Donna in the News – Mission Theatre, Santa Barbara, 1926

In the News
Donna Darling Revue
By Don Taylor

“Donna in the News” is my reporting of newly found newspaper articles and advertising regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (Donna Montran and Donna Darling). I am always excited when I find a new venue for my grandmother’s exciting show business career of the 1910s and 1920s.

This week’s article is from the Santa Barbara Daily News (Santa Barbara, CA), dated October 15th, 1926[i].

The ad doesn’t mention Donna, but Page 13 does have a brief mention of the shows at the Mission; it says:

The Mission will offer a very entertaining and jazzy program today and Saturday, headed by “The Donna Darling Review.”

Other acts mentioned include:

• Herbert Cagger (Balancing Act)
• Kostner and Vivian (Old-time rube act)
• Curtis and Lawrence (Skit)
• “Those Who Dare” (Screen Feature) (IMDB)

The fifth vaudeville act isn’t mentioned either.

Donna played in Santa Ana on October 7-9 and Porterville on October 19th, so her playing at Santa Ana on the 15^th and 16^th makes sense.

Thanks to this newly available online article, I was able to add another venue for Donna and the “Donna Darling Review.”

October 15-16, 1926 – Santa Barbara. CA – Mission Theatre – Donna Darling Review

Endnotes

[i] Newspapers by Ancestry – Santa Barbara Daily News (Santa Barbara, California) · Fri, Oct 15, 1926 · Page 13 “MISSION” – Accessed on Oct 7, 2021