Kitty Carlisle Hart (of "To Tell The Truth") passes on at 96.

[Borderstone]

CNN's Entertainment news reports,she has died,in her sleep,of pneumonia,which she contracted last winter.

Of course there was certainly more to Kitty Carlisle (later Hart),than the "To Tell The Truth" game show,of which she was a long time panelist.

Miss Carlisle was born September 3rd,1910 and in adult life went from the stage to movies,most notably The Marx Brothers',"A Night At The Opera",playing an opera singer in love with the male singing lead.

Although she made other films,like
"Six Degrees Of Seperation" in the '90s,
it was TV that made her more of household name
in the 1950's through the 1970's.
She was seen on TV most recently in 1999 on the new daytime version of "To Tell The Truth",in a week long guest spot.

Not long after turning 96,she was here in Phoenix,in November,in the retirement community known as Sun City,performing "live" at the Sundome. I really wished,then as now,that I could have attended.

I first saw Miss Carlisle on To Tell The Truth when I was but 4 years old. It seems she's been alive for more than 96 years.

She almost seemed to not age either but then again she's quoted as having always taken great care of herself,even into her '90s.

I know given all she's done in supporting the arts and in her life,she most surely will rest in peace.

[ April 18, 2007, 20:55: Message edited by: Borderstone ]

[Auburn Annie]

I can vouch for her having taken great care of herself. A few years ago she was on the Today Show demonstrating how she exercised every day. Mind you, she was in her early 90s at that point, and used a cane (a rather elegant one) for balance, but once she got down on the mat she was doing stretches and yoga poses I'd have trouble doing in my 40s.

Here's an article on her life from last year: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/11/DDG7FGKP7S1.DTL&hw=Kitty&sn=001&sc=1000

[Borderstone]

Thanks for that article Annie. :) She certainly had th right attitude,time movees to quick to dwell in negativity.

I still try and be that way but the world's much different than it was before. It's not as easy to be positive. Bless her for being able to do that.

[Auburn Annie]

Well it also helps to be financially stable and blessed with good health to maintain that positive attitude. She had personal discipline and ambition, family support, work that she loved, a happy marriage, wanted children and a circle of good friends. Fame was the icing on the cake.

Still, I think some folks are born with (or acquire) a tougher internal intestinal fortitude that sustains them through the inevitable rough times. Live long enough and you lose parents, siblings, sometimes children, close friends, maybe a job, and face acute or chronic illness or a gradual decline in health as the years pass. That's life. The trick is to continue enlarging your circle of friends, keep moving, get up in the morning with something in mind to do (even if it's just laundry), maintain an interest in what's going on in the world around you, and put yourself out there every day.

Speaking of which, I gotta get dressed and get going myself.........

[Borderstone]

So right Annie. :) Even on a day where I could sit and take it easy at home,I head out to somplace and do something,even of small purpose. I can't just "be home" when the sun's out.

Laundry,I save for the evening. ;)

[Borderstone]

As sort of a tribute to Kitty Carlisle,last night I watched The Marx Brothers' "A Night At The Opera". (2004 DVD copy) She does her own singing and it's wonderful.

She's also interviewed in the "extra" titled "Remarks on Marx". At 94,relating her experience making the movie. Glad they interviewed her for it. :)