Fisher’s Appleton, Appleton, WI & The Lyric, East Saint Louis, IL

Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor

For this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday, I’m looking at three clippings from the Donna Darling Collection.

Fisher’s Appleton

This first clipping has no date and no location. However, the key to determining location is that the program was printed by “Petersen-Bauer Printing Co. (Phone 1592).” A quick Google search of the internet found that the Petersen-Bauer Printing Company was in Appleton, Wisconsin.  From previous research, I knew that Donna played in Appleton at Fisher’s Appleton from December 1^st to December 3^rd, 1924. So, I’m quite certain that this clipping is from that show.

The Lyric

Next are two clippings on the same page in the scrapbook. They both relate to The Lyric Theatre.

Neither clipping indicates what city or what date.

The venue is the Lyric Theatre. It is advertised as “The Cool Lyric.”

• The show is the “Donna Darling and Girls” – Presenting her Little Revue.

Also, on the bill:

• • Montie – Moments of Syncopation
  • Taylor and Owens – Comedy Singing and Talking
  • Dippy Diers and Bennett – The Inimitable Pantomimist
  • Paul Godt at the Mighty Organ
  • Parsons’ Syncopators – The Best Orchestra in Southern Illinois
  • The movie is Shore Leave starring Richard Barthelmess

Next is an article clipping

BARTHELMESS HERE IN COMEDY AT LYRIC

On the Stage.

The feature attraction on the bill at the Lyric which, opened yesterday is Dona Darling and Her Girls, who present a fast-colorful revue. Miss Darling’s “Don t Care Whose Papa” is put over very good. The “Evolution of the Bathing’ Suit”, showing the kind that were worn in I860 and 1900 is very cleverly done. They also show the Dutch, French and Gypsy bathing girls, which leads up to the ultra-flapper bathing girl of 1925. The girls in the act are exceptionally good dances, and Miss Darling has a very pleasing voice. Their Hawaiian bathing girl and their harmony singing of “The Ukulele Lady” went over big yesterday. They close with an original Hawaiian Charleston dance. All in all, this is one of the best revues seen here this season….

Analysis

The advertisement clipping mentions “Paul Godt at the Mighty Organ” and mentions “Parsons’ Syncopators.” Both of which relate to the Lyric Theatre in East Saint Louis. Shore Leave, starring Richard Barthelmess was released in September 1925.[i]  Donna is known to have played in Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois and Nebraska during September 1925. As such, it is easy to suspect she played in East St. Louis at that time. It doesn’t appear that there are any East Saint Louis newspapers available online. It doesn’t appear that there are any East Saint Louis papers currently available online.

Conclusion

So, for the first clipping I’ll add a date to the clipping and incorporate the clipping when I write about Donna’s playing in Appleton, Wisconsin.

For the second (and third) clippings, I’ll add the following entry to her itinerary as:

TBD – Probably Sept or Oct 1925 – East Saint Louis, Illinois – Lyric Theatre – Donna Darling and Girls presenting Her Little Revue. DDC-72.

Actions

• Continue to monitor for the availability of newspapers from East Saint Louis in September 1925.

Sources

[i] IMDB Shore Leave (1925) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016346/accessed 12 Aug 2020.