In 1957, Kathy Brady, a Canadian woman, recorded a segment for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) where she introduced a “pizza pie” recipe. This video recently resurfaced online and quickly went viral, garnering Brady internet fame 65 years later. Viewers were charmed by Brady’s perfect Canadian accent and her pronunciation of words like “oregano” and “pizzeria.”
The now 90-year-old Brady, who was surprised by her newfound popularity, learned about the video’s resurgence from her daughter-in-law, Debbie Butt. Butt discovered the video on social media and recognized her mother-in-law. After posting the clip herself, Butt received numerous inquiries about Brady, making it a delightful experience for the family.
The video shows a young Brady explaining the preparation of “pizza pie,” an increasingly popular dish in the 1950s, especially in the United States. Brady describes pizzerias, restaurants specializing in pizza, where people would line up for miles to get their pizza on Saturday nights.
Brady’s accent, particularly her pronunciation of “pizzeria” as “Pete Syria,” amused many viewers. Despite her humorous take on having an accent, Brady didn’t notice anything unusual in her speech, which has become a light-hearted joke among her family.
Brady shared that pizza was gaining popularity when she was a university student and that making it at home was a novelty since it wasn’t available in stores or restaurants. Her professor at the University of British Columbia recommended her to CBC for a TV pilot. At the time, Brady was studying to be a dietitian, learning cooking demonstrations as part of her home economics program.
Brady went on to work as a dietitian for 30 years, mostly in hospitals and private practice. Butt expressed gratitude for the viral video, as it allowed her to share Brady’s story with a wider audience, giving her a moment to shine.
The “pizza pie” Brady described in her 1957 recipe consisted of a base made from either a biscuit or yeast dough, topped with tomato sauce, oregano, and “nippy cheese,” which she referred to as strong cheddar. This form of pizza is essentially a flatbread topped with tomato sauce and various toppings, baked at a high temperature, as described by Pizza Oven Reviews UK.
Brady’s charming presentation and the nostalgic appeal of the video have captivated a new generation of viewers, highlighting the timeless appeal of pizza and the enduring charm of mid-20th-century cooking shows.