Spoiler : Helen Troy Born San Francisco, California, December 23, 1903 (grew up in Traverse City, Michigan) Died Santa Monica, California, November 1, 1942 Age 38 (a "lingering illness") Helen graduated from college in Chicago with a degree in performance (piano/organ combined) and worked for two years as a theater organist in Detroit. Then she moved to her birthplace to begin another two years as a theater organist when she was discovered by executives from radio station KYA who hired her as an organist and pianist. Somehow, she got involved in a conversation with actor Johnny Patrick (real name J. Patrick Goggan) which led to the popular comedy serial Cecil and Sally. The show played from 1928 to 1937 on KYA and KPO (later KNBC, now KNBR). Helen moved to L.A. and worked on several shows there as well as in motion pictures. Her life away from entertainment was hidden from public as it was revealed at the time of her death that she had been married to a physician (Alton Edward Horton) for many years and they had two children, ages 18 and 15.