Donna played Al Ringling theatre – January 1925

Donna in the News
by Don Taylor

“Donna in the News” is my reporting of newly found newspaper articles and advertisements regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka 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 from the Baraboo News Republic (Baraboo, WI) newspaper dated 6 Jam 1925, I learned that Donna and her “Bathing Beauty Revue” played at the Al Ringling Theater on 5 & 7 January 1925 in Baraboo, Wisconsin, also that the show included some 15 girls.

Bathing Review Of Splendor On Ringling Bill

Pretty girls, dazzling costumes, and catchy music featured the Bathing Beauty Review at the Al. Ringling Theatre Monday Evening, which was shown as an added attraction in addition to the screen program of “Forbidden Paradise” and Harry Langdon in “Luck of the Foolish.”

Vaudeville consisted of 24 numbers which included many fancy costume skits by Murray Earl, Donna Darling and the girls numbering some 15 in number. The chorus costumed as bathers of 1860, 1900, Atlantic City, China, Spain, Egypt, Hawaii, America and others won considerable applause from the audience.

The same program will be repeated tonight.

Because of this newly available online article, I was able to add another venue for Donna’s exciting vaudeville career.

New career entry: “January 5-6, 1925 – Baraboo, Wisconsin – Al Ringling Theatre – Bathing Beauty Revue Featuring Donna Darling and Murry Earle.”