NAME(S) ON TILE:                 CARR FAMILY

DONOR NAME(S):                   MR. AND MRS. ROBERT J. SPAGIARE

“The Carr Family" was a professional act of dancers and singers performing throughout the country during the 1930s and 1940s.

They were the children of Paul D. Carr, Braddock School Board President and Councilman, employed then at U.S. Steel, and Marie Carr, who taught them love, loyalty and discipline.

The oldest son, Paul, was not in the act, having married after a stint at boxing. Ida (6) died in the flu epidemic of 1917 and Marie (16) died in an auto accident in 1931.  The other children - Margie, Ruth, Virginia, Gerrie, Connie, Lorry, Joan, Harry, Audrey and Chuck - comprised the act, performing in leading clubs, theaters and resorts, notably the Capitol and Roxy theaters in New York City, the Steel Pier and Hamids Pier in Atlantic City, and in Pittsburgh at the Nixon, Carousel, Vogue Terrace, Syria Mosque, Stanley Theater, Conneaut Lake, Idlewild and Kennywood.

World War II slowed them down.  Harry entered the Navy and wartime conditions seriously curtailed traveling.

Then they opened “Carr Sisters” dance studio with Margie as director, assisted by Audrey.  Joan was business coordinator and Ruth, musical director.  The school flourished until the 1982 death of Margie, beloved teacher and mentor to thousands of area children, closing forever the tradition of dance started by her and Ruth in the 1930s.  All grandchildren of appropriate age studied dance and appeared in the annual revue.

The grandchildren are the Carrs, Artems, Bensons, Martins, Weighs, Rothrauffs, Carrs, Zajdels, and Carrs.  The youngest grandchild, Tim Carr, is in college.