Donna in the News
97 Years Ago
by Don Taylor
“Donna in the News” reports newly found newspaper articles and advertisements regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Montran and Donna Darling). I am always excited when I see a new venue for my grandmother’s exciting show business career of the 1910s and 1920s.
This week, from several newspa pers, including the Springfield Evening Union, Springfield Morning Union, The Republican, and the Springfield Daily Republican, dated July 3rd through July 8th, I learned that Donna, Sammy, and Hal Dixon played at Poli’s Palace in Springfield, Massachusetts. I also learned that Donna may have been in a Vitagraph Studios film.[i]
3 July 1927
The former musical comedy and screen player, Donna Darling, offers her own revue with the assistance of Sammy Clark and Hal Dixon. Miss Darling describes her act as “modern vaudeville Frolics,” which is a hodge podge of comedy bits, song numbers and dances.
From the Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts) July 2, 1927, Page 6[ii]:
On Page 7, an ad for Poli’s Palace indicated the Donna Darling Review would be at the Palace on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday).
The July 4th, Springfield Union says,
“Donna Darling, former prima donna of the spectacular production “Chin Chin” and one of the Vitagraph screen stars, is now in vaudeville. Miss Darling believes in being timely and for her present sojourn in the variety field she presents a revue—The Donna Darling Revue, which is described as a dazzling fantasy. Featured in the company are Sammy Clark, a juvenile comedian of repute, and Hal Dixon, known for his excellent dancing ability.”
I find this particularly interesting. I knew Donna was in Birth of a Nation, but I didn’t know she did any films with Vitagraph. I will need to investigate their films and see if I can find Donna in any of them.
Finally, the Springfield Union, dated July 5th, provides a bit more information about the show,
“A bit of satire on European royalty is well done but the quiver dance done by Dixon is deserving of praise.” The Springfield Daily Republican said, “The Donna Darling revue is another feature of the holiday program that was well received. The Royal purple robes of the make-believe king of this offering and his red hair and gorgeous crown filled with sparkling glass jewels were sources of much laughter. Less regal but equally amusing was the eccentric dancer who clogged and spun around gayly in his silk trousers. Donna Darling was attractive in a variety of costumes and pleased the audience with a few songs.”
My thanks to Newspapers.com for providing access to these clippings.
Endnotes
[i] Wikipedia – Vitagraph Studios https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitagraph_Studios indicates it was, “by 1907, the most prolific American film production company.”
[ii] Via Newspapers.Com = https://www.newspapers.com/image/1056397793/
