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 VARIETY STORY 
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Produced by: Rod Natkiel

It started with one baby...

On Christmas Eve in 1928, a baby girl was found on a seat at the Sheridan Square Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A note pinned to her dress read:

When all efforts by the police and local newspapers failed to locate her parents, a group of eleven gentlemen affiliated with the entertainment industry agreed to financially underwrite the child's support and education. Just one year prior, these men had rented a small clubroom in the William Penn Hotel and created a social club, aptly named “Variety” given that the members encompassed various branches in show business. The child was then named Catherine Variety Sheridan, her middle name for the club and her last name for the theatre.

Please take care of my baby. Her name is Catherine. I can no longer take care of her. I have eight others. My husband is out of work. She was born on Thanksgiving Day. I have always heard of the goodness of show business people and pray to God that you will look out for her.”

(signed) ‘A Heartbroken Mother’

The new “godfathers,” including the theatre owner, John H. Harris, who subsequently became Variety International’s first President, were proud that a distraught mother had entrusted her child to show people. The resulting publicity put the “Variety Club” of Pittsburgh on the front pages of newspapers across the nation. Other people in the industry wanted to help and asked to join. Soon the “Variety” clubroom was too small.

1st Annual Banquet - William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA - 11/11/1928

Before long, Catherine had more clothing, toys, and possessions than any one child could need. Less fortunate children promptly became the beneficiaries of Catherine’s “adoption.” It was the welfare of this one orphan that became the inspiration and motivation for people in show business to band together to assist underprivileged and handicapped children everywhere. With this act, the first Variety chapter, or "Tent" was formed.

When Catherine was five, her foster parents were selected from more than 300 applicants in a location away from Pittsburgh and her anonymity was preserved in her best interest. Her new family changed her name to Joan. She later served her country as an officer in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict and as a registered nurse in foreign (public health) service in Vietnam. Joan raised a family of her own and spent much time working with children. She took great pride in the fact that she had “started it all”.

Mrs. Joan Mrlik (Catherine Variety Sheridan) lived in Charleston, South Carolina and died of cancer in 1994. Her inspirational story that motivated the establishment of Variety the Children’s Charity lives on. Her memory remains strong in the hearts of every member of the Variety family.



Mrs. Joan Mrlik (Catherine Variety Sheridan) pictured in 1994.