Donna Darling Collection – Part 55

Majestic Theatre

Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor

For this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday, I’m looking at a page from the Donna Darling Collection. There were three images on this page. One an ad and two short articles all relating to playing at the Majestic Theatre, Dubuque, Iowa.

The advertising has a handwritten note which says, very faintly, “Dec 12 to 15 – Dubuque, Iowa.” This is consistent with a Newspaper Archive article I found previously, in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald dated 12 Dec 1926, Page 18[i].  The clipping  shows that the Majestic Theatre was part of the “Western Vaudeville Managers Association.” The ad also indicates that the show was “starting today for 4 days.”

The first article reads:

MAJESTIC

A well poised revue with originality in every detail down to the fantastic stage settings, is the headline stage attraction on the Majestic’s new bill which opened Sunday. The Donna Darling Revue, with a five-person cast including the irrepressible Sammy Clark, is one of the best review acts to visit Dubuque this season. It is a wholesome, if ludicrous combination of song, dance and laughter.

The second article reads:

DARLING AND CLARK AT MAJESTIC TODAY

Popular Comedian And Singer And Their Assistances To Present Song And Dance Revu.

Donna Darling and Sammy Clark, well known and popular wherever vaudeville is liked, head the bill opening at the Majestic today and continuing through the rest of the week. They are assisted by Barring and Lazur and Hal Dixon, and they will present a comedy, song and dance revu. Miss Darling formerly headed her own revu and for years was a singer in music comedy. She will provide the songs, some of the dancing and Clark will furnish the fun. He is widely known as a comedian and his work is said to rank with the best of them. Their assistants are singers and dancers. The act is well staged and comes highly recommended.

Key features:

• The venue is the Majestic Theatre. The theater was part of the “Western Vaudeville Managers Association.”
• The show is the “DONNA DARLING REVUE With Sammy Clark assisted by Hal Dixon and Company.
• Also on the bill:
  • Jack Sparling and Herm Rose in “The Coming Champion”
  • The Geralds in Musical Gypsies” and Their Mandolino.
  • “Spangles,” a 1926 Universal release starring Marion Nixon and Pat O’Malley.[ii]

Conclusion

December 12-15, 1926 – Dubuque, IA – Majestic Theatre – Donna Darling Revue – Newspaper Archive – DDC-55

Endnotes

[i] Dubuque Telegraph Herald Archives, Dec 12, 1926, p. 18 — “Dubuque Telegraph Herald Archives, Dec 12, 1926, P. 18”. 1926. Newspaperarchive.Com. Accessed September 30, 2019. https://newspaperarchive.com/dubuque-telegraph-herald-dec-12-1926-p-18/.

[ii] Spangles (1926) – IMDb — “Spangles (1926) – Imdb”. 2019. Imdb. Accessed September 30, 2019. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017421/.