Donna Darling at the Bucklen Theatre (Elkhart, Indiana) – 1923

IN THE NEWS – March 3, 1923
by Don Taylor

Introduction

In the continuing effort to document my grandmother’s vaudeville career, Madonna Montran (stage name Donna Darling), contemporary newspaper accounts remain invaluable. Each newly discovered engagement helps refine the chronology of her touring schedule and broaden our understanding of her professional reach.

I am particularly pleased to have identified a previously undocumented appearance at the Bucklen Theatre in Elkhart, Indiana, on March 4^th, 1923. Every new venue adds depth to the historical record and strengthens the reconstruction of her vaudeville circuit engagements.

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Performance Details

• Venue: Bucklen Theatre
• Location: Elkhart, Indiana
• Dates: Sunday, March 4, 1923 (announced March 3, 1923)
  at 2:45, 4:45, 7, and 9 P. M.
• Act Name: “As You Like It” (Singing and Dancing Revue)
• Supporting Performers on Bill:
  • Morris & Morris – “The Rube Constable and the Village Spinster”
  • Jack Gregory & Co. – Spectacular novelty juggling exhibition
  • Portia Sisters – Former circus act; “only act of its kind in the world.”
  • Karl Karey – “The Delightful Songster”
  • Feature film: William Russell in “The Great Night”

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Newspaper Coverage

The Truth (Elkhart, Indiana), March 3, 1923, Page 13

Additional column mentioned on the same page noted:

“Donna Darling, winner of the first prize in a recent beauty contest conducted by the New York Hippodrome. The act is said to be a distinct vaudeville novelty. Other acts on the bill are Morris & Morris, ‘the rube constable and the village spinster’; Jack Gregory & Co., a spectacular novelty juggling exhibition; The Portia Sisters, a former circus act; and Karl Karey, known to vaudeville as ‘The Delightful Songster.’ The picture feature is ‘The Great Night,’ with William Russell as the star.”

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Analysis and Context

The program followed a common early-1920s format:

• Multiple vaudeville specialty acts
• A headline singing and dancing revue
• A feature motion picture

The presence of William Russell’s “The Great Night” indicates that by 1923, the Bucklen Theatre had fully integrated motion pictures into its regular offerings. Donna’s revue was therefore part of a transitional entertainment model blending live and cinematic attractions.

Touring Geography

This March 1923 engagement places Donna in northern Indiana. When considered alongside her other early 1923 appearances, this booking supports the conclusion that she was touring steadily through Midwestern circuits during this period.

While the specific circuit is not named in the advertisement, the booking pattern is consistent with independent or regionally affiliated vaudeville houses operating outside the major Keith-Albee or Orpheum chains.

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Conclusion

The March 4, 1923, engagement at the Bucklen Theatre in Elkhart, Indiana, adds another confirmed venue to Donna Darling’s expanding vaudeville itinerary. The prominence of her billing and the continued use of her New York Hippodrome publicity reinforce her status as a featured attraction during this period.

Each newly identified engagement strengthens the documentary framework of her career and brings greater clarity to the rhythm and reach of her 1923 tour.

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Disclaimer: This article was researched and written by the author. ChatGPT was used as a research and drafting aid, and Grammarly was used for editorial review and copy editing.