also brought some attention to Kathy. Offered minor Broadway roles, she turned them down. "I was learning more at The Circle and I wanted to stay with a group I liked."

It was television which brought butter for her bread and, shortly, frosting for her cake. "I was so thrilled to get calls for TV shows. You know, TV does pay rather handsomely."

Her first glimpse of a television studio came when, as publicity for The Circle, she appeared in costume and sang a madrigal on Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour. Her first paid part was with Wally Cox on Mr. Peepers. She played his sister's roommate. "He's the nicest ever. He made up a scroll and presented it to me. It was titled, 'To Kate, with a smile, for the smile of the week.'"

The TV roles also brought a reconciliation at home. "When my dad saw me on our own living-room screen, he conceded that acting might be respectable after all. He even became a little proud of me. I went home at Christmas and all was forgiven. We're the best of friends. Whenever we need something built in our apartment, Dad packs up his tools and comes over to help us. But, more important, both Mother and Dad think my husband is just great."

Kathy's husband is Joseph Beruh, a young actor from Pittsburgh who, this season, played in the Broadway success, "Compulsion." As might be expected, they met at The Circle. They had one date (Joe took Kathy to see "St. Joan"), then paid no attention to each other for a couple of years. While playing in a Philaedlphia production of "Legend for Lovers," they formed the habit of going out for coffee after each evening's performance. They talked until all hours, but neither considered a romance until the show closed. Kathy returned to New York; Joe stayed on to appear in "Ah Wilderness!" Distance did make the heart grow fonder. Says Kathy, "After a week, I realized I loved him." They were married at City Hall on May 21, 1957. Kathy says, "I cried all during the ceremony and Joe stood and laughed at me."

They live in one of the charming old houses on Twelfth Street, in the Village. "We've got two fireplaces, one in the living room, the other in the dining alcove," says Kathy.

Like most young actors, they've wondered whether it would be wise to furnish it completely, for they have feared that they might need to follow the TV shows to Hollywood. When Kathy went out to play a role on NBC Matinee Theater. "They wanted me to do a second show. We planned to make it coincide with the end of the Chicago run of 'Compulsion' so that Joe would be ready to come along, too."

Now Kitty Foyle has given Kathleen, the actress, a chance to be Kathy, the home-maker. "I've bought stacks of decorating books and I shop every moment I can spare. We need a new couch, another chest, some clothes..."

Kathy has what Kitty Foyle wishes for; A career, and - even more importantly - a husband and a home too.

A blog entry on Kathleen.

http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/the-candy-fudge-sundae-girl/

I got a kick out of watching the surgical monitor that Steve was working at during the surgery. That equipment was obviously state of the art in 1968 - now it looks positively antiquated!!!

Does anyone know how long Kathleen Murray lasted on TD? Bethel's name is still in the credits (Kathleen Murray's isn't, at least not yet.)

Also, I've been meaning to ask but keep forgetting. Those of you who watched Lydia Bruce's Maggie - what was she like compared to Bethel's Maggie? Did she have that droll delivery and side eye, or was she warmer and softer? We still have a ways to go before she comes on and I can't find anything of her on YT.

I've only seen some episodes of her in the show's last few years. She seemed somewhat neurotic, while also being strong. I don't think the humor or wryness was played up as much.

I don't remember Lydia Bruce playing Maggie as sarcastic but my best memories of her are from the 70s so she could have changed over the years. I always sort of thought of Matt and Maggie as the patriarchal/matriarchal figures because they seemed old (lol) to me at the time compared to the other characters (and myself).

Kathleen Murray reminded me very much of Ann Williams.

And sadly, like Miss Murray, Ann Williams was claimed by cancer much too soon.  

Thank you both for your observations. As much as I have enjoyed Bethel Leslie, I am really looking forward to seeing Lydia Bruce.

A poster on another board told me she thought Polly's niece Lydia was played by Gretchen Walther, does that sound right to anyone?

A poster on another board told me she thought Polly's niece Lydia was played by Gretchen Walther, does that sound right to anyone?

That could very well be. Although I'm not overly familiar with Walther, she would be the right age and had previously played Patti Tate on SFT for a period and this would've been right before she was on another NBC soap "Hidden Faces". A very quick image search on Google turns up this photograph for comparison.

Edited November 13, 201411 yr by Matt

That could very well be. Although I'm not overly familiar with Walther, she would be the right age and had previously played Patti Tate on SFT for a period and this would've been right before she was on another NBC soap "Hidden Faces". A very quick image search on Google turns up this photograph for comparison.

I would say that was almost definitely her. I'm still kind of stunned I didn't catch Lanna Saunders as the other niece as well! Such great actresses in such short-term roles. They really were spoiled in this era.

Already missing Bethel Leslie as Maggie. There's something so very mature, commanding, and yet so vulnerable about Bethel Leslie's Maggie that I find so very compelling. I hope Lydia Bruce wows me the same way once she appears. Quite tragic Kathleen Murray's story. Had she been struggling with her illness by this point, or did she rapidly deteriorate? Had she been diagnosed at this point, if anyone knows?

I couldn't find much info on Kathleen Murray, so I have no way of knowing if she was already ill when she filled in on TD. I am already familiar with the story of Kitty Foyle, having watched the 1940 movie that starred Ginger Rogers in the title role (and won her an Oscar).

Also, I missed Bethel Leslie in the second episode. Your assessment of her portrayal of Maggie is right on the money. But I am eager to see Lydia Bruce as well.

Today I have seen two remarkable episodes that celebrate the circle of life- major things happened, and that's all I'm going to say........

Kathleen reminds me of Tina Louise, for some reason.

I wasn't too thrilled with the way John grabbed the last niece's arm and dragged her into another room. It reminded me of stuff on soaps today.

I wonder why Ms. Murray is credited as Lila Anderson, maybe a past character?

Great episodes today!

Both episodes were terrific, with major events happening. The part I really lost it at was Mr. Bunker towards the end of the second episode. What Matt said to John after leaving Mr. Bunker's room really said it all.

And Kathleen Murray reminds me a bit of Barbara Rucker. There's a bit of a resemblance.

Kathleen reminds me of Tina Louise, for some reason.

I wasn't too thrilled with the way John grabbed the last niece's arm and dragged her into another room. It reminded me of stuff on soaps today.

Edited November 14, 201411 yr by robbwolff