Carlstrom, Rowell, Roy, Rush, & Ryder

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Don Taylor

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 128
Photo Friday
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes typically contain the name of the person who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

 Dorothy Ryder, circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Dorothy Ryder, 12 Quincy St #432.”

Photo of Dorothy Ryder, circa 1934.

Dorothy Ryder, circa 1934.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Dorothy L Ryder as employed at 307 Cumberland and residing at 12 Quincy. Also, at 12 Quincy lived Mrs. Estora L Ryder and Roy M Ryder.
  • The 1930 US Census listed Dorothy L Ryder, age 16, living with her parents, Fred & Estora Ryder. Also in the household is Dorothy’s brother Roy M Ryder.

I am confident this is Dorothy L Ryder, born 17 Feb 1914, about 1934, when she was 20.

Ancestry has 26 public trees that include Dorothy L Ryder, the daughter of Frederick & Estora (Doughty) Ryder. Family Search has profile GSCY-7FR for Dorothy. I have uploaded two photos of Dorothy to her Family Search Memories.

[She] “looks like Aunt Dot,” says a nephew.
[She is] definately Aunt Dot,” says another nephew. 

Hilda V. Rush, Queens Hospital, Portland, ME, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss H. V. Rush, Queens Hospital #558.”

Photo of Hilda V. Rush, Nurse at Queens Hospital, Portland, ME, circa 1935.

Hilda V. Rush, Queens Hospital, circa 1935.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Hilda V Rush, a student nurse at 218 State (Queen’s Hospital).
  • The 1940 US Census lists Hilda V Rush as a registered nurse at a doctor’s office. Hilda was 28 years old and born in Maine.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Hilda V Rush, the 18-year-old daughter of Harry & Anne Rush, living in Millinocket, Maine.

I identify this photo as showing Hilda Veronica Rush (1911-1988), the daughter of Henry “Harry” and Anne (Whalen) Rush.

Ancestry has 22 public trees that refer to Hilda Veronica Rush. Family Search has profile LT18-F8F for Hilda. I have uploaded a photo of Hilda to her Family Search Memories.

Sylvia Rowell, circa 1935,

This negative envelope says, “Miss Sylvia Rowell, 163 Neal St. #645.”

Photo of Sylvia Rowell, circa 1935 standing in a very fancy dress.

Sylvia Rowell, circa 1935.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Sylvia S Rowell as a music teacher working and residing at 163 Neal. Also at 163 Neal are William B, Frances E, and Gilbert R Rowell.
  • Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Sylvia Sherman Rowell, daughter of William B and Frances (Rounds) Rowell. She is also the sister of Gilbert R Rowell. Sylvia was born on 10 Jun 1913 in Portland; she married Waldo Earle Harwood, Jr on 17 Jun 1939.

I am confident this photo is of Sylvia in 1935 when she was a music teacher.

Ancestry has five public trees that refer to Sylvia Sherman Rowel. Family Search has profile L1S9-LXZ for Sylvia. I uploaded a photo of her to her Family Search Memories.

Possibly Aline Roy, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Napoleon Roy, 76 Emery St #426.”

A photo that is possibly Aline Roy, circa 1935.

Probably Aline Roy, circa 1935.

What I learned about this individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Napoleon and Alexina Roy living at 76 Emery. Also living at 76 Emery is Rita B Roy, who works as a maid.
  • The 1930 US Census indicates that Napoleon and Alexina Roy lived at 55 Atlantic Street in Portland. They have three daughters, Germaine, Rita, and Yvette. Yevette was nine years old in 1930, making her about 14 years old in 1935 when this photo was taken.
  • The 1940 US Census indicates that Napoleon and Alexina Roy lived at 72 Park Avenue. Besides Yvette, they have a nine-year-old daughter, Aline. In 1935, when this photo was taken, Aline would be about four years old. Four seems a bit young for the girl in this photo.

The girl in this photo appears to be about six or seven to me, so I’m not confident this is Aline. I think it is more likely for this photo to be of Aline than a photo of Yvette.

I have not found Aline in Ancestry trees; however, I have found her father, Napoleon Roy, in seven public Ancestry trees. I have not identified the individual in this photo sufficiently to upload Dead Fred, so I only include the individual’s image here.

I would really like to hear from you if you can confirm the child’s identity in this photo.

Virginia Carlstrom, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Virginia Rowan, 785 Congress St. #1028.”

Photo of Virginia Carlstrom, circa 1936.

Virginia Carlstrom, circa 1936.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1940 US Census lists a Virginia Carlstrom living with her mother, Gertrude Rowan, at 54 Adams. Virginia is 19 years old, and Gertrude is 50. Both were born in Maine.
  • Ancestry Family Trees suggest that Virginia Carlestrom is the daughter of James and Gertrude (Curran) Carlestrom. Gertrude later married John Rowen.
  • Virginia Carlstrom was born on 12 Mar 1921 in Portland to James and Gertrude (Curran) Carlstrom. and died on 3 Mar 1944 in Portland, Maine. Virginia Carlstrom married Alexander Grimaldi on 1 Sep 1941 and died on 3 Mar 1944.

Virginia Carlstrom is found in five Ancestry public trees. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Virginia, so I uploaded a photo of Virginia to Dead Fred.

Conclusion

  • I identified four of the five Three have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. One did not have a Family Search profile, so I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred.
  • I could not confidently identify one individual; her photo is only uploaded here.

I will love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

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Donna & Columbia Theater – In the News (once again)

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Don Taylor

Donna Darling & Girls at the Columbia Theater, Columbia, MO, on Sept 21 & 22, 1925.

Donna in the News
by Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.“Donna in the News” reports 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 Columbia Missourian (Columbia, MO) newspaper dated 21 and 22 September 1925, I learned that Donna returned to the Columbia Theater about a year after her 1924 shows.

Image of an ad from the Columbia Missourian, Mon, Sep 21, 1925.

Columbia Missourian Sep 21, 1925 – Courtesy of Newspapers.com

I have only found advertisements for Donna’s shows on September 21st and 22nd, 1925. Donna had been in Columbia about a year previously and returned with her new show, Donna Darling and Girls – “4 of ‘em 4 Singing and Dancing.”

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

September 21-22, 1925 – Columbia, MO – Columbia Theater – “Donna Darling & Girls.”

Endnotes

My thanks to Newspapers.com for providing access to this clipping.

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Donna & the Columbia Theater – In the News

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Don Taylor

Prima Donna Tells Reasons Why Girls Seek the Bright Lights

Donna in the News
by Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.

“Donna in the News” reports 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 Columbia Missourian (Columbia, MO) dated Sep 6, 1924, I learned that Donna played at the Columbia Theater in Columbia, MO. I also learned Donna may have won additional beauty contests. The article also contains known fabrications.

September 6, 1924

Prima Donna Tells Reasons Why
                       Girls Seek the Bright Lights

Image of Article From the Columbia_Missourian Sat, Sep 6, 1924.
Columbia_Missourian Sat, Sep 6, 1924.

“Girls leave home because of some sheik, usually, and they are often content, for a time at least, to [??]ve quietly away from the world,” says Miss Donna Darling, prima donna, whose bathing beauties troupe played at the Columbia Theater the last two nights.

“Why do bathing beauties leave the beach to go on the stage?” and Miss Darling’s eyes twinkled brightly. “Do you want the real reason, or just some press agent stuff?

“Well, the reason bathing -beauties leave, the silver sheet for the stage is because they like to hear the applause and see their audiences. They get tired of the dull silence and absolute quiet which, on the beach, greet their efforts to do their best. In the movies, every scene is ‘shot’ ten times at least, and the best selected. When we start out the applause seems too good to be true.”

Miss Darling and her girls left Los Angeles just six weeks ago. They are working toward Chicago, where, beginning October 1, they will start a seven months’ opening with the Orpheum circuit and work back to the Pacific Coast.

Miss Darling is the winner of several beauty prizes, one conducted by Mayor Curley of Boston in 1921 and another at Madison Square Garden, New York City, a short time later. In 1919 she had also won another such contest, conducted by a New York theater.

It was the winning of the beauty prizes which really paved the way for Miss Darling to enter the movies. She has been with Vitagraph in New York and Universal in California and has spent eight years in vaudeville and on the screen. She is a sister of Miss Grace Darling. During the staging of “Chin Chin,” which was written and directed by her sister, she played the leading role.

Miss Darling and Mr. Earle also did a song and dance act Monday and Tuesday, which was very popular. Miss Darling’s rendition of one of the operas on the violin was a masterpiece.

Mr. Earle, her dancing partner, is the originator of two or three dance steps but says it does not pay to spend time working them up, as someone always steals them. One of his steps, however, “Over the Top,” has won him fame.

“Most dances now,” he said, “are combinations of the old steps done in such a way that the actor is able to put them over with the aid of his personality and acting.”

Conclusion

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

I added New information to her career list. On September 4 & 5, 1924, she was in Columbia, MO, at the Columbia Theater.

  • I also learned that Donna left LA about Jul 25.
  • I learned Donna would be working in Chicago on Oct 1.
  • I learned that Donna would be working in the Orpheum circuit and would travel back to the Pacific Coast.

The article suggests Donna won three different beauty contests:

  • 1919 – Conducted by a New York theater.
  • 1921 – Conducted by Mayor Curley of Boston.
  • 1921 – Held at Madison Square Garden shortly after Mayor Curley’s contest.

The article suggests she worked with Vitagraph in New York and Universal in California. I’ve long known about her being in “Birth of a Nation.” That she worked with Vitagraph and Universal is new to me and can lead to some more research areas.

I have proven previously that Grace Darling was not Donna’s biological sister[i] , although she may have been “stage sisters.”

“Chin Chin” was written by Anne Caldwell and directed by William E MacQuinn during its 1914 Globe Theatre run. Also, “Chin Chin” did not have a leading female role, although Donna did play the Lady of the Lamp for the latter part of the show’s road tour.

Endnotes

[i] See Was Grace Darling Donna’s sister?

My thanks to Newspapers.com for providing access to this clipping.

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Brown Gets Six Months on Charges – 29 Apr 1935

Posted on April 29, 2023 by Don Taylor

Grandpa Brown In the News

88 Years Ago Today
By Don Taylor

Grandpa Brown found himself in the news again. He had abducted my 3-year-old mother from Illinois and brought her to Minnesota. There he was arrested and returned to Illinois to stand trial. Here is the result of the trial.

From the Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 29 Apr 1935 – Page 1, Column 3, 2nd article down.

Brown Gets Six Months on Charges

Chicago—Clifford Brown, of Brainerd, show trooper, today was fined $1 (without costs) and sentenced to six months in the house of correction. He was charged with a misdemeanor.

Brown was first charged with abducting the daughter of Mrs. Donna Clark, also in the show business.

Both Brown and Clark testified that while trooping they lived together as man and wife. Brown said Mrs. Clark’s daughter was his own child but this was denied by Mrs. Clark.

Subsequently, DNA testing has proved that the child (my mother) was Clifford Brown’s. His daughter by another woman has proved to be a half-sister to my mother. Also, many other descendants of Durwood and Mary (Manning) Brown have tested as close DNA matches to my mom. So, Mrs. Donna Clark either lied about the parentage or the newspaper got it wrong.

I’ve tried to find documents about Clifford’s time at the house of correction without success. If Clifford was released after six months, he had changed his name to Richard Durand and married Dorothy Wilhelm about four months after his release. I have no idea why he chose the name Richard Durand. If someone has any ideas where it might have come from, I’d love to hear about it.

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Bishop, Robinson, Rogers, Roper, Ross, & Strout

Posted on April 28, 2023 by Don Taylor

Photo Friday – Bishop, Robinson, Rogers, Roper, Ross, & Strout

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 127
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes typically contain the name of the person who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Alice Rogers, circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Alice Rogers, 501 Congress St #237.”

Photo of Alice Rogers, circa 1934.

Alice Rogers, circa 1934

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Moustakis Bros. confr (confectioner) at 501 Congress St. It lists an Alice Rogers as a waitress at 139 High and residing at 769 Congress.
  • Neither the 1933 nor 1935 Portland City Directories list Alice Rogers.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Alice M Rogers, a 24-year-old nurse living at 511 Cumberland. In 1935 she was living in Rochester, New Hampshire.
  • Alice Martha Rogers was born on 4 March 1916 in Fryeburg, Maine, to Elwyn and Edna (Cressey) Rogers.

I believe this photo is likely Alice Martha Rogers (1916-1970); however, I am not 100% confident. As such, I’ll post a photo to Dead Fred and three more pictures to my Flickr Photostream. Ancestry has 13 public trees that refer to Alice Martha Rogers.

 Flora Robinson, Feb. 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Flora Robinson, 5 Weymouth St #277- Feb 2, 1935.”

Photo of Flora Robinson, Feb. 1935.

Flora Robinson, Feb. 1935.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1933 Portland City Directory lists Flora M Robinson, a clerk at 518 Congress, residing at 5 Weymouth.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Flora M Robinson living at 5 Weymouth with her parents, Charles and Emily Robinson. Flora was 18 years old and was born in Maine.

I am confident this is a photo of Flora about 1935 when Flora was about 23 years old.

Ancestry has 24 public trees that refer to Flora May Robinson (1911-1988). Family Search has profile LR1F-1D2 for Flora Mae Robinson. I have uploaded two photos of Flora to her Family Search Memories.

Myra Ross, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Myra Ross, 2 Mechanic St. #183.”

Photo of Myra Ross, circa 1934.

Myra Ross, circa 1934.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Myra L Ross, residing at 2 Mechanic Pl. Also at 2 Mechanic Place are Emery S. and his wife Beatrice, Ross.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Emery S Ross, his wife Beatrice, and 16-year-old daughter Myra living at 64 Oak Street, Ellsworth, Maine.

I am sure this is Myra Louise Ross (1913-1945) about 1934 when she was about 21 years old.

Ancestry has 26 public trees that refer to Myra Louise Ross. Family Search has profile K451-K28 for Myra Louise Ross (1913-1945). I have uploaded two photos of Myra to her Family Search Memories.

Joan Adelle Ross, Nov 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Chas Ross, 8 Weymouth St, #883.”

Photo of Joan Adelle Ross, Nov 1935.

Joan Adelle Ross, Nov 1935.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Charles E & Mildred J) Ross living at 8 Weymouth, Apt 4.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Charles and Mildred, and their 5-year-old daughter, Joan A Ross, living at 25 Deane Street.

I am sure this is Joan Adelle Ross, daughter of Charles Edward and Mildred Jeanette (Cousins) Ross. Joan married Weston Arynold Shaw on 26 January 1952 in Rochester, New Hampshire.

I have not found Joan in Ancestry trees; however, her father, Charles E Ross, is found in two public Ancestry trees. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Joan either. So, I uploaded a photo of Joan to Dead Fred.

Cora Bishop (née Strout) & Beatrice Roper (née Bishop), circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. W. A. Roper, 259 So. Main St, Torrington, Conn – mother & daughter #386.”

Photo of Cora Bishop (née Strout) & Beatrice Roper (née Bishop), circa 1934.

Cora Bishop (née Strout) & Beatrice Roper (née Bishop), circa 1934.

Why do I believe this to be these individuals?

  • The 1935 Torrington City Directory lists Warren A & Beatrice Roper living at 259 S Main.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Warren and his 35-year-old wife Beatrice at 255 Main. Beatrice was born in Maine.
  • Beatrice Evelyn Bishop married Warren A Roper on 23 June 1915 in Portland, Maine. Beatrice’s parents were William L Bishop and Cora J Strout.

Looking at other photos of Cora (Strout) Bishop on Ancestry, I’m sure this photo is of mother and daughter Cora (Strout) Bishop and Beatrice (Bishop) Roper, about 1934.

Ancestry has 39 public trees that refer to Cora Jane (Strout) Bishop (1862-1941) and 13 public trees that refer to Beatrice Evelyn (Bishop) Roper (1893-1981).

Family Search has profile M6SH-2J3 for Cora Jane Strout (1866-1953) and profile LB6G-DHY for Beatrice E Bishop (1893-1981). I have uploaded two photos of Cora and Beatrice to their Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one more picture of them to my Flickr photostream.

Confirmed to be Cora (Stout) Bishop and Beatrice (Bishop) Roper by a 2nd great-granddaughter (and great-grandniece). 

Conclusion

I identified six individuals this week. Four have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. Two did not have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their photos to Dead Fred.

I will love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have higher quality than those linked here.

For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

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