Kathleen "Kitty" McShane (19 May 1897 â€" 24 March 1964) was an Irish
actress, best known as the wife and acting partner of Arthur Lucan,
with whom she appeared in a series of Old Mother Riley stage shows and
films from the 1930s to the 1950s.Catherine McShane was born in
Dublin, Ireland, the fourth of seventeen children born to Daniel and
Kate McShane, of whom only seven survived to adulthood. In 1910 Arthur
Lucan was touring Ireland and was playing his pantomime Little Red
Riding Hood in Dublin. Here he met McShane, who successfully
auditioned for a part in the show as a singer. Aged just 16 she
married the 28-year-old Lucan on 25 November 1913 at the Church of St
Andrews in Dublin. The couple had one son, Donald Daniel Towle (2
October 1915, Dublin â€" 1 January 1970).McShane and Lucan became a
popular music hall and film double act during their nearly forty years
together. They gradually evolved the stage characters of Old Mother
Riley, with Lucan appearing in drag as Mrs Daphne Snowdrop Bluebell
Riley from Dublin, and McShane playing her daughter 'Kitty Riley',
whose wayward ways resulted in many of Mother Riley's amusing
reactions.McShane appeared in 14 of the 15 'Old Mother Riley' films.
Lucan and McShane's marriage was difficult, possibly due to the rumors
of McShane's many affairs, and they separated in 1951. In McShane's
last film, Old Mother Riley's Jungle Treasure (1951), their scenes
were filmed on separate days. McShane opened a beauty salon, which
failed, while Lucan continued to support her financially.
actress, best known as the wife and acting partner of Arthur Lucan,
with whom she appeared in a series of Old Mother Riley stage shows and
films from the 1930s to the 1950s.Catherine McShane was born in
Dublin, Ireland, the fourth of seventeen children born to Daniel and
Kate McShane, of whom only seven survived to adulthood. In 1910 Arthur
Lucan was touring Ireland and was playing his pantomime Little Red
Riding Hood in Dublin. Here he met McShane, who successfully
auditioned for a part in the show as a singer. Aged just 16 she
married the 28-year-old Lucan on 25 November 1913 at the Church of St
Andrews in Dublin. The couple had one son, Donald Daniel Towle (2
October 1915, Dublin â€" 1 January 1970).McShane and Lucan became a
popular music hall and film double act during their nearly forty years
together. They gradually evolved the stage characters of Old Mother
Riley, with Lucan appearing in drag as Mrs Daphne Snowdrop Bluebell
Riley from Dublin, and McShane playing her daughter 'Kitty Riley',
whose wayward ways resulted in many of Mother Riley's amusing
reactions.McShane appeared in 14 of the 15 'Old Mother Riley' films.
Lucan and McShane's marriage was difficult, possibly due to the rumors
of McShane's many affairs, and they separated in 1951. In McShane's
last film, Old Mother Riley's Jungle Treasure (1951), their scenes
were filmed on separate days. McShane opened a beauty salon, which
failed, while Lucan continued to support her financially.
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