Theresa Elizabeth McLaughlin

Theresa Elizabeth McLaughlin was born in Philadelphia. In 1907, when she was 12 years old, she played on stage in Cyrano de Bergerac. In 1919, she came to New York, and joined the Ziegfeld Follies.

She came from a theatrical family. Her brothers, Eddie and Johny Young, worked in Vaudeville; she also had a sister, Ann Clark. She literally danced her way through the Roaring Twenties; she worked with the Dolly Sisters and in theatre. Later, she moved to California. She met Everett Edwin McLaughlin, who was a musician with the Paul Whiteman and Max Fisher bands; he also had a music business in downtown, Naujoks and McLaughlin, on 6th and Hill Streets, in the 1940s and 1950s. Everett and Theresa married, and made their home in Culver City — they were very much in love.

Her family called her Theresa Betty for short. After Grandpa Everett passed away in 1952, she was “Grandma Betty” to her husband’s grandchildren. She would sing songs and dance for all her grandchildren. She always gave moral support and lots of love; she had a wonderful smile and was full of laughs and kind words always. She was loved by all, and is missed very much.