Kate McComb

Kate McComb (1872–1959) was an American radio and stage actress who performed on Broadway. She also played the piano and sang. Originally not wanting to act professionally, McComb began her professional career at age 52. The Kate McComb Playhouse in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, was dedicated in her honor.

Kate McComb
Born1872 (1872)
Sacramento, California, US
Died1959 (aged 86–87)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationRadio and stage actress
Spouse(s)John Rector McComb
Children1

Biography

McComb was born in Sacramento, California, in 1872. As a child, she attended boarding school and played the piano, until she contracted pneumonia at age 17.[1] Due to her pneumonia, her doctor advised that she not become a concert pianist and should sing instead.[2]

She later married John Rector McComb (1862–1920), and when he contracted cerebral meningitis, they relocated from New York City to Barrington, Massachusetts, in hopes that it would help him recover. In her amateur career, McComb organized a dramatic production in June 1914 for the local Visiting Nurse Association. In May 1916, she performed in Petticoat Perfidy in Albany, New York. McComb was a soloist at Great Barrington's Episcopal Church and the choir director at its Congregational Church in 1918.[2]

In 1923, McComb sang and played piano on WJZ radio in New York City.[3]

At age 52, after her husband and mother had died and her son had moved away to attend college, she decided to pursue a professional career as a stage actress.[2] She debuted in a stock production of St. Elmo's Fire, and appeared on Broadway in Juno and the Paycock. She played a small part in Silver Flute and appeared with Parker Fennelly in the NBC radio show Snow Village Sketches from 1928 to 1930.[2]

She was in the radio sketch comedy A House Divided. Back on Broadway, she performed in Blood Money, Magnolia, Riddle Me This, and No Questions Asked. Her other roles included the radio serial The Rise of the Goldbergs, the play Harvey, Mrs. O'Neill in the 1930s soap opera The O'Neills,[4]:261 Maggie in the 1944 radio serial The Strange Romance of Evelyn Winters,[4] and Dr. Brent's mother in Road of Life.[5]

She died in 1959. Although The O'Neills was on the radio for almost 10 years, only one episode from 1938 still exists.[2]

Legacy

On October 13, 1959, the Kate McComb Playhouse opened in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, with a performance of The Wizard of Oz. The theater was established by Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm McComb in honor of his mother.[6]

References
  1. Jacobs, Mary (August 29, 1937). "Faults Made Their Fortunes". Democrat and Chronicle. New York, Rochester. p. Screen & Radio Weekly 14. Retrieved October 23, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Drew, Bernard A. (September 1998). "Kate McComb was Mother O'Neill" (PDF). The Illustrated Press. The Old Time Radio Club. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  3. "Station WJZ, N.Y." The Evening News. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. September 11, 1923. p. 18. Retrieved October 23, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 319. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  5. "WHP Day-Drama Has Rare Cast". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. September 28, 1939. p. 15. Retrieved October 23, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "New Playhouse Draws Full House". The North Adams Transcript. Massachusetts, North Adams. October 14, 1959. p. 8. Retrieved October 23, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
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