The McHugh family were well-known performers in Pittsburgh theater in the early years of the twentieth century, and several family members went on to successes elsewhere. Originally from the Connellsville, PA area, family patriarch Aristide "Cutie" McHugh (who went by the stage name Edward A. McHugh) moved his family to Homestead, Pa. just outside of Pittsburgh in 1897. Cutie was best known for his comedic roles, especially the role of the tramp in the popular melodrama Human Hearts. He was to play this role regularly in touring productions for seventeen years beginning in 1896. Shortly after moving to Homestead, the elder McHugh enlisted the rest of his family into show business, finding parts for his wife and children in the cast of Human Hearts. During the many periods when the family could not find theater work, the older sons and sometimes Cutie worked in the steel mills. In 1910, some of the family joined the popular Harry Davis Stock Company in Pittsburgh. Ed McHugh, one of the older sons, became a stage manager with the company. Other family members joined travelling stock companies and toured the West and Midwest. In 1921 Ed got a job stage managing on Broadway and continued working there for the remainder of his career. During this time he worked on productions with Ethel Barrymore, Eva LeGallienne, Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart, and many others. Meanwhile, in the 1930s, younger brother Frank McHugh signed a film contract and worked steadily in Hollywood, appearing in many films and, later, television programs. He made several films with James Cagney, and also starred with Errol Fynn, Olivia deHaviland, and Humphrey Bogart, to name a few. Shortly after beginning his film career, Frank moved his parents to Los Angeles. Several of the other siblings remained active in the theater, and almost the whole family were active participants in the USO tours and programs during WWII.
From the description of Papers of the McHugh family, 1909-1930. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 65517103
