Timeless Elegance: Our Venue’s History

The lovely Jerry Klug, a talented singer and whistler, once filled our space with music and charm. 

The home was not only her residence but also hosted a beauty parlor in the basement during the years of the 1930's-1980's.

She became a well-known figure, earning the nickname "The Whistling Grandma" for her signature whistling through tunes on stage and into microphones. She was a true talent, whistling while working as a waitress and even during haircuts at the beauty parlor.

She performed at numerous restaurants and clubs throughout the Pittsburgh area, wrote her own songs, and was featured on WTAE, KDKA, and WPIT. She even wrote letters to the White House expressing her desire to perform there, and they wrote back every time, keeping her file active and expressing interest in having her perform in the future.

Jerry was in over 200 commercials and ads throughout the years for various companies. She was even featured as the grandma in the movie, Kid Brother in 1987 which was played at the Benedum Center several times. 

Jerry founded her own record label, Jerry Records. Her son will be sending us some of her records to display and listen to in the space. We’re excited to incorporate a piece of Jerry's family history into the venue!

Jerry was featured in countless ads over the years, including the iconic Heinz Ketchup commercials. A true star in Pittsburgh, we are grateful to learn about her legacy and the rich history of what our event space was once part of.

News articles about Jerry can be found on a dedicated shelf in our space. We enjoy sharing her story with our guests when they visit. If you're interested in learning more, feel free to ask us about the Whistling Grandma’s history!