Donna Darling at the Riviera Theatre, Anderson, IN, 8, 9, & 10 April 1925.
Donna in the News 99 Years Ago 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 Anderson Herald(Anderson, Indiana) newspaper dated April 5th, 1925, I learned that Donna and the “Hollywood Motion Picture Bathing Girls” played at the Riviera Theatre in Anderson, Indiana.
Donna Darling and Bathing Girls to Appear at Riviera
BATHING GIRL REVUE COMING TO THE RIVIERA THEATRE WED- NESDAY. THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE IN PERSON FROM THE MOVIES.
Anderson (Indiana) Herald, April 5, 1925, Page 2.
Bathing Girls from the Western Motion Picture Studios will make a personal appearance at the Riviera Theatre for three days, starting Wednesday, April 8th. The star of this spectacular Hollywood Revue Is Miss Donna Darling, a winner of numerous beauty prizes in Madison Square Garden, The Hippodrome Theatre, New York and Boston. She played the principal role in the late musical comedy success, “Chin Chin.” Miss Darling is not only beautiful; she can sing and dance with unusual ability, and her presentations are so charming that she has been j justly called, “The Girl With the Million Dollar Personality.”
Before Miss Darling left the California Studios, she selected several accomplished Motion Picture Bathers to accompany her on her brief | tour of the eastern states. Tiny Anita Walker sings as well as she wears a stunning black and white satin bathing suit. Todd Watson and Clarice Allyn, as gypsy dancers, entertain with a difficult and spectacular number, which is followed by an acrobatic novelty by the talented movie star, Gerry Gene. Al Ross, one of the life-guards, is an eccentric dancer who also appears with Alyce Louyse in the comedy number, “1900 Bathers.” Alyce Louyse is at her best in the Hawaiian dance. Mildred O’Brien is a beach flirt who does a nifty song and dance.
This revue displays the different styles of bathing suits from Grandmother’s day in which Miss Darling appears in an elaborate silver and ! orchid gown; a comedy number of 1900, and on to the present day bather when Betty Bryant, late of Ziegfield Follies, appears in a scarlet bathing suit as “Miss America of Today.”
Much time and effort has been spent in selecting the stage settings and the elaborate lighting effects of this revue, and the management of the Riviera Theatre is to be congratulated for his ability to offer his patrons entertainment of such clean and enjoyable nature. In addition to the unusual attraction, a picture of rare merit completes the program.
FIRST TIME THE ORIGINAL BATHING GIRLS HAVE APPEARED! ON A STAGE IN ANDERSON DIRECT FROM HOLLYWOOD AND THE MOTION PICTURES. REMEMBER, WAIT AND SEE THE ORIGINALS IN PERSON AT THE RIVIERA WEDNESDAY.
