In the ever-busy world of early 20th-century entertainment, vaudeville artists traveled from city to city, leaving only scattered traces in local newspapers. One such trace provides a welcome glimpse into my grandmother, Madonna Montran, known professionally as Donna Darling. A New Bedford Standard-Times advertisement confirms that her Donna Darling Revue with Sammy Clark appeared at the Olympia Theatre in New Bedford, Massachusetts, during July 1927.
New Bedford Standard-Times – 11 July 1927
A July 11th advertisement is the only notice showing the Revue on the Olympia bill. It indicates that the theatre was presenting five live stage acts alongside the feature film Babe Comes Home, starring Babe Ruth with Anna Q. Nilsson and Louise Fazenda.
Reviewing all the papers that week, I learned the combined film-and-vaudeville program began July 10th and ran through July 13th, after which the Standard-Times announced an entirely new set of acts and a new picture starting July 14th. Though modest, this single advertisement firmly places Donna Darling and Sammy Clark at the Olympia during this brief engagement.
Performance Details
Venue: Olympia Theatre, New Bedford, Massachusetts
Dates: July 10–13, 1927
Act:Donna Darling Revue with Sammy Clark
Other Vaudeville Acts:
Hite & Reflow in “Their Back Yard”
Wise & Oliver
Teddy Joyce
Dekos Bros.
This small archival finding offers another thread in the wider fabric of 1920s vaudeville, illustrating how touring performers, my grandmother among them, brought music, comedy, and variety entertainment to communities across the country during a vibrant era in American theatre.
With Thanksgiving upon us, it feels like an appropriate moment to share a discovery I made just yesterday: I may be descended from Richard Warren (1583–1628), one of the passengers of the Mayflower. This possible connection appears on my Roberts line and, unlike my distant Charlemagne link, is close enough that I should be able to verify—or rule it out—through careful research.
William Halsall, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Below is the lineage I believe may connect me to Richard Warren. This reconstruction follows my direct ancestors up the Roberts, Barnes, Taft, Cruff, Sprague, and Bartlett lines, arriving eventually at the Warren family of early Plymouth Colony.
Richard Warren arrived in Plymouth Colony aboard the Mayflower in 1620. He traveled alone, leaving his wife Elizabeth (née Walker) and their five daughters in England. They later joined him in 1623 on the ship Anne. Warren played a meaningful role in the early development of the colony, and his descendants spread widely across New England.
His eldest daughter, Mary Warren, married Robert Bartlett, thus beginning one of the region’s enduring colonial family lines.
Where My Research Stands Today
I have thoroughly researched the first six generations of this proposed lineage and feel confident in their accuracy. For the remaining ancestors—particularly the connections linking the Taft, Cruff, Sprague, and Bartlet families—I am relying on established secondary sources that appear consistent with reputable genealogical work.
To fully confirm this Mayflower descent, I still need to examine three more ancestor pairs closely:
Asa Taft → Elizabeth Cruff
Elizabeth Cruff → Abigail Sprague
Abigail Sprague → Richard Sprague
And confirm three more ancestor pairs that are well known:
Richard Sprague → Elizabeth Bartlet
Elizabeth Bartlet → Mary Warren
Mary Warren → Richard Warren
Once those links are verified through primary evidence or trusted scholarly treatments, I should be able to determine with confidence whether this Mayflower ancestry is valid.
Even the possibility is a meaningful discovery to consider during this Thanksgiving season, inviting reflection on family, history, and heritage.
Endnotes
“Richard Warren,” Wikipedia, accessed November 2025.
General histories of Plymouth Colony, the Bartlett family, and the Warren descendants, including Mayflower Families Through Five Generations.
Disclaimer This article’s development was aided by the use of ChatGPT and Grammarly.
I encounter photos from many sources. Today, I look at five photos I recently came across.
Store with 17 people in front, Cornish, Maine, c. 1885-1895.
Photographer: Unidentified Inscription: “G. H. Snip | Cornish, Maine” Description: An apparently large staff of 17 people in front of a large general store. store Research:
Based on the clothing, storefront design, boardwalk, and hitching posts, I believe the photo is circa 1885-1895.
Brightness and contrast edited for viewability.
I am providing this historic photo here; however, I have also shared it with the folks at the Cornish Historical Society.
Teamster Hauling Wood, Dover-Jackman, c. 1895.
Photographer: C. A. Smith Photo Co. Inscription: None. Description: A sepia photograph from the C.A. Smith Photo Co. shows a teamster on a wooden wagon loaded with firewood, drawn by two horses, before a classic New England farmhouse. Likely taken around 1890–1895 in the Dover–Jackman region, the image offers a rich glimpse into rural Maine life and invites further identification.
Gently edited for clarity.
Research:
The back of the photo includes a note about a picture taken on June 15th, 1892, indicating this photo was taken after that date.
The Rockland Courier-Gazette has advertisements for C.A. Smith Photo Co. into 1897, but I haven’t found any mention of the company after that date.
I provide this historic photo here only.
Grocery Store Interior, Probably Allston, MA, c. 1895-1905.
Photographer: Commercial Photo Co., 14 Broadway Extension, Boston, Mass. Inscription: Handwritten: allstn Description: Professional interior of a grocery or dry-goods store. Ten men stand throughout the space. A sign in the back advertises “There is none better – Corner Stone Flour.”
Research:
Commercial Photo Co. operated in Buston during the 1890s to 1910s.
“Allstn” probably refers to Allston, a Boston neighborhood.
The gas lighting suggests the photo was taken before 1906.
Corner Stone Flour was made from the mid-1890s through about 1901.
I provide this historic photo here only.
Public House, Probably Pendleton, Salford, England, c. 1900-1908.
Photographer: Unidentified Inscription: On back: This is the house you were born in Jan 3rd 1872 | John Holden. Description: A corner pub with:
Walkers of Warrington was a brewery in Warrington, Lancashire, England.
This is likely a Walkers of Warrington Pub.
There was a Steers Street in Pendleton, Salford, (historically in Lancashire) near Manchester.
My initial search did not find a Holden family in Pendleton or Salford with a child born on 3Jan 3rd, 1872. Further research would be necessary to confirm the likely location.
I provide this historic photo here only.
Unidentified Man, Lewiston, ME, circa 1890
Photographer: Colpitts & Co. 52 Lisbon Street, Lewiston, ME. Inscription: Mary A Smith | F-1109 | F-1295 Description: This is a classic late-Victorian cabinet card portrait of a well-dressed young man, taken in a professional studio in Maine. The combination of clothing, props, and printing style firmly places it around 1885–1895. Research:
Colpitts & Company was operating by 1889 and moved by 1891 when I. L. Hammond & Co. operated at that location.
The 1890 Census – Veterans Schedules lists a Mary A Smith, the widow of John Smith, living in Auburn, Maine. However, I have been unable to determine the date of John Smith’s death.
My search of the internet failed to locate this photo.
I am unable to identify this young man.
Conclusion
I am sad that I was unable to positively identify any of these photographs. I would love to hear your reaction if you can identify any of these people or locations. If so, do you have a story you can share? If so, please use the comment form below. Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the pictures with the descendants of the people portrayed here.
Disclaimer:
Some of the research in this post was aided by AI and edited with Grammarly.
The Scarborough Historical Society has a large collection of photos featuring various individuals. Today, I look at four photos from that collection.
Alan McCluskey, Falmouth HS, 1969.
Alan McCluskey, Falmouth HS, 1969.
Photographer: The Wendell White Studio, Portland, ME Inscription: Alan McCluskey ‘69 Description: A black-and-white studio portrait of a teenage boy or young man, printed in a matte finish and mounted in a beige folder with blue border lines. The mount is stamped “The Wendell White Studio, Portland, ME.” The subject wears thick-rimmed rectangular eyeglasses, a striped suit jacket, a white shirt, and a patterned necktie. His haircut features a straight, even fringe across the forehead, typical of mid-1960s to early 1970s youth styles. The lighting is strong and even, with a plain, seamless background. Research:
This photo of Alan Hugh McCluskey appears in the 1969 Falmouth High School Yearbook, The 1969 Crest on page 40. “Al” was involved with the Chess Club, the Debating Club, and several plays.
I include his photo here.
Newton Curtis, Westbrook HS, 1936.
Newton Curtis, Westbrook HS, 1936
Photographer: Albert Inscription: June 12, 1936 W.H.S. Description: A formal studio portrait of a young man, likely in his teens or early twenties. He wears a textured tweed suit jacket, a light dress shirt, and a patterned tie with large polka dots—typical of late-1930s or early-1940s fashion. His hair is neatly waved and parted, and the background is a softly blurred sepia studio backdrop. In the lower-left corner is a stylized photographer’s signature reading “Albert”. The warm tone and soft focus are characteristic of professional portrait work of the period.. Research:
A search of the Westbrook High School yearbook shows the same photo on Page 29. The person is identified as Newton G. Curtis. “Newt” was the secretary of the Stenographic Club (pg 46). class Vice-President and a football letterman.
Find a Grave has a profile for Newton Curtis, Sr., who was born 11 Sep 1918 and who died in Scarborough on 20 Jan 2012. It also provide information on his parents, wife, and two siblings.
Photographer: Vantines Inscription: Pat Description: A bright, high-key studio portrait of a smiling young woman. She wears round wire-rimmed glasses, and her hair is styled in short, wavy layers pulled back above her ears. She is dressed in a light blouse with a lace-trimmed collar. The photograph is mounted in a cream-colored folder with corner tabs. The lighting and crisp grayscale tonality suggest a 1950s or early 1960s era portrait. The composition uses ample white space, focusing attention on her expression. A tag on the photo folder indicates “Class of 1951.” Research:
A review of the 1951 Deering High School yearbook found the same photo and identified the person as Patricia Sweeney. “Pat” was a member of the school’s “Ramettes,” a girls’ pep-squad that supported school spirit at school athletic sports.
An obituary in the Portland Press Herald on December 15, 2019, indicated that Patricia Dawn Sweeney passed away on December 7th, 2019. She was born on June 21, 1933.
Photographer: Unknown Inscription: Albert E. Daggett, Inventor of the Road Rake – c. 1885-1900. Description: A black-and-white outdoor photograph showing an older man with a full white beard seated on a wooden, open-frame wagon pulled by a team of two horses. The man wears a dark suit and a wide-brimmed hat. The wagon is fitted with large, spoked wheels and appears to be used for farm or hauling work. The background includes multiple farm buildings, stone walls, fields, and several houses on a distant hillside, suggesting a rural New England setting around the late 19th or very early 20th century. The photo has the soft contrasts typical of early gelatin-silver prints.
Albert Daggett, Inventor of a Road Rake, c. 1898.
Research:
The Portland Evening Express, dated Aug 28, 1895, page 1, confirms Albert Daggett, [of] Strong, [Maine] was the inventor of a road rake.
Find a Grave has memorial 39898857 for Albert L. Daggett, born 13 June 1827 in New Vineyard, Franklin County, Maine and died on 18 June 1916 in Strong, Franklen County, Maine. His parents were Capt. Plamentin and Hannah (Snow) Daggett. He married Sarah Montgomery Porter (1836-1886) and Ada Eldora Pottle (1853-1913) and had a least three children, Willie, “infant”, and Minnie.
I would love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before. Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the pictures with family members who may have never seen the image.
Disclaimer: The Photo Descriptions were generated using ChatGPT.
In the rich tapestry of early 20th-century entertainment, vaudeville performers like my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Darling), carved out vibrant careers that often went unrecorded beyond local newspaper archives. Recently, I discovered a fascinating glimpse into her professional life through Florida Times-Union and Jacksonville Journal clippings documenting her performing at the Palace Theatre, Jacksonville.
Review
The Florida Times Union – Oct 31, 1923, page 4
On October 27th, The Jacksonville Journal reported, “Donna Darling and her musical comedy revue is expected to be one of the big hits of the season. Miss Darling is a musical comedy ingenue and is established in the theatrical world. And she is supported by a capable company.”
Performance Details
Venue: Palace Theatre, Jacksonville, Florida.
Dates: October 28-31, 1923.
Act: Donna Darling in Her Revue with her dancing fool—“Song and Dance Romance.”
Other Acts:
AMAC – “The Great Three-Card Illusion.”
Billy Dooley & Co., Assisted by Violin Boturba, in “Vaudeville a la Carte.”
George and Paul Hickman in “Darkness and Dawn.”
This archival discovery adds another rich detail to understanding the dynamic world of 1920s vaudeville performance, showcasing the creativity and artistry of traveling entertainment troupes during a transformative period in American show business.
Research credit: Genealogy Bank (Journal) and Newspapers.com (Times Union).
