Author Archives: Don Taylor

Faces from the Past – The Portland Men’s Singing Club at Poland Spring (1919)

A remarkable 1919 panoramic photograph shows members of the Portland Men’s Singing Club and their guests gathered at Poland Spring, Maine. Taken just months after the end of World War I, the image captures a moment of renewed civic life and fellowship. Can you help identify the individuals in this historic group photograph? Continue reading

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Faces from the Past – Cole, Dyer, Hersey, Quimby, & Sawyer

This installment of Faces from the Past examines five photographs from the Linwood Dyer Collection. Through inscriptions, studio imprints, and genealogical research, several individuals connected to the extended Dyer family of Cape Elizabeth and Portland, Maine, can be identified, including Brainard Dyer, Eleanor B. (Dyer) Cole, Henry Hersey, Mary Weeks (Quimby) Dyer, and Eva Beatrice Sawyer. Continue reading

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Faces from the Past – Plummer-Roberts (& Hunnewell &Mains)

This installment of Faces from the Past examines three final photographs from the Plummer-Roberts album in the Linwood Dyer Collection. The images include a childhood tintype of Nellie (Plummer) Roberts, an unidentified Mary Mains CDV from Portland, and a possible portrait of Mary “Polly” Hunnewell of Scarborough. Each photograph is analyzed for dating, identification, and family context. Continue reading

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“The Scintillating Beauty”: Donna Darling’s Week at Jackson’s Capitol Theatre, 1926

In March 1926, Donna Darling and her “Little Jewel Revue” appeared for a full week at the Capitol Theatre in Jackson, Michigan. Featuring split bills of motion pictures and vaudeville, the engagement included glowing press notices and a locally promoted Bathing Girl Contest arrainged and conducted by Donna. Continue reading

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Donna Darling in Rochester, NY: “Chin Chin” at the Lyceum, March 4th-6th, 1920

In March 1920, Donna Darling appeared at Rochester’s Lyceum Theatre in the touring musical comedy Chin Chin. Cast as the Goddess of the Light, Donna performed in a major Charles Dillingham production during its return engagement. Contemporary newspaper coverage highlights the scale, spectacle, and national reach of the show, providing valuable context for Donna’s early professional stage career. Continue reading

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