Kate Murtagh

Kate Murtagh (October 29, 1920 – September 10, 2017) was an American actress and singer-comedian, a native of Los Angeles, California. Early life Kate Murtagh's parents were both musicians of accomplishment. Her mother, born Wootson Davis in Sikeston, Missouri, moved to New York City in the early 1910s to further her vocal training. By 1914 she married Henry B. Murtagh. He was a nationally-prominent theater organist, pianist, conductor, and composer who held a series of important posts in major U.S. cities. An early position was a 1920-22 contract at the Liberty Theater in Portland, Oregon. In a 1920 competition, he was selected to write music for Oregon’s state song, which was adopted in 1927. By September 1920 Henry B. Murtagh was engaged at Grauman's in Los Angeles. His several years in Buffalo began in April 1924 at the city's Lafayette Square theater. In the late 1920s he was engaged for Brooklyn's new Paramount Theater. Career With her sisters Jean and Onriett, Kate Murtagh performed in a vocal trio coached by her parents while the family lived in Los Angeles. The trio began performing with the goal of singing straight harmony like the Pickens Sisters, whom they idolized, but the performances became more humorous with time. Local radio appearances began as early as 1934. Other performances included such civic organizations as the Monrovia (CA) American Legion Post, and by 1935 they were performing on RKO's vaudeville circuit in Los Angeles.