Author Archives: Don Taylor
IN THE NEWS – Donna at the Temple Theatre, Bryan, Ohio – June 18–19, 1925
In June 1925, Donna Darling headlined at the Temple Theatre in Bryan, Ohio, with her Bathing Girl Revue. Advertised as the “outstanding vaudeville of the season,” her Keith Circuit engagement featured elaborate costumes, stage effects, and six supporting acts, marking another well-documented stop in her expanding Midwestern tour. Continue reading
Gideon Howell Reveals His Brother’s Secret: The Parents of Peter M. Howell
Howell Ancestry LineWho were Peter M. Howell’s parents?By Don Taylor Peter M. Howell (1805–1865) was a well-documented figure in my wife’s ancestry — a colorful itinerant preacher whose memoir, The Life and Travels of Peter Howell, never once names his … Continue reading
Posted in Family Lines, Brick Wall Ancestors, Howell-Hobbs
Tagged Virginia Genealogy, Peter M. Howell, Howell Family, Census Records, Gideon C. Howell, brick wall, Nancy Howell, Question Brief, James Howell, The Life and Travels of Peter Howell, Death Records, Buckingham County Virginia
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Faces from the Past – A Patriotic School Group (& Swasey)
A group of young children holding American flags pose for a photograph circa 1919–1921. One child, Raymond Lewis Swasey, has been identified—but who are the others? This image offers a glimpse into early school life and invites the community to help uncover the identities and location behind this patriotic scene. Continue reading
Donna Darling Headlines “Bathing Girl Revue” in Defiance, Ohio (June 10, 1925)
A June 10, 1925 newspaper advertisement places Donna Darling headlining the “Bathing Girl Revue” at the Valentine Theatre in Defiance, Ohio. The item confirms a new tour stop, identifies the revue by name, and reveals a full ensemble production featuring themed acts, elaborate costumes, and strong billing as the evening’s principal vaudeville attraction. Continue reading
Donna at Fox Washington Theatre, Detroit, MI – Week of June 6, 1926
In June 1926, vaudeville performer Donna Darling and her Metropolitan Five headlined the live bill at Detroit’s Fox Washington Theatre, appearing alongside the silent film The Shamrock Handicap. A penciled note in Donna’s own hand — “week June 6, Detroit” — anchors this appearance in her career chronology. Continue reading
Posted in Theatre History, Metropolitan Revue, Vaudeville
Tagged murrays-american-beauties, fox-film-corp, arland-w-johnson, william-fox, grand-circus-park, 1926, leslie-fenton, Donna-Darling, the-shamrock-handicap, pearl-brothers, donna-montran, silent-film, fox-washington-theatre, grady-trio, madonna-montran, bryson-and-tyson, detroit-michigan, ddc-part-36, metropolitan-five, donna-darling-collection, Vaudeville, janet-gaynor
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