Donna Darling Co. at the Bucklen Theatre, Elkhart, Indiana – 1924

In the News – November 10-11, 1924
by Don Taylor

Introduction

In the continuing effort to document my grandmother’s vaudeville career, Madonna Montran (stage name Donna Darling), contemporary newspaper accounts remain invaluable. Each newly discovered engagement helps refine the chronology of her touring schedule and broaden our understanding of her professional reach.

I am particularly pleased to document Donna Darling Company’s appearance at the Bucklen Theatre in Elkhart, Indiana, in November 1924. This engagement shows the continued development of her larger revue format and demonstrates her sustained presence in Midwestern vaudeville markets.

Performance Details

• Venue: Bucklen Theatre
• Location: Elkhart, Indiana
• Dates: Monday and Armistice Day, November 10–11, 1924
• Act Name: “A Beach Promenade”
• Company Billing: Donna Darling Co.
• Supporting Acts on Bill:
  • “An Overhead Oddity” – Miss Rubye & Billy Lathan (double trapeze act)
  • Lamey and Pearson – “Just For Fun”
  • Aalbu Sisters – “A Few Different Things”
  • Beck and Berry – “A Bit of Nonsense”
• Feature Photoplay: “Those Who Dance” (Thomas H. Ince production)

Source: The Truth (Elkhart, Indiana), November 11, 1924, Page 12.

Newspaper Coverage

Advertisement – “VAUDEVILLE Today and ARMISTICE DAY”

“Five Acts of Vaudeville”
An Added Attraction

DONNA DARLING CO. IN ‘A BEACH PROMENADE.’

“Five Pretty Girls and Two Men compose the company known as Donna Darling’s Bathing Girl Revue. The sketch shows the evolution of the bathing suit in three shocks and four gasps.”

Review Column Text (Page 12)

“Today the Bucklen offers five acts of vaudeville and in addition the feature photoplay, ‘Those Who Dance.’ Three shows today, afternoon at 4 and evening at 7 and 9:15.

The vaudeville program for today and tomorrow consists of the following selected acts: ‘An Overhead Oddity,’ in which pretty Miss Rubye, weighing but 100 pounds, handles Billy Lathan, who weighs 180 pounds, in a double trapeze act, including toe hangs and contortion feats; Lamey and Pearson in ‘Just For Fun,’ a pleasing act centering around the New York young fellow who meets a girl from the country; the Aalbu Sisters in ‘A Few Different Things,’ an enjoyable variety of novelty dancing, music and songs, assisted by a dancing partner; Beck and Berry in ‘A Bit of Nonsense,’ a singing and talking act with clever songs and up-to-date comedy; the Donna Darling company in ‘A Beach Promenade,’ introducing five pretty girls, who know how to wear bathing suits, and two life guards.”

Analysis and Context

Evolution of the Act

Documented fact: By November 1924, Donna was touring with a formally titled company presentation — “A Beach Promenade.” The advertisement explicitly describes it as a “Bathing Girl Revue,” featuring five women and two men.

Interpretation: This marks a clear evolution from her earlier smaller-format singing and dancing revues. The “bathing girl” theme aligns closely with 1920s popular culture trends emphasizing seaside imagery, modern swimwear, and light comedic spectacle. The phrase “three shocks and four gasps” reflects the era’s promotional hyperbole, suggesting playful, risqué elements without crossing into indecency.

Billing Hierarchy

Unlike her March 1923 engagement at the same theatre, where she appears to have headlined, the November 1924 advertisement lists her as an “Added Attraction” within a balanced five-act bill.

Interpretation: This suggests either a rotational billing structure or a strategic marketing choice to highlight the novelty of the themed revue. The phrasing still gives her act prominence, particularly through bold typography in the display advertisement.

Touring Geography

The return to Elkhart demonstrates repeat bookings within the same market approximately twenty months after her prior appearance.

Interpretation: Repeat engagement in the same theatre suggests that her earlier appearance was commercially successful. Vaudeville managers were pragmatic; performers who drew audiences were frequently rebooked.

Conclusion

The November 10–11, 1924, appearance at the Bucklen Theatre confirms the continued growth and sophistication of Donna Darling’s touring production. “A Beach Promenade” represents a more developed company format, consistent with mid-1920s vaudeville trends emphasizing themed revues and ensemble presentation.

This documented Armistice Day engagement not only expands her known itinerary but also illustrates the maturation of her act from solo-feature billing to a branded company production — an important stage in her professional evolution.

Disclaimer: This article was researched and written by the author. ChatGPT was used as a research and drafting aid, and Grammarly was used for editorial review and copy editing.