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 Kitty Carlisle Hart, the "First Lady of New York," passed away April 17, 2007 at the age of 96.  Kitty Carlisle Hart in 1933's "Die Fledermaus".  Michael Feinstein and Kittie Carlisle Hart at her opening night cabaret at Feinstein's at the Regency in 2006.
Ms. Hart, who would have been 97 on September 3 of this year, passed away at her home on Manhattan's East Side. Best known for having been a regular on the phemenonal hit TV show "To Tell the Truth," Mrs. Hart was educated in some of the best schools in Europe, before embarking on a life-long career on stage, concert halls, radio and televsion.
Her most famous early movie role was in the Marx Brothers' "A Night at the Opera" in 1934 but in much more recent years she was featured in Woody Allen's "Radio Days" and had sold out concerts at New York's premiere nightclub, Feinstein's at the Regency .
"Even if the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, had a wife, Kitty would still be the first lady of New York," said close friend Kathleen Landis, who has sung at the Cafe Pierre in New York's Hotel Pierre for 20 years. "Everyone thought of Kitty as that."
"Kitty was always there when you needed her — professionally or [for] charity," said John Grimaldi, who produced the radio show "Broadway After Hours." Hart appeared on at Sardi's Restaurant in New York.
"She died peacefully in her bed in her home surrounded by her family which is what she wanted," Broadway actor and close friend Joel Vig told Reuters. "She didn't want to die in a hospital."
"Kitty's biggest wish was for her late husband, Moss Hart, have a star next to hers on the Hollywood Walk of Fame," Vig added, "because he was the love of her life. Kitty has one and the National Arts Club in New York has been instrumental in raising some money for a star for Moss."
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