I’m looking at a page from the Donna Darling Collection for this week’s Treasure Chest Thursday. It consists of five images, four photos and one newspaper clipping. I only cropped the clipping. I cropped, gently edited for brightness and contrast, and made three of the four photos black and white. One I left as is.
The Clipping
Key features:
The venue is the Rivoli Theatre. It is at “Washington near W Park) and is under the Direction of Pacific Northwest Theatres, Inc.
The show includes the Donna Darling Revue with Sammy Clark.
Also on bill
The movie is Gene Stratton Porter’s “Laddie.”
Four other acts
Coming attraction:
Williams’ Midgets
Analysis
The Saturday, November 6th, 1926, edition of the Morning Oregonian advertises the same theater and shows starting that day.
Photo 1 – Sammy by Palm Tree
Sammy by Palm Tree, circa 1926.
Next is a photo of Sammy (Clark Amsterdam) by a palm tree. He is holding an animal. I’m unsure if it is a rabbit, cat, or dog.
Photo 2 – Three men and a woman
I don’t know who these folks are. The woman clearly is not Donna. The man in the center appears in several other photos, but I haven’t identified him yet. I
Photo 3 – Sammy and an unknown man with a two-tiered domed building in the background.
Sammy and another man by railing.
I am sure this is a photo of Sammy (Clark Amsterdam) and a second man about 1926. In the distance is a two-tiered domed structure. I’m not sure who the second man is.
Photo 4 – Two women and a man.
Three unidentified people.
I think the woman and the man are the same two people as the woman and the center man in Photo 2 above. However, the photo is so damaged that I can’t tell.
Conclusion
One additional clipping to add to Donna’s vaudeville career is always nice, as are two new photos of Sammy.
This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names 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.
James Nason, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. James Nason, 329 Cumberland ℅ “My Lunch” #624.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
James Nason, circa 1935.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists James A Nason as a cook at 39 India.
The 1936 Portland City Directory lists James Nason and James Nason Jr. living at 9 Chapel. According to the 1936 Portland City Directory, My Lunch was at 390c Cumberland.
The 1940 US Census lists James Nason, Sr., as a 71-year-old widowed lodger living in Portland.
The 1930 US Census lists James A Nason, the 61-year-old head of household with his 48-year-old Wife, Annie, and 14-year-old son, James living in Limington, York County, Maine.
Ancestry Family Trees suggest James Austin Nason, the son of James Austin and Annie F (Hutchins). Nason was born on 27 October 1915 in Limington, York County, Maine.
I believe this photo is of James Austin Nason, circa 1935, when he was about 20 years old.
Ancestry has 25 public trees that refer to James Austin Nason, born on 27 October 1915. Family Search has profile L256-CC3 for James Austin Nason. I uploaded one photo of James to his Family Search Memories
Mary Nason, circa 1935.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Mary Nason, 290 Baxter Boulevard, #826.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Mary Nason, circa 1935.
The 1934 Portland City Directory has Mrs. Mary Nason (wife of Paul A Nason) living at 11 Hancock. However, the 1934 Portland City Directory does have a Mrs. Mary A McCandless living at 290 Baxter Blvd, Apt E 1.
The 1935 Portland City Directory still has Mary and Paul Nason living at 11 Hancock and Mary McCandless at 290 Baxter.
The 1936 Portland City Directory still has Mary and Paul Nason living at 11 Hancock. Mary McCandless is no longer at 290 Baxter; instead, William L Baldwin is in Apt E 1.
The 1930 US Census has no Miss Mary Nason listed in Cumberland County. There are 13 listed in Maine.
Marie K Nason, age 36, wife of Albert.
Mary E Nason, age 17, servant, Wiles family of Palmyra, Somerset County.*
Mary E Nason, age 59, married but housekeeper for Frank J. Graffam
Mary E Nason, age 61.
Mary E Nason, age 79.
Mary F Nason, age 39, wife of Fred W Nason.
Mary F Nason, age 5, Saco, Maine
Mary H Nason, Age 52.
Mary Lord Nason, age 65.
Mary Nason, age 54.
Mary Nason, age 57, wife of Norriss Nason.
Mary S Nason, age 88.
The Maine Marriage Index indicates that Mary H Nason married Maurice E Cobb on 31 Dec 1936. Both lived in Portland, Maine. The 1930 US Census lists the 19-year-old as Helen M Nason.
Mary Helen Nason was born on 2 April 1911 in Maine and lived in Portland from before 1930 until after 1948.
I believe this is likely Mary Helen Nason, who later married Maurice Cobb in 1936.
Ancestry has 17 public trees that refer to Mary Helen Nason. Family Search has profile GWY8-XX1 for Mary Helen Nason. Because I am not 100% certain of this identification, I only uploaded the photo of Mary Nason to Dead Fred.
A granddaughter of Mary Helen Nason indicates that this is not a photo of her grandmother, “They don’t look at all similar.”
Further research is needed to determine which Mary Nason this is.
Jessie Navarro, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Jessie Navarro, 4 Congress Place, #896.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Jessie Navarro, circa 1935.
The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Carmine and his wife, Jessie E. Navarro, living at 4 Congress Place.
The 1940 US Census lists Carmon and Jessie Navarro Living in Chatham, Columbia, New York. However, in 1935 they lived in Portland, Maine. Carmon is 47 and was born in Italy; Jessie is 29 and was born in Ohio.
US World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, identifies Carmine Sabasteano Navarra, born 6/21/1892. Jessie Navarro will always know his address om Chatham, New York.
I am sure this photo is of Jessie Navarro/Navarra about 1935, when she and Carmine lived in Portland, Maine. I have been unsuccessful in finding Jessie’s birth surname.
I have not found Jessie Navarro/Navarra born, who was born in Ohio about 1911, in Ancestry trees or on Family Search. Carmine Navarra/Navarro was born 6/21/1892
I uploaded a photo of Jessie photo to Dead Fred.
Joan Nappi & Donald Lowell, circa 1936.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. M J Nappi, 195 Pearl St #1003.”
Why I believe this to be these individuals.
Joan Nappi & Donald Lowell, circa 1936.
The 1937 Portland City directory lists Michael J and Georgia Nappi living at 175 Pearl.
The 1940 US Census lists Michael and Georgia Nappi living in Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York. Living with them is his six-year-old stepson, Donald Lowell.
Ancestry Trees suggest Michael Joseph Nappi had a daughter, Joan Josephine Nappi, with Lydia Josephine Zezotarski on 3 September 1930 in Portland, Maine. In 1940, she lived with her aunt and uncle Antonio and Antoinette Scala at 28 Dalton Street, Portland, Maine.
Ancestry Trees also suggest that Georgia Mae Nappi (née Gregory) had been married to Ernest W Lowell. They had a son, Donald William Lowell, on 21 November 1933.
I am sure these photos are of Joan Josephine Nappi (b. 3 Sep 1930) and her step-brother, Donald Lowell, about 1936, before Michael, Georgia, and Donald moved to New York.
Ancestry has one public tree that refers to Joan Josephine Nappi and six public trees that refer to Donald William Lowell. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Joan Josephine Nappi. However, Family Search does have profile GQDW-FPZ for Donald William Lowell (1933-1994). I have uploaded one photo of the two of them to Donald’s Family Search Memories and a different picture of them to Dead Fred.
Ruth Neal (née Capstack), circa 1934.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Arthur Neal, Wilmington, DE, 433 Geddes St #450.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Ruth Neal (née Capstack), circa 1934.
The 1940 US Census Lists Arthur M. Neal living at 433 Geddes, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware. Arthur is 37 years old and was born in Massachusetts. Living with him is his 33-year-old wife, Ruth C, who was born in Ohio. Also living with them is Arthur’s sister-in-law, Betty J Capstock.
Ancestry Family Trees suggest that the woman is Ruth Evelyn Capstack, born on 24 September 1906, married Arthur Morrison Neal on 11 May 1929, and died on 8 August 1961.
I believe this is Ruth Evelyn Neal (née Capstack) circa 1934.
I fully identified five of the six individuals. Four of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
One individual did not have a Family Search profile but did appear in Ancestry trees, so I posted her image to Dead Fred.
One individual did not have a Family Search profile and did not appear in any Ancestry trees. I uploaded her image to Dead Fred.
If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. 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 a higher image quality than the images 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.
Donna’s playing at the Majestic in Kankakee reminds me that not everything is online. In this case, I learned that “Chin-Chin” played in Kankakee only because the St. Anne Record (Saint Anne is about 5 miles southeast of Kankakee – 14 miles driving) had a short note on 6 November that said:
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Sprimont, Russell Dumontell, and Ruth Paradis drove to Kankakee last Sunday and saw Chin Chin at the Majestic.
Newspaper Search
Chronicling America has a U.S. Newspaper Directory Search feature. A search for all newspapers published in Kankakee, IL, results in four items returned.
The description is based on Volume 13, no 14 (9 May 1936). That suggests that the paper started about 1923, three years after “Chin-Chin” played at the Majestic.
The description indicates there were at least 19 volumes, as volume 19, No. 57, was published on 20 January 1905.
Holdings indicate that the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library only has scattered issues from 1905 to 1908.
So, it appears that none of the Library of Congress associated libraries include issues of interest.
Then, I contacted the Kankakee Historical Society. They had a copy of the October 31st paper that mentioned “Chin Chin” playing at the Majestic Theatre on November 2nd[I]. It read,
In the production of “Chin Chin” the producer, Charles Dillingham, is providing a glorious festival of fun and spectacular attractiveness. Demonstrations of grotesque acrobatic specialties and dancing are numerous through this merry musical concoction.
Those who heard “The Pink Lady”, “The Little Café”, cannot fail to appreciate with pleasure the prospect of hearing further gems in “Chin Chin” from the gifted composer, Ivan Caryll.
Charles Dillingham long ago established a reputation for good taste in his productions so far as color, light, groupings, music and expression go to make up an ensemble. In the company are clever comedians, talented singers and dancers, besides plenty of beautiful, radiant women. The production in its original New York entirety will be seen at the Majestic, Sunday November 2, Matinee and Night.
Majestic Theatre, Kankakee, Illinois.
The 1921 Julius Cahn—Gus Hill theatrical guide and moving has a brief entry for Kankakee:
Population., 16,721. Majestic Theatre. L. C. Whealen, Mgr. S. c., L.F., 1,400.
The 1913 Julius Cahn—Gus Hill Theatrical Guide reports:
Kankakee is 56 miles SW. of Chicago. Theatre burned past season but understand same will be rebuilt. No details at hand.
Majestic Theatre, Kankakee, IL, circa 1939 Photo courtesy mred8 via Cinema Treasures
The Kankakee Majestic Theatre opened as the Remington Theatre in 1912 and burned the same year. It was rebuilt, and it reopened as the Majestic theatre in 1915. “Chin Chin” played there in 1919. The theatre remained open until 1957. It was developed into the Majestic Mall and reopened as the Town Theatre in 1970. The theater was restored again from 2009 to 2012 when it reopened once more, this time as the New Majestic Art and Conference Center.[ii]
Today
Endnotes
[i] My thanks to the folks at the Kankakee Historical Society for their assistance in this endeavor.
As I began working on my wife’s 4th great-grandmother, Margaret Ann Swann, I found that many of my sources were corrupt due to a software problem I had many years ago. Because of it I switched software several times and made a mess of my sources. Because of that, I needed to have a “do-over” and clean up many of my sources. I decided to start with-a cousin 3-times removed, Eva Dent McCarty Johnson. She is a good starting point because she appears in a DAR Lineage report, which provides a starting point to fix many of my broken along that line.
DAR Member #455124, Helen (Johnson) Roy’s lineage for her second Generation mentions, “Monument and tombstone, Spring Lake Cemetery, Aurora, Ill.” What a great clue to begin with. My search of Find-a-Grave found photos of Helen’s mother and her mother’s marker. It also includes a copy of her mother’s obituary. Looking at Helen’s mother’s obituary I learned:
MRS. JOHNSON, RESIDENT HERE 91 YEARS, DIES [8-2-45]
Mrs. Eva McCarty Johnson, 91, of 920 Hardin avenue, last surviving member of the family of her father, Samuel McCarty, founder of Aurora, and one of the city’s best known women, died last night at her home.
Born in Aurora on April 30, 1854, in the old McCarty home which stood on the grounds now occupied by the K. of C. club at Main street and Lincoln avenue, Mrs. Johnson had resided here her entire life. She had long been active in civic and welfare affairs.
Mrs. Johnson was a past president of the Aurora Women’s club and of the Y. W. C. A., and a member of the board of the Old Ladies Home, now Sunnymere for about 40 years. She was a charter member of Minerva Coterie and a worshipper in the First Methodist church since childhood.
In her girlhood days she attended Center school and old Jennings seminary. She was married in 1880 to Hiram Nye Johnson, of Aurora, who preceded her in death in 1910.
She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Robert Roy and Mrs. Ward Downs, and one son, Edwin N. Johnson, all of Aurora, also six grandchildren and to great grandchildren.
Services will be held at the Downs funeral home Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, the Rev. R. M. Furnish, pastor of the First Methodist church officiating. Internment in Spring Lake cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.
Eva Dent (McCarty) Johnson (1854-1945) – Photo courtesy Find a Grave.
Besides adding this obituary and the photo of Eva to my sources and linking them to the many facts, I corrected my other sources associated with Eva. My unique numbering system identifies Eva McCarty as person 50-ii-b. (How I get there:)
This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names 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.
Catherine Nanos (m. Imhoff), circa 1934.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Catherine Nanos, 47 Middle St #147.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Catherine Nanos (m. Imhoff), circa 1934.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists James A (Harriet) Nanos living at 47 Middle St. Also at that address is Viola Nanos, an inspector at 120 Center.
Neither James, Harriet, Catherine, or Viola appear in any proceeding or subsequent Portland City Directories. Nor do they appear in the 1930 or 1940 US Census records in Maine.
The 1930 US Census does list James Nanos, his wife Harriet, 15-year-old daughter Catherine, and 14-year-old daughter Viola living in Detroit, Michigan.
Catherine Nanos married Eugene Imhoff on the 27th day of October 1937.
Maine Birth Records indicate that Catherine was born on 28 November 1915 in Lewiston, ME.
This photo portrays Catherine Nanos (1915-1993) circa 1934, when she was about 18 years old.
Ancestry has three public trees that refer to Catherine N Nanos. Family Search has profile LYG3-1N7 for Catherine Imhoff [née Nanos], who was married to Eugene Imhoff. I have uploaded two photos of Catherine to her Family Search Memories.
Either Margaret or Elsie R Woodrow, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Margaret Woodrow, Me Gen. Hospital #919.”
What I found:
Either Margaret or Elsie R Woodrow, circa 1935.
The 1935 Portland City Directory does not list Margaret Woodrow; however, it does list Elsie Woodrow, a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Elsie R. Woodrow, a graduate nurse living at 180 Grant, apt 2.
New Hampshire Marriage records indicate that Elsie R Woodrow married Arthur Fortin on 5 August 1939. Her parents were Ezra H and Lena M (Pilbro) Woodrow.
The 1940 US Census lists Elsie Forton, wife of Arthur, living in Colebrook, New Hampshire. She was working as a nurse in private care and had lived in Portland, Maine, in 1935.
Further research revealed that Elsie’s mother’s middle name is May.
I believe this photo is probably Elsie Woodrow. However, I am uncomfortable with making that identification because the photo package indicates “Margaret Woodrow,” and I can find no records showing there was a Margaret Woodrow who was a nurse at Maine General Hospital in 1935.
I have not identified the individual in this photo sufficiently to upload to either Family Search or Dead Fred, so I only include the individual’s image here.
Viola Nanos (m. Hadjiyanis), circa 1934.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Viola Nanos, 47 Middle St. #148 – DSCN4398P.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Viola Nanos (m. Hadjiyanis), circa 1934.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Viola Nanos, an inspector at 120 Center living at 47 Middle St. Also at that address are James A and Harriet Nanos.
Neither James, Harriet, Catherine, or Viola appear in any proceeding or subsequent Portland City Directories. Nor do they appear in the 1930 or 1940 US Census records in Maine.
The 1930 US Census does list James Nanos, his wife Harriet, 15-year-old daughter Catherine, and 14-year-old daughter Viola living in Detroit, Michigan.
The 1940 US Census lists James Nanos, his wife Harriet, and his 23-year-old, Rhode Island born daughter Viola.
Michigan Marriage records indicate Viola married Anastasios Hadjiyanis in Detroit on 16 May 1948.
I am sure this photo is of Viola Nanos circa 1934.
Ancestry has one public tree that refers to Viola Nanos, daughter of Dimitrious James and Harriet (Cardasis) Nanos. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Viola. Her obituary appears in the Detroit Free Press dated 8 January 2017. I uploaded a photo of Viola photo to Dead Fred and a second photo of her to my Flickr photostream.
Unknown Child (probably) related to Maria Naples of Portland, ME.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Maria Naples, 28 May St #415.”
What I found about this photo envelope:
Unknown Child (probably) related to Maria Naples of Portland, ME.
No Maria Naples is listed in the 1935 Portland City Directory.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Mrs. Alice M Hoyt living at 28 May Street.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Gabriel Porciello living at 28 May Street.
The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Gabriel Leo M Jenks living at 28 May Street.
The 1940 US Census lists Mary Jane Naples, the six-year-old daughter of Frank J & Margaret M Naples, living in Portland, Maine. Margaret’s middle name is Mary; however, Mary Jane appears to be a twin to Katherine J Naples.
Ancestry Family Trees suggest that Frank J Naples was the son of Vincenzo and Maria (Mary) Napolitano. He had a sister, Maria Santa Napolitano, and a sister Maria “Mary” Concetta Napolitano.
Being unable to associate any Naples with 28 May Street, Portland, or to associate a Mrs. Marie Naples with a child, I am unable to identify the child in this photo. However, I suspect the child is somehow related to the Napolitano family of Portland, Maine. I have not identified the individual in this photos sufficiently to upload to either Family Search or Dead Fred, so I only include the individual’s photo here.
Bernice Woudt (née Dunn) (later Kerwin), circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Bernice I Woudt, 363 Cumberland Ave #338.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Bernice Woudt (née Dunn) (later Kerwin), circa 1935.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Mrs. Bernice I Woudt, an elevator operator at 22 Monument Square, residing at the rear at 363 Cumberland Ave.
Bernice I Woudt (née Dunn) and Mansur Orange Kerwin married on 12 May 1938 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Bernice was 44 years old and the daughter of William Smith and Cora Lynn (Barter) Dunn.
This photo is of Bernice Irene Woult (née Dunn) (later Kerwin) about 1935.
I fully identified three of five Two of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
One individual did not have a Family Search profile but did appear in Ancestry trees, so I posted one photo of her to Dead Fred and a second photo to my Flickr Photostream.
I did not identify two individuals, so their photos are here only.
If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. 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 a higher image quality than the images 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.
I’m looking at a page from the Donna Darling Collection for this week’s Treasure Chest Thursday. It consists of five images, four photos and one newspaper clipping. I only cropped the clipping. I cropped, gently edited for brightness and contrast, and made three of the four photos black and white. One I left as is.
The venue is the Rivoli Theatre. It is at “Washington near W Park) and is under the Direction of Pacific Northwest Theatres, Inc.
I don’t know who these folks are. The woman clearly is not Donna. The man in the center appears in several other photos, but I haven’t identified him yet. I
This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection
Mrs. Eva McCarty Johnson, 91, of 920 Hardin avenue, last surviving member of the family of her father, Samuel McCarty, founder of Aurora, and one of the city’s best known women, died last night at her home.
