“Chin Chin” – Empire Theater, North Adams, MA – 14 May 1920

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Don Taylor

100 Years ago Today….

Donna Montran and “Chin Chin” play at the Empire Theater in North Adams, Massachusetts, on 14 May 1920

Chin Chin
Vaudeville
Donna Montran

The “Chin Chin” production played at the Bennington Opera House on May 13th. Then they traveled the 16 miles south to North Adams, MA to play at the Empire Theater the next day.

Preshow Advertising

Advertising for the show began on May 5th when the regular Empire ad indicated, “Coming FRIDAY, MAY 14th, “CHIN CHIN.” Along with the display ad was a short advertising article.

“CHIN CHIN”

Booked for Empire May 14th With Fun Makers of Unusual Calibre

The management of the Empire Theater has booked Charles Dillingham’s only company presenting that wonderful spectacle of “Chin Chin” for one evening’s showing Friday evening, May 14th.

This riot of fun, feast of music, and bevy of feminine beauty appeared at the Globe theater in New York for two solid years and is justly heralded as the greatest musical comedy success emanating from the gay white way. In the leading comedy roles are Walter Wills and Roy Binder supported by a cast of about 65 people including Tom Browne’s Saxaphone band.

The book is by Anne Caldwell and R. H. Burnside, the lyrics by Anne Caldwell and James O’Dea, the music by Ivan Caryll, whose lingering and lilting melodies carried “The Pink Lady” and The Little Café” to success. “Chin Chin” is blessed with a big company.

In this musically rich show spontaneous approval is always accorded melodious tunes as “Good Bye Girl, I’m Through,” “Love Moon,” “Violet,” “The Grey Moon,” “Go Gur Sig Gong-Jue” the comedy song and “The Ragging of the Rag of Rags.”—adv.

This article is a bit unusual in that it actually mentioned “—adv.” at the end indicating it was an ad. Often these articles are ambiguous as to their source.

The Saturday paper had a special ad for the show, a text article ad, and an image of:

The North Adams Transcript used this photo, however, due to the quality of the Newspaper copy, I have used a better quality image from jass.com.

THE FAMOUS TOM BROWN’S CLOWN SAXOPHONE BAND IN CHARLES DILLINGHAM’S STUPENDOUS PRODUCTION OF “CHIN CHIN” AT THE EMPIRE THEATER FRIDAY EVENING.

Reviews

Unusual for a one-night engagement, but the North Adams Transcript ran a review of the show the day afterwards. It read:

AT THE EMPIRE

Charles B. Dillingham’s “Chin Chin” Draws full house. Wills the Star

Another full house responded las night to the Empire theater’s offering of another musical comedy, the occasion being the presentation of Charles B. Dillingham’s “Chin Chin.” It is a fair generalization of the production as given here to say that Walter Wills in the role created by Fred Stone, was pretty much all there was to the show. Mr. Wills’ grotesque contortions and classical humor lifted the show out of the commonplace and saved it. It would be asking too much to expect that the play as presented by last night’s cast equal that given by Montgomery and Stone and their associates some five years ago, although not a few who saw the original production in New York drew in invidious comparison last night.

Aside from Wills, it may as well be said first at last that the show was a series of blithe, sometimes crisp and wellordered, but always interesting tableaux. Musical umbers here and there betrayal tuneful purpose, but none of the singers could sing very well.

In addition to Wills, Roy Binder his companion, Starr Dunham as Alladin, Donna Montran, Bessie Franklin, and Joseph Robinson, carried the bulk of the work and displayed a certain amount of ability.

The Saxophone band, the trick horse, the fake piano playing and ventriloquist dodge were also features worthy of more than passing notice. The mechanical effects and stage settings were striking and clever, many of them being new to these parts.

The chorus was a good-sized and well-costumed one the pale pastels of the Orient predominating in the color scheme.

Empire Theater

The Empire theater was built in 1913 to replace an earlier theater built in 1866 that had burned in 1912.[i]

The Publix Theater Corp. took over the empire and changed the name to “Paramount” effective 2 Sept 1929. Theater Manager: J. F. Sullivan[ii]

Seating Capacity: 1,200

Stage (Proscenium opening): 32×26 ft
Front to back wall: 35 ft
Between side walls: 62 ft

Today

The theater was demolished in the 1970’s (possibly 1980’s). However, the lobby can still be seen if one looks carefully at the interior of the Capital Restaurant. Also, the name continues on with “The Empire” restaurant in the same building at that location.

Further Research

Check the “Herald” for additional articles regarding the “Chin Chin” performance.

Disclaimer

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Endnotes

[i] “Empire Theatre In North Adams, MA – Cinema Treasures”. 2020. Cinematreasures.Org. Accessed April 24 2020. https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/18165.

[ii] Julius Cahn—Gus Hill Theatrical Guide and Moving Picture Directory – 1921.

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Mother’s Day 2020 – Dancing Trees

Posted on May 10, 2020 by Don Taylor

Today, I remember my mother, who passed away last fall. I miss her love of art, music, and poetry.  She wrote the following poem many years ago and remember her as I recite it out loud.

Dancing Trees

By Sylvia Matson

‘Have you ever seen trees dance?’
My grandma asked me
As I snuggled on her lap
One lovely summer day.

‘Trees are big and strong.
Their roots run deep in the soil,’
I laughed and said. ‘Trees can’t dance.
I’m sure, grandma, you’re wrong.’

‘Oh, my darling grandchild,
You’re looking the wrong way.
Instead of looking down, dear one,
Look up high today.

‘See how the leaves and
Branches reach up toward the sky?
They seem to twist and sway
As the breezes wander by.

‘Sometimes you hear the
Rustle of leaves high in the air.
They sound almost like
Pretty skirts, ladies used to wear.

‘Next time you walk
Among the trees,
Look up. Then you’ll agree.
Grandma was right.

Trees can dance and
Do so beautifully.’

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Six Photos – Four Women

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Don Taylor

Photo Friday
By Don Taylor

Six Photos – Four Women

A good week for my Photo Identification Project. Three individuals were identified but one person had a common name and couldn’t be distinguished from eight different people.

Family Search

Harriett (Reed) Shaw - 164 Oak Street, Bath, ME - Crop“Harriett (Reed) Shaw, 164 Oak Street, Bath, ME” – A quick check on Ancestry found that Harriet E Reed married John Shaw on 5 October 1898. She is person ID G3VG-WH7 on Family Search. The 1900 Census shows them living at 143 Oak Street, Bath. Also, the 1900 Census indicates that Harriet was born in August 1875. Finally, the 1910 Census indicates that John and Harriet are living at 164 Oak Street. So, I identify this photo as “Harriett (Reed) Shaw, taken by Holmes Studio in Bath, Maine sometime after 1900.” Her Family Search ID is G3VG-WH7.

“Etta Crowley” – There are were three photos of Etta Crowley.

Etta Crowley - Mother Later Married Mr. Spear 1 - Crop

Etta Crowley - Mother Later Married Mr. Spear - Crop

“Etta Crowley – Mother later married Mr. Spear” – There are two photos done by E.  J. Poisson, Leading Photographer, Westbrook, Maine, of Etta as a young girl.

 

 

Etta Crowley - Crop

The third photo in this group is “Etta Crowley” which was taken at Marshall Studio in Westbrook, Maine, when Etta was a young woman.  The 1900 Census finds Etta Crowley living with her mother, Helen Crowley, at the home of Lester Hoss on Cottage Avenue in Westbrook. Etta was born in 11 Feb 1892. I judge the two photos are of an eight or nine year old girl, so I date the two photos circa 1898.

Helen (Reynolds) Crowley (Etta’s mother)  married Benjamin F. Spear on 25 Jan 1902 in Portland, Maine which helps establish for a certainty that the photo is of Etta Crowley, the daughter of Helen Crowley. A further review of Etta Crowley on Family Search indicates her ID is LRMS-YB8​​

Mrs Effie Griffiths - Durham, N. H. - Crop“Mrs. Effie Griffiths – Durham, N. H.” – The photo is of a woman in her mid-30s to mid 40s. An Google search for “Effie Griffiths” and Durham, N.H. resulted in 10 results. The top one was M. Effie Griffiths born 2 Dec 1860 and died 21 Sep 1945. She is buried in the Griffith’s Cemetery in Durham, Strafford County, New Hampshire. It appears she was the only Effie Griffiths in Durham during the 1900 Census. On Family Search she is Mary Effie Furber – LZXB-MG1.

Dead Fred

Annie Williams - Crop“Annie Williams of Bath” – The photo is of a woman probably in her 30s taken at the Longfellow Gallery in Portland, ME. My review of the Portland City Directories indicate that the Longfellow Gallery existed in Portland between 1900 and 1912 (No entries for the Gallery in the 1898 or earlier nor in the 1914 City Directories or later), so I’ll date the photo circa 1906.

 Possible Candidates:

  • Annie M Williams, born ca. 1853, living in Bath Ward 3, during the 1910 Census.
  • Annie Williams, born ca. 1870, wife of Harry Williams, living in Bath, Ward 1 during the 1910 Census.
  • Annie Williams, born ca. 1871, wife of Edward Williams, living in South Portland during the 1910 Census.
  • Annie Williams, born September 1872, daughter of William A Williams, living in Portland during the 1900 Census.
  • Annie A Williams (born ca. 1873) who married James Sawyer on 24 Dec 1903. She was 18.
  • Annie K Williams, born ca. 1873 living in Portland, Ward 2, during the 1910 Census.
  • Annie Laura Williams (born ca. 1873) who married Fred Everett Walker on 22 October 1902. She was 29.
  • Annie N Williams, born ca. 1873, wife of Robert Williams, living in Portland, Ward 3 during the 1910 Census.
  • Annie E Williams, born Nov 1879 who lived in Bath, Ward 1 during the 1900 Census.
  • Annie M Williams, born May 1897, daughter of Daniel F Williams living in Portland, Ward 1

The woman looks younger than 47 to me, so I’m confident it is not Annie M. Williams born, ca. 1853. And the woman appears to me to be older than 15, so it couldn’t be Annie M Williams, born May 1897.  That leaves eight candidates who were born between 1870 and 1879, any of whom could be this Annie Williams.

Final Note

If you are related to any of these individuals or can help confirm the identities of them, I’d love to hear from you. Please use the form below.

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FamilyTreeDNA – Mother’s Day Sales

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Don Taylor

In case you missed it, FamilyTreeDNA is offering Mother’s Day Sales on it’s Family Finder and mtDNA tests.

“Family Ancestry” is their Family Finder test that tests autosomal DNA and can be taken by anyone. “Maternal Ancestry” is a mitochondrial DNA test that can be taken by anyone but looks at potential maternal ancestors.

The sale runs until May 11th.


Save $20 on Family Finder
Save $20 on Maternal Ancestry DNA tests

– – – – – Disclaimer – – – – –

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Five Women – Four Identified

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Don Taylor

Farrington, Lane, Mills, & Perry Identified

Photo Friday
By Don Taylor

Very good week for my Photo Identification Project. Four individuals were identified, however, one was not.

Family Search

Katie Farrington who married Starrett of Warren, Maine“Katie Farrington – Who married Starrett of Warren, Maine.”

There is a Katie Ella Farrington (of Gardner) who married Henry Vaill Starrett (of Warren) on January 1, 1901, in Gardner. Katie was 36 at the time of the marriage. I believe this photo to be of Katie, probably in 1900. See photo at Family Search.

Edith H Lane
“Edith H Lane.” No studio, date, or location information. However, this appears to be the Edith H Lane, born June 1871 of Simeon and Mary Lane who lived in Brownfield, Oxford County, Maine. She married Frederick W. Jameson on 28 December 1914.  This appears to be a photo of this Edith H Lane. See her photo at Family Search.

Miss Mills - Nurse“Miss Mills – Nurse” was taken at Hanson Studio, 12 Monument Square in Portland, Maine.

A look at the 1899 Portland City Directory discovered a Miss Inez L. Mills that was a nurse at 597 Congress, boarded the same place. I saw no other nurses with the Mills surname. It appears that Miss Mills was a nurse in Portland from 1898 to 1905. The 1920 Census finds the 47-year-old Inez living in Portland at 684 Congress Street and working as a registered nurse for the Red Cross. The 1880 Census finds Inez living with her parents Melvin J. and Abby Mills in Belgrade, Kennebec County, Maine. Finding no other “Miss Mills” that was a nurse in the Portland area, I am confident this is Inez L. Mills. Inez Luella Mills (1872-1944). See her photo at Family Search.

Agnes Perry“Agnes Perry” – The photo is that of a young woman taken at Merrill Studio, Rockland, Maine. There is no date nor any other information. A search for “Agnes Perry” Rockland Maine provided a link to Agnes Mae (Perry) Radley on Find-a-Grave. It said This Agnes was born 2 Aug 1891 in Rockland, Knox County Maine. She married Franklin Leroy Radley in 1912. A search for her on Family Search found her with her parents in Rockland during the 1900 and boarding at 58 Camden Street in Rockland during the 1910 Census. A wider search indicated no other Agnes Perry’s in Maine during this period, so I’m sure this is the correct Agnes Perry. Agnes Mae (Perry) Radley, (1891-1963). See her photo at Family Search.

Unidentified

Unknown Woman - Corson Studio, Madison, METhe last photo I looked at this week was of a woman standing. No name, no date, the only identifying items is that the photo was taken at Corson Studio in Madison, Maine. I posted a copy of the photo to the Madison Maine Historical Society Facebook page and asked if anyone can recognize the person.

Final Note

If you are related to any of these individuals or can help identify or confirm their identities, I would love to hear from you. Please use the form below.

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