Donna Darling Collection – Part 7
Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor
Donna Darling with Murray Walker & Jack Finney – 1922
The searching, the hunt to understand a page, a photo from the Donna Darling Collection is always fun. Item #7 of the collection is a photograph of Donna with two men. Accompanying newspaper clippings suggest that the photo is of her with Murray Walker and Jack Finney. Donna did a show with Walker and Finney in 1922 called, “As You Like It” although I have also seen it referred to as “Donna Darling and The Boys.”
With just a little touching up, it provided a great photo of Donna and one showing Murray Walker and Jack Finney. Also, with it is a clipping of an ad showing them as the headliner at the Majestic. Sadly, the ad doesn’t show which Majestic theater it was – and there are several.
So, I searched for shows where Donna where and when this Majestic show might have taken place. I quickly found where Donna and the Boys played the Majestic in Harrisburg, PA on April 6th, 7th, and 8th, 1822. Then I realized the accompanying acts weren’t the same as the clipping from the Donna Collection. I continued searching but still haven’t found the Majestic and show from Donna’s scrapbook.
The two new venues I did find for Donna and the Boys are:
March 27, 28, 29, 1922 – Pittsburgh, PA – Sheridan Square – Donna Darling assisted by Murray Walker & Jack Finney in “As You Like It.”[i]
April 6, 7, 8, 1922 – Harrisburg, PA – Majestic ([ii]Keith Vaudeville) with Murray Walker & Jack Finney in “As You Like It.”
Also, I found a brief note in the New York Clipper about Donna playing
July 1, 2, 1923- Keokuk, IA – Regent – Donna Darling & Co.[iii]
So, three new venues for Donna and a great photo touched up. It is a great day.
FOLLOWUP
Search further for the Donna and the Boys show at another Majestic Theater that included the accompanying acts above.
Research the show in March 1922, in Pittsburgh, PA and research the Sheridan Square theater
Research the show in April 1922 in Harrisburg, PA and the Majestic Theater.
Research the show in July 1923 in Keokuk, IA and the Regent Theater.
ENDNOTES
[i] 1922-03-26 – The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, PA) Page 44 “Sheridan Square.”
[ii] 1922-04-07 – The Evening News (Harrisburg, PA) – Page 22 “Best Show at Majestic.”
[iii] 1923-06-27 – New York Clipper – Page 21 – “Vaudeville Bills Next Week.”
I can see a lot of my dad in her in that photo.
The name of the show is the same as a Shakespeare play, a farce if I recall. Do you know if was a take-off from the play, or a coincidental title? Great picture of her. I see both Dawn and Mr.