She introduced pizza to CBC viewers in 1957. Now this 90-year-old is internet famous - Action News
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British Columbia

She introduced pizza to CBC viewers in 1957. Now this 90-year-old is internet famous

A B.C. senior has achieved internet famethanks toavideo recorded at CBC's Vancouver studios more than 65years ago. In the video, she shares a recipe for "pizza pie."

In the '50s video gone viral, Kathy Brady tells viewers about an up-and-coming dish known as'pizza pie'

B.C. woman's 1957 recipe for 'pizza pie' goes viral

10 months ago
Duration 2:07
In 1957, Kathy Brady recorded a cooking segment for CBC that introduced viewers to a new dish known as 'pizza pie.' More than 65 years later, the clip has gone viral. Brady, now 90, spoke to BC Today host Michelle Eliot about her newfound internet fame.

A B.C. senior has achieved internet famethanks toavideo recorded at CBC's Vancouver studiosmore than 65years ago.

Ninety-year-old Kathy Brady says she's pleasantly surprisedthat a cooking segment filmed in 1957 for a TV pilot in which she tells viewers all about a "popular Italian dish"known as"pizza pie" has found a new audience.

"Pizza pie is becoming very popular, especially down in the States," says Brady, dressed in a cardigan, in the clip.

"There are some restaurants that even specialize in it. These are called pizzerias. Saturday night as you drive down, you can see cars lined up for miles waiting for their pizza."

Brady first became aware of the video's re-emergencethrough her daughter-in-law Debbie Butt, who saw the black-and-white video pop up in her social media feed.

"I was like, 'Oh, my gosh, that's my mother-in-law,'" Butt said.

Buttposted about it on social media and found she started getting queriesabout Brady and the story behind the video.

"It was super fun," Butt said. "Grandma comes over every Sunday night for dinner, so I couldn't wait to tell her."

Watch the original 1957 clip of Brady preparing pizza:

1957 clip introduces pizza pie to CBC TV audiences

10 months ago
Duration 4:38
In this archival clip, Kathy Brady demonstrates how to make an exotic new food: "pizza pie!"

Brady told BC Today's Michelle Eliotthat some commentershavefocused on her accent and unique pronunciation of words like "oregano" and "pizzeria," which Butt sayshavebecome something of an inside joke among family members.

"It seems to me that I have a bit of an accent, but I don't really have an accent," Bradysaid with a laugh. "I don't know how that got into it."

Bradygraduated from the University of British Columbia in 1954 as adietitian through its home economics program, which included a courseon cooking demonstrations. One of her professors recommended her to CBC for a TV pilot.

She says the idea for preparing pizza was hers.

Photo of Kathy Brady on the BC Today set on Nov. 13, 2023. She is an older white woman who is smiling.
Kathy Brady, 90, returned to CBC Vancouver 66 years after the pizza clip to talk about her newfound internet fame. (CBC News)

"[Pizza] was just sort of coming to the forewhen I was going to university," she said. "People were talking about it and going to make it at home because you couldn't buy it in the store or a restaurant. And so I just thought it was quite unique and it would be an interesting topic."

Her 1957pizza recipe included a base consisting of"a biscuit or a yeast dough," topped witha tangy tomato sauce, oregano and "nippy cheese," which Brady describes as "a strong cheddar."

Following her brief TV appearance, Brady hada 30-year career as a dietitian, mostly in hospitals and through her own private practice.

Butt says she admires how her mother-in-law managed tobalancecareer and family.

"I think that's really admirable in that time," Butt said. "It's hard to do it now and it was even harder to do it then."

She says she's grateful the video has given her the chance to share her mother-in-law's story with others.

"I love the opportunity to see her shine," Butt said.

With files from BC Today