Katharine "Kay" Raht"Kay Wants Out". The Billboard. September 11, 1943. p. 5. (May 8, 1901Cox, Jim (2007). The Great Radio Sitcoms. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 30. ."News in Society". The Chattanooga Daily Times. May 26, 1901. p. 10. – 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, in the radio show The Aldrich Family.
Early life and career Born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee,"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. Raht was the daughter of Kate Mears Edmiston and prominent wool manufacturer Charles Augustus Raht,"News Notes of Clinton: Manager McFarland Is Released; Mrs. Kate Raht Dies in Chattanooga". The Pantagraph. May 30, 1910. p. 1."Social and Personal". The Chattanooga Daily Times. March 5, 1893. p. 10."Charles A. Raht Dies of Injuries; Fall Down Stairs Proves Fatal for Manufacturer". The Chattanooga Daily Times. September 3, 1030. p. 3. and the granddaughter of mining engineer Julius Eckhardt Raht. She attended the Shipley School and Bryn Mawr College,"Former Teacher Plays Mother Role; Katharine Raht Is Heard as Mrs. Aldrich in WIBA Series". The Capital Times. Jul 30, 1939. p. 8. where she earned both her Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees, in 1923 and 24, respectively."Faculty". University of Chattanooga Bulletin. Volume IX, No. 1. April 1929. p. 10.
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"),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."A Barter Graduate". The Buffalo News. August 26, 1939. p. 42. including roles in Frederick Jackson's The Long Night and actor/director John Cromwell's Alice."Barter Theatre to Give Play, Waynesboro". The Richmond News Leader. June 26, 1937. p. 14."Show Stopping". The Washington Herald. August 9, 1937. p. 11.
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.DeLong, Thomas (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 221. ."The Democrat Snapshots: The Aldrich Family". Butler Daily Democrat. August 16, 1941. p. 2."'Mother Aldrich' Vacationing Here; Katharine Raht Left Out of Script During Visit". Chattanooga Daily Times. August 8, 1945. p. 4."Tonight's WBEN Features: Rosalind Russell and Robert Young Star; Kay Raht as Mother Aldrich". The Buffalo News. April 12, 1951. p. 36. (Mrs. Aldrich is the wife of Sam, mother of Henry and Mary,"The Aldrich Family". The Sacramento Bee. July 1, 1939. p. 14. and, most notably, the family member whose "stentorian" summons—"Hen-ry-y-y-y?! Hen-ry Aldrich!"—opens each episode,Handsaker, Gene (Associated Press writer). "Remember Hennr-e-e-e-e Aldrich?". Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin. May 3, 1969. p. 21. eliciting the equally iconic response, "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."'The Aldrich Family' Cast and Crew". Old Time Radio Researchers.
One irony regarding the show is that neither Raht nor her Aldrich spouse House Jameson—these being the most frequently featured of Aldrich Family parents (and the ones who, as a result, received parenting-related correspondence)—had, in real life, been a parent;"Henry Aldrich's Patient Father". Minneapolis Star Tribune Roto Magazine. May 24, 1953. p. 36. indeed, Raht had never married."Noted Radio 'Mother' Is Masquerading Schoolma'm". The Fresno Bee. Sep 14, 1941. p. 27.
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."Katharine Raht credits". IBDB."Squaring Off". New York Daily News. June 9, 1957. Pt. 2, p. 3 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."McDermott, William F. (October 30, 1956). "Walter Pidgeon Stars in a Comedy About Life of a Happy Millionaire". The Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 25. 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.Durgin, Cyrus (Nov 13, 1956). "'The Happiest Millionaire' Life With Philadelphia Father; Others". The Boston Globe. p. 15.
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. [D]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.Kilgallen, Dorothy (October 5, 1956). "On Broadway". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 33.
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)."Social Activity". The Chattanooga Daily Times. July 8, 1956. p. 26."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. 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,"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. 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."Snow Village Population Is On Increase". The Fresno Bee Magazine. April 11, 1943. p. 4.
Raht died in December 1983 at age 82 in her home town of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Works Plays Plays Year Play Role Theater Notes 1938 Our Town People of the Town; Lady in the Box Henry Miller's TheatreMorosco Theatre February 4, 1938 – February 12, 1938February 14, 1938 - November 19, 1938 1947 The Heiress Elizabeth Almond Biltmore Theatre September 29, 1947 - September 18, 1948 1950 The Heiress Elizabeth Almond City Center Jan 9, 1947 – May 17, 1947 1953 Sabrina Fair Margaret National TheatreRoyale Theatre November 11, 1953 – May 15, 1954May 17, 1954 – August 21, 1954 1956 The Happiest Millionaire Aunt Mary Drexel Lyceum Theatre November, 1956 – July 13, 1957 1963 Love and Kisses Nanny Music Box Theatre December 18, 1963 – December 28, 1963
TV appearances TV TV Show Role Episode Year Studio One Mrs. Otherly (as Katherine Raht) 1952Reinhard, Mark S. (2009). Abraham Lincoln on Screen: Fictional and Documentary Portrayals on Film and Television. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 35. . Westinghouse Theatre "The Shadowy Third" 1952Talent Showsheet September 15-21, 1952: Monday September 15. Ross Reports on Television. September 14–20, 1952. Vol. 4, No. 4. Supplement C. Robert Montgomery Presents Mrs. Grady (as Katherine Raht) "Appointment in Samara" 1953 Rocky King, Detective 1953 The Web "Death Has Nine Lives" 1954The Man Behind the Badge Customer "The Cleveland Story" 1954 (as Katharine Baht) "The Case of the Berkshire Fires" 1954 The Mail Story "Dead Letters" 1954 Armstrong Circle Theatre "Trapped" 1955 Ethel and Albert Ep. 4.2 1955The Way of the World Ep. airing June 27, 1955 1955 Ep. airing June 28, 1955 1955 Ep. airing June 29, 1955 1955 Ep. airing June 30, 1955 1955 Ep. airing July 1, 1955 1955 The Goldbergs Mrs. Fuller (as Katherine Raht) 1955 Ford Star Jubilee "This Happy Breed" 1956 Robert Montgomery Presents Aggie (as Katherine Raht) "All Expenses Paid" 1956 Hallmark Hall of Fame Sister Inez "Cradle Song" 1956Terrace, Vincent (1995). Television Specials: 3,201 Entertainment Spectaculars, 1939 through 1993. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 107. . The Goldbergs Genevieve Lubitsch "Molly's Fish" 1956 The Dupont Show of the Month Mrs. Chauvenet (as Katherine Raht) "Harvey" 1958Roberts, 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. .Hubler, Dough (Sep 8, 2020). "Harvey with Art Carney (9–22–58)". YouTube. Hallmark Hall of Fame Anne Marie (as Katherine Raht) "A Doll's House" 1959"The Cast". Detroit Free Press. November 15, 1959. p. 18-TV. Children of Strangers Mrs. Fuller 1959 The Play of the Week "The Grass Harp" 1960 Hallmark Hall of Fame Sister Inez "Cradle Song" 1960"The Cradle Song". The Daily Gleaner Radio-TV Guide. April 2, 1960. p. 8. Frontiers of Faith Matron "The Priest" 1966 Winter of the Witch Mrs. Butterwaite 1969
References
External links
Katharine Raht at Old Time Radio Researchers