MOLLY SMYTH

Molly passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2005.  She was an ATPAM Board Member Emeritus and a member of the Press Agent Chapter since 1980. Condolences can be emailed to prpros@sbcglobal.net.  Donations can be sent to

Escape Center
3210 Eastside
Houston, TX  77098
(713) 942-9500

 

(Published in the Houston Chronicle on 3/4/2005) MOLLY SMYTH, one of Houston's most beloved public relations executives, died Wednesday at St. Luke's Hospital. To the end, her courage and her luminous spirit never failed. She was a lady of great gifts and enormous generosity. In her 41 years in business in Houston, she opened more Broadway road shows around the country than many Broadway impresarios can boast of - 50, by last count. And for years, as a board member of the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, she cast her vote in Broadway's annual Tony Awards. She was both inspiration and mentor to many Houston publicists who came after her. And she was always caring and concerned about giving back to the community she so loved. Her favorite pro bono charity was the Escape Center's Celebrity Chef benefit to educate families in crisis to prevent child abuse and neglect. She was one of the originators of that fabulously successful annual event. Her career and her clients spanned far too many high profile events to list here. But among them were the annual Houston antique dealers' show and the annual Boat Show. She was the wife of the late publicist Art Katzen, and she is survived by two sons - Harry Bartholomew of Houston, and Gene Bartholomew of New Orleans, her brother, C. A. Keeran and a multitude of those who loved and admired her, here and all around the country. Today, Molly takes Broadway to heaven.

 

Fond memories of Molly Smyth By Everett Evans Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle March 11, 2005, 12:20PM   Molly Smyth The theater community, in Houston and nationally, was saddened by Molly Smyth's passing March 2. From the late 1970s until declining health forced her to retire three years ago, Smyth represented the national tours of Broadway shows — not to mention a variety of other companies and artists, including Chris Wilson's Actors' Theatre of Houston, the Windmill Dinner Theatre and the comedy shows of Greater Tuna writer/performers Joe Sears and Jaston Williams. I certainly won't be the only one who will miss her thousand-watt smile, personal warmth and joie de vivre. Through more than a quarter-century of opening nights, encountering Smyth at the press table or box office window was many times the brightest spot of the whole evening. Even on occasions when I felt obligated to file a less-than-glowing review of a not-so-hot production, Smyth made me feel that the arts writer and publicist were collaborators, not enemies. Whether creating press kits, locating hard-to-find photographs, arranging interviews with actors, writers, directors and other luminaries or shepherding such stars as Carol Channing and Tommy Tune to media appearances, Smyth operated with professionalism and enthusiasm. Coping with the egos and idiosyncrasies of both theater and media folk, Smyth handled that aspect of her work with the finesse of a career diplomat. Smyth and husband Art Katzen for years co-ran the Smyth-Katzen publicity agency. After Katzen's death in 1986, Smyth continued on her own as one of the city's leading public relations executives. An institution with showbiz insiders, Smyth took seriously her responsibilities as a board member of the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers — particularly her vote in Broadway's annual Tony Awards. One could easily imagine her as the heroine of a Jerry Herman musical — for encountering Molly Smyth was very much like meeting a real-life Dolly or Mame. Here was one behind-the-scenes theater professional with the star quality that belongs center stage.

 

from Kari Short, Short Communications, 11924 Taylorcrest, Houston, TX 77024 The Magic of Molly Smyth “And ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” Kahlil Gibran, 20th century Syrian-born mystic poet, philosopher, and artist - from The Prophet

No one person can write this story. When someone is quite simply legendary, how is it truly possible to summarize almost 70 years of a brilliant light in a few paragraphs? For everyone who knew and loved Molly Smyth, each knew a different facet of her personality and held a place in her life reserved exclusively for them. Likewise, Molly filled a place in peoples’ hearts reserved only for her. Most people are fortunate to have a few close friends – the kind who can love you unconditionally, laugh with you until you cry, raise your spirits when they are low, simply sit with you in quiet reflection – or even raise a little hell. Molly was that kind of friend – not to a few, but many. She possessed remarkable gifts, but one of the most unique was her ability to place others in center stage. When you were with Molly, she made you feel on top of the world. She had an uncanny ability to understand what people needed and when they needed it. Be it mother, sister, mentor, friend or confidant, she would fill that role. How she did it is simply a mystery. She could turn the mundane into magic, and maybe that is why the she and the theatre were synonymous for more than half of her life. To quote one of her dearest friends, Warner Roberts, “In her 41 years in business in Houston, she opened more Broadway road shows around the country than many Broadway impresarios can boast of - 50, by last count. And for years, as a board member of the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, she cast her vote in Broadway's annual Tony Awards.” Certainly she is the best example of life reflecting art by the way she brought the magic of the theatre into her daily life. She worked with the luminaries of yesterday and today, such as Jack Benny, Ginger Rogers, Tommy Tune, Tom Jones and the notorious Rat Pack during her career with Dick Ott’s Houston Music Theatre. Her career actually started in Dallas in the early 1960s where she was host of a top 10 music show similar to Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. Also, in Dallas she attended Hockaday and later Southern Methodist University, where she pledged the Tri Delta sorority and studied theology and journalism. During this time, she embraced the Civil Rights Movement actively by joining the Road to Freedom Bus and marching with Martin Luther King, Jr. By this time, Molly was beginning to visualize a different path than the traditional lifestyle expected in her East Texas hometown of Mineola. She possessed an incredibly adventurous spirit – reflected in her favorite hobby – flying. For many years, she was a pilot, aviation enthusiast and occasional sky diver. Her eldest son, Gene, proudly recalls her academic years when she was a protégé of the Objectivist Movement started by Ayn Rand and Nathaniel Branden. “They were friends of the family,” says Gene Bartholomew. Molly’s youngest son, Harry Branden Bartholomew, was actually named for the prominent philosopher. Then, in 1964 she moved to Houston and continued her career in television with KPRC Channel 2 where she worked in publicity and marketing. This foundation, coupled with her generous spirit led her to become a mentor and friend to many Houston media personalities and publicists, such as Cissy Segall, Dayna Steele-Justiz, Toni Navarre and Lanny Griffith. By the 1970s, she had become a publicist with PACE, now Clear Channel Entertainment. In the early days of PACE, she primarily promoted their Motorsports and Concerts. This later evolved into theatrical promotions produced by PACE as well as many other national touring shows, including the first touring show of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1978.

Also during the 1970s, she was a 20th Century Fox press representative for such movies as, The Omen, The Rose and Silverstreak. Her son, Harry, fondly recalls her stories of Studio 54 every time she went to New York for a press junket. Later, she and her late husband, the publicist Art Katzen owned the Windmill Dinner Theatre. Tragically, he preceded her in death. Says Harry, “While Molly had no regrets, her favorite times were simply sitting on a beach with Art. She would have enjoyed more time with him on Earth.” Molly truly loved her profession and the people. While the list of stars and celebrities is endless, a few held places of exceptional importance to Molly, such as Carol Channing, Phyllis Diller, Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Marie Osmond. The feelings were always reciprocal. Marie Osmond even added a beautiful doll to her collection -- created and named for Molly. However, as anyone who knew her or the world of theatre promotion well will tell you, sometimes the star dust is just dust. That was when the true genius of Molly would appear. Harry remembers, “There was no single formula for how to work with someone. She would find out what made that person tick, and she would make that happen. She would figure out who you were, and that’s who she was to you. Whatever kind of friend you needed her to be, that was the kind of friend she was.” She also was famous for her cast parties after the shows – creating a welcome haven not only for the stars and performers on tours, but also for anyone who simply needed refuge. That same generous spirit also was present in her many years of community service. Her professional career in Houston’s advertising and public relations industry spanned 41 years, as did her charitable contributions. Much of her philanthropy is well known, such as the creation of her favorite event -- the Celebrity Chef Benefit at Benihana’s Restaurant for the Escape Family Resource Center. This year’s event in April will be the first time in 24 years that she has not participated. Through the years, she served as a board of director for many organizations including: the Escape Family Resource Center, the Houston Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and the late Chris Wilson’s Studio 7. What some may not know is the multitude of charities, causes and individuals who benefited from Molly’s generosity. When someone was in need or asked for her help, she was there. When KTRK Channel 13 created Night of a Thousand Lights for Houston Crackdown, Molly was there. When Scott Evans organized Houston musicians and performers to produce the Voices for Life CD to raise funds for HIV research, she was there. When Houstonians united to create the Challenger Center, she was there. Sadly, for the last few years of her life, her adoring friends and family could not help or stop the gradual decline of her health. Molly always maintained her courage and perseverance, illustrating simply by keeping a smile what character is all about. Says her dearest friend of many years, Ann Hodges, “To the end, her courage and her luminous spirit never failed. She was a lady of great gifts and enormous generosity.” Molly Ann Keeran was born November 23, 1936, in Houston and moved first to Inez and subsequently Mineola, Texas, where she spent a large portion of her childhood. She was the wife of the late publicist Art Katzen, and she is survived by two sons - Harry Bartholomew of Houston; and Gene Bartholomew of New Orleans; her brother, C. A. Keeran; nieces Anna and Shannon Keeran and a multitude of those who loved and admired her, here and all around the country. She died in St. Luke’s Hospital on March 2, 2005. Graveside services were held March 4 at 11 a.m. at Emanu El Park Cemetery, 8341 Bissonnet.