I’ve determined 200 of my 1023 ancestors going back to my 7th great-grandparents, or 19.5% of those ancestors. That means I still have over 80% of my nine generations of ancestors to determine. I’ll say, I thought I was doing pretty good, but apparently not.
Indeed, my most significant breakdown is my maternal grandmother’s paternal grandparents. Actually, his name isn’t certain. Several records say her father was John Montran; other documents say his name was Robert Montran. And his parents are completely unknown; not identifying them exponentially affects all subsequent generations. I have a couple of other missing ancestors with my 3rd great-grandparents that I need to focus upon again.
I’ll retake a look at it in a couple of years. Hopefully, I will have been able to fill in quite a few names by then.
“Donna 100 years ago” is my reporting items relating to my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Montran and Donna Darling). Hers was the exciting world of 1920s vaudeville. She crisscrossed the country with her many shows.
This week, I rely upon a previous Darling Darling Collection posting from 2018 (Part 25). In it, I learned that Donna played at the Chestnut Street Opera House in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, for three days, February 6th, 7th, & 8th, 1922.
“Donna Darling & Boys” played at the Strand Theater in Ithaca, NY, the week before, had Sunday off and then traveled the 140 miles south to Sunbury, PA. Travel to Sunbury was probably difficult. There were no direct trains between the two cities. Only the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad[i] and Pennsylvania Railroad[ii] (later part of Penn Central) serviced Sunbury, and neither went to Ithaca in the 1920s. She, and the troupe, probably changed trains at Pittston or Wilkes Berre.
Sunbury was growing in the 1920s. Settled in 1772 and made a borough in 1797, Sunbury was incorporated as a city in 1920. Its population had grown from 14,000 in 1910 to nearly 16,000 in 1920.[iii] Since then, its population has slowly declined to just over 9,000 today (2019 est.).
The Chestnut Street Opera House was a small theatre with a seating capacity of only 971.[iv] There were two newspapers in Sunbury at the time, “The Sunbury” and the “Sunbury Daily Item.” Newspapers.com has a limited number of the “Sunbury Daily Item,” however, it is missing papers from 4 February until 18 February 1922. Likewise, Chronicling America, Genealogy Bank, Newspaper Archives, and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive have no newspapers from February 1922.
So, if it weren’t for Donna’s Scrapbook collection, I wouldn’t know she was ever in Sunbury.
After three days in Sunbury, the cast and props headed the 19 miles along the Pennsylvania Railroad to Shamokin, PA, and the Strand Theater, for another three-night show (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).
One hundred years ago, February 6th through 8th, 1922, my grandmother was the headliner in her vaudeville act, “Miss Donna Darling.” She played at the Chestnut Street Opera House in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.
Endnotes
[i] The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad went into bankruptcy in the 1970s and its operations merged into Conrail in 1976. (Source: Wikipedia-Reading Company)
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.
Beatrice Harriet Johndro, circa 1937.
The envelope this negative was in says, Miss Beatrice Johndro, St. Barnabas Hospital #529.”
Beatrice Harriet Johndro, circa 1937.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Beatrice Johndro as a student nurse at 231 Woodford (St. Barnabas Hospital) and residing at 20 Norwood.
The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Beatrice Johndro as a supervisor at 231 Woodford and residing at 168 Neal apt 6.
Beatrice H Johndro married Floyd Vankenren on 1 Aug 1938.
Ancestry Public Trees suggest that Beatrice Harriet Johndro, who married Floyd Decker Van Keuren, Jr, was born on 5 Aug 1915.
This photo is of Beatrice about 1937, while a student at St. Barnabas Hospital.
Ancestry has 26 public trees that refer to Beatrice Harriet Johndro. Family Search has a profile for Beatrice. So, I uploaded two photos of her to profile L5NX-7K6’s Family Search Memories.
Florence Johnson, circa 1937
This negative envelope says, “Miss Florence Johnson, 12 Wescott St #1108.”
How I searched, unsuccessfully:
Florence Johnson, circa 1937
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists four Florence Johnsons.
Florence A. residing at 53 Wilmot
Florence L. residing at 104 North
Florence M. residing at 7 Davis
Florence N. residing at 120 Free.
There are also several more Florence Johnsons who are married or are widowed.
Living at 12 Wescott Street are Wallace H Burrows and Mrs. Annie M McDuffle.
The 1936 Portland City Directory available at Ancestry is missing pages 472-474, which would include the listings for Florence Johnson. However, it does indicate that John H. Johnson is living at 12 Wescott.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists John H and Nellie R living at 628 Main South Portland. There are two (Miss) Florence Johnsons listed:
Florence A residing 53 Wilmot
Florence M residing at 7 Davis
There are several other married or widowed Florences.
The 1940 Census lists John H and Nellie R Johnson still living at 628 Maine, South Portland. They are 75 and 74 years old, and John was born in Maine while Nellie was born in Massachusetts.
The 1930 Census lists John H and Nellie at 628 Main Street. As they lived there in both 1930 and 1940, I don’t believe this John H Johnson is the same as the one who lived at 12 Wescot in 1936.
Based upon the Photo ID number (1108), the photo was probably taken about 1937. The woman in the picture appears to be in her early 20s, so I believe Florence was probably born between 1913 and 1917.
I believe this is Florence Johnson, who lived in Portland, Maine, about 1936.
Unable to fully identify which Florence Johnson this is, I have added her photo to Dead Fred. I also uploaded one additional photo of her to my Flickr photostream.
The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Mildred E Jarvis, a student nurse at 218 State (Queen’s Hospital), residing at 681 Congress Street.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Mildred E Jarvis, a nurse residing at 681 Congress Street, suggesting she graduated from nursing school in 1936.
The 1940 US Census lists Mildred Jarvis, age 24, born in Vermont, who lived in Portland, Maine in 1935 but lived in Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York, and was a Registered Nurse at St. Francis Hospital.
A 1942 Marriage announcement of Thelma Jarvis in the Springfield (Vermont) Reporter indicates that Mildred was the maid of honor. The two were sisters, and their parents were Mr. and Mrs. Edlor Jarvis.
Ancestry public trees suggest this is Mildred Evelyn Jarvis (Gervais), born 9 Feb 1915 in Springfield, Windsor County, Vermont.
So, I believe this photo to be of Mildred Jarvis, born 9 Feb 1915.
Ancestry has eight public trees that refer to Mildred Jarvis, daughter of Edlor and Anna Jarvis. Family Search has a profile for Mildred, so I have uploaded two photos of her to profile ID: G9L7-8CQ Family Search Memories.
Dana & Stewart Jackson, circa 1937
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. W. J. Jackson, 43 Maine Ave. #1044.”
Dana & Stewart Jackson, circa 1937
Why I believe this to be these individuals.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Winthrop J and Mary W Jackson living at 43 Maine.
The 1940 US Census lists Winthrop and Mary Jackson living at 43 Maine and their three sons, Dana (age 7), Stewart W (age 5), and Robert W (age 3), living with them.
Ancestry family trees suggest that Dana Winthrop Jackson was born 19 Aug 1933
Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Dana Winthrop Jackson. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Dana Winthrop Jackson, so I have added his photo to Dead Fred.
Neither Ancestry nor Family Search have trees that refer to Stewart W Jackson, son of Winthrop and Mary, born about 1935. I uploaded the photo showing him and his brother Dana to Dead Fred.
Delores Jensen, circa 1935
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Robert Jensen, 38 Greenleaf St #448.”
Delores Jensen, circa 1935
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Robert Jensen, and his wife Dorothy M, as a painter residing at 38 Greenleaf, Apt 4.
The 1940 Census lists Robert and Dorothy M. Jensen living at 9 May Street. Robert was born in New Hampshire; Dorothy was born in Canada. Living with them are two sons, Donald (age 11) and Robert (age 10) and two daughters, Dolores D (age 9) and Myrtle M. (age 8)
This photo appears to be of a girl about five years of age. Based upon the Photo ID number (#448), the picture was likely taken about 1935, when Delores was about four and Myrtle was about 3. The girl in this photo appears to be about 4 or 5, so I believe this is a photo of Delores. However, there is a possibility that this is a photo of her sister Myrtle.
Neither Ancestry nor Family Search have trees that refer to Delores D Jensen, daughter of Robert and Dorothy Margaret (Hayman) Jensen, born about 1935. However, her father, Robert Jensen, appears in 46 Public Trees. I uploaded the photo of Delores to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
I identified four of five Two of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
I identified two individuals that did not have Family Search profiles but did appear in Ancestry trees, so I posted their images to Dead Fred.
There was one individual that did not identify enough to determine who she was other than the name. I uploaded her photos here and to my Flickr Photostream.
For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.
Final Note
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.
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.
[Growing up, I knew I had an Uncle Russ and that he was the child of Donna and her husband, Sammy Clark Amsterdam. I never knew that Sammy was my grandmother’s third husband. My mom and her brother, Russell, never knew Donna was married before Sammy until I discovered that in my genealogy work. It was a surprise to both of them when I found evidence of the two previous marriages. This week I’m looking at Sammy Amsterdam. He was the father of Russell and the “father of record” of my mother. My grandmother and Sammy stayed married after my grandmother was pregnant (by Dick Brown) to “give the child a name” and then quietly divorced. Such was the way of show-business marriages in the 1930s. Sammy is one of the few people I know of who served in both World Wars.]
Samson Clark Amsterdam was born on 20 July 1898 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, the first child of Saul and Sarah (Gottlieb) Amsterdam. It was during the peak of the Spanish-American war. The United States was mobilizing troops to send to Puerto Rico.
Children of Saul and Sarah (Gottleib) Amsterdam—(Siblings)
Name
Born
Married
Died
Samson
20 July 1898
Madonna Montran
Elvie Bolton
13 April 1979
Evelyn
3 December 1901
Al Wise
Sammy Rodvien
8 August 2001
Elias
2 August 1905
Madelyn (LNU)
15 May 1989
Harold
12 August 1914
Ann (LNU)
7 June 1996
Bernard
12 August 1914
Doris Westbay
28 September 1975
1900s
The 1900 Census found two-year-old “Samuel[2]” living with his parents at 263 Division Street in Manhattan. Living with them are his grandparents, Leo & Yetta Amsterdam. Also living with them is Sammy’s uncle Abraham Reuben.
The 1905 New York Census finds the Amsterdam family living at 207 Madison Street. “Sol” works in Real Estate. The household consists of his parents, a younger sister (“Evia”), and 53-year-old “Sarra” (Sarah) Gottlieb. Although listed as a “Boarder,” Gottlieb is Saul’s wife’s maiden name. As such, she must be related. It is unclear if this is Sarah’s mother or an aunt.
1910s
The 1910 Census shows that the Amsterdam family moved to 1433 50th in Brooklyn. Saul was still in real estate (a broker now). Besides four-year-old “Eli,” Sarah’s mother, Rebecca Gottlieb, lived with them. Additionally, they had a servant living with them. Sarah’s three children were living, and Rebecca’s seven children were all alive in 1910.
The 1915 New York Census shows the Amsterdam family still at 1433 50th in Brooklyn. It documents the twins Herald and Bernard. Sarah’s mother, Rebecca Gottlieb, is still living with them. A new servant, Sadie Burcheska, is living with them. Samson is attending high school; Evelyn and Elias are also in school.
Military Service
On 2 May 1917, Samson enlisted in the Regular Army at Fort Slocum, Winchester County, New York. On 18 November 1917, Samson was discharged from the Regular Army to enlist in the ERC—Enlisted Reserve Corps (now the U.S. Army Reserves). Samson was supposed to ship out on 26 November 1917 aboard the USS Aeolus (ID-3005); however, his name was stricken from the ship’s manifest. Instead, he remained stateside with the Medical Detachment of the 503rd Engineers. He was stationed at the Post Hospital, Fort Hamilton, NY, from October 1918 until January 1919, and stationed at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, from 28 January 1919 until his discharge on 5 June 1919.
1920s
I have been unsuccessful in finding Sammy in the 1920 Census, but the 1925 New York Census found him back home with his parents and three brothers, now at 86 Halsey Street. His occupation is listed as “Theatrical.” The building at 86 Halsey is still standing.
In March and April of 1926, Donna was doing her “Donna Darling’s Little Jewel Revue” in Michigan, Upstate New York, West Virginia, and Brooklyn. So, it must have been a whirlwind romance because Sammy and Donna married on 19 April 1926 in Manhattan. The two started the Donna Darling Revue with Sammy Clark the first week of May.
Marriage 1 – Madonna Mae Montran (aka Donna Darling)
Children of Samson and Madonna (Montran) Amsterdam
Sammy and Donna took their vaudeville show across the country. They played in New York, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, & Iowa, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, with stops in Ontario before returning to ending the show in July 1927, just eight weeks before Russell was born.
It appears that Sammy and Donna took off for several months but restarted the Donna Darling and Sammy Clark show in April 1928.
In 1929 Sammy and Donna went to Panama, where they worked.
1930s
Something happened between Sammy and Donna in Panama as they left the country estranged. The passenger list for their return in April 1930[4] shows them in different cabins and indicates Donna going home to her mother’s address in Detroit and Sammy going home to his mother’s address in New York. I have found no evidence they ever were together again.
In 1939 Sammy traveled to Cuba and returned.
1940s
I have not found Sammy in the 1940 Census. However, from May to July 1940, Sammy lived in Chicago, where he was initiated, passed, and raised as a Master Mason in the Henry Horner Lodge #402 in Illinois.
Military Service Again
By February 1942, Sammy had located to Odessa, Ector County, Texas. He lived at 613 W 9th Street and worked at a nightclub, the Village Barn, when he registered for the draft. He enlisted that following October in the Army Air Corps. His marital status was “divorced, without dependents.”
1950s
In May 1950, Sammy and his mother Sarah took a month-long trip to Europe. They sailed aboard the RMS Queen Mary to Cherbourg, France, and returned aboard the RMS Caronia in June 1950. Sammy’s address was 540 West Avenue, Miami Beach. Today, that address is a modern (built in 2005), luxury, high-rise condo, known as Bentley Bay North.
Marriage 2 – Elvie (Bolton) Anderson
In 1951 Sammy married Elvie (Bolton) Anderson in Dade County, Florida.
During the 1950s, Sammy had a theatrical booking agency in Miami Beach on Collins Ave. His home address was 6295 SW 116th Street.[5]
Death/Burial
Sammy lived in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, when he died on 13 April 1979. He is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Macon
Events by Location
Florida, Dade Marriage 2 (1951)
Florida, Dade, Miami Beach 1950
Florida, Dade, Miami 1954-1955
Georgia, Bibb, Macon 1979 & Death
Illinois, Cook, Chicago 1940
New York, Brooklyn Birth, 1910-1915, 1925, 1930,
New York, Manhattan 1900-1905, Marriage 1 (1926)
New Jersey, Camp Merritt Military Service – 1917-1919
Texas, Ector, Odessa 1942
Texas, Lubbock, Lubbock Military Service 1942-1945
Panama 1929-1930
Conflicts
Do not confuse Samson Clark Amsterdam with Sam Amsterdam, born 26 December 1899 in Manhattan, New York, the son of Gerry Amsterdam, or Sam Amsterdam, born 26 November 1899 in Manhattan, New York.
Sources
1900 Census (F.S.), Family Search, 1900 – Saul Amsterdam – Head. “United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSJG-W37 : accessed 19 January 2022), Saul Amsterdam, Borough of Manhattan, Election District 13 New York City Ward 4, New York County, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (E.D.) 80, sheet 20A, family 347, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,084.
1910 Census (F.S.), Family Search, 1910 – Saul Amsterdam – Head – Brooklyn, New York.
City Directory (A), Ancestry.Com, Miami, Florida – 1955 – Page 42 – Amsterdam. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 –Miami, Florida, City Directory, 1955 – Image 23 of 414.
Find a Grave, Find a Grave, Sammy Amsterdam (1898-1979) – No Image. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54396367/sammy-amsterdam : accessed 26 January 2022), memorial page for Sammy Amsterdam (20 July 1898–13 April 1979), Find a Grave Memorial ID 54396367, citing Riverside Cemetery, Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by David Hutchins Israel (contributor 47406641).
Florida, U.S., Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001, Ancestry, Sampson Amsterdam – Elvie Anderson – 1951. Ancestry.com. Florida, U.S., Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Masonic Record – Samson Amsterdam – ID 321333.
New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940, Family Search, Marriage: Samson Amsterdam & Madonna Montana – 19 April 1926. “New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:247L-21S : 10 February 2018), Ida Barber in the entry for Samson Amsterdam and Madonna Montran, 19 April 1926; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,643,705. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:247L-21S.
New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, Family Search, Amsterdam, Samson – Amsterdam, Sarah. “New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24TN-7NP : 2 March 2021), Samson Amsterdam, 1950; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937, Ancestry, Samson New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937 – Amsterdam – Madonna Montran – 19 April 1926 – (No Image).
New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957, Ancestry, Samson Amsterdam – Arrival 8 April 1930 to New York 8 April 1930. Year: 1930; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Line: 1; Page Number: 82.
New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957, Ancestry, Year: 1939; Arrival:,; Microfilm serial: T715; Microfilm roll:
New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1905; Election District: A.D. 04 E.D. 11; City: Manhattan; County: New York; Page: 58
New York, U.S., State Census, 1915, Ancestry, Saul Amsterdam, Head. New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1915; Election District: 44; Assembly District: 16; City: New York; County: Kings; Page: 21.
New York, U.S., State Census, 1925, Ancestry, Saul Amsterdam, Head. New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 26; Assembly District: 17; City: Brooklyn; County: Kings; Page: 22.
S., Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919, Ancestry, New York – Samson Amsterdam. Original data: New York State Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917–1919. Adjutant General’s Office. Series B0808. New York State Archives, Albany, New York.
S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939,
The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 363.
S., Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1914-1966, Ancestry, Samson Amsterdam, Departs New York, 9 May 1950 aboard the Queen Mary. Sarah Amsterdam, Departs New York, 9 May 1950 aboard the Queen Mary. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels and Airplanes Departing from New York, New York, 07/01/1948-12/31/1956; NAI Number: 3335533; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: A4169; NARA Roll Number: 74.
S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Ancestry.Com, Probably. Number: 468-09-2273; Issue State: Minnesota; Issue Date: Before 1951.
S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Ancestry.Com, Number: 350-09-2088; Issue State: Illinois; Issue Date: Before 1951.
S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, Ancestry, Samson Amsterdam (No Image). National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 00241; Reel: 24.
S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 (National Archives), Ancestry.Com, Sam Amsterdam. National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Texas, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service
United Kingdom, Outgoing Passenger Lists, 1890-1960, Family Search, Samson Amsterdam – Departed England 2 June 1950. Image at Find My Past.Com. “United Kingdom, Outgoing Passenger Lists, 1890-1960”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68PV-B8K1 : 28 October 2021), Samson Amsterdam, 1950.
United States Social Security Death Index, Family Search, Social Security Number: 350-09-2088; Issue State: Illinois; Issue Date: Before 1951.
Endnotes
[1] My own numbering system. Ancestor #6 would be the biological maternal grandfather. The I use the “S” to indicate a step-father and the “3” to indicate it is the 3rd stepfather.
[2] Samson is listed as Sampson, Samuel, and Sammy in different documents and are interchangeable in this document. (I try to use the name used in the source document.)
[3] Born Amsterdam, Russell used the surname Kees through most of his life.
[4] Sammy was aboard the S.S. Columbia between Panama and New York during the 1930 Census and is not listed there.
[5] Per Zillow, the home currently at 6295 SW 116th St. was built in 1998.
“Donna 100 years ago” is my reporting items relating to my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Montran and aka Donna Darling). Hers was the exciting world of 1920s vaudeville. She crisscrossed the country with her many shows.
This week, from her original newspaper clippings, two items that placed her at the Majestic Theatre, in Elmira.
First, a clipping mentioning Majestic: Follow the Arrow (to) Keith Vaudeville. Besides Donna Darling and Boys – Elaborate Presentation of Songs and Dances are
“At the Party” – An Original revue of the Sunny South—Colonial settings Quaint Costumes
Manuel Romain’s “That Trio” – Vaudeville’s Sweetest Singers
Hunniford – Ventriloquist with a Production
Jean & White – In “Dance Varieties” and
Conway Tearle in “Bucking the Tiger”
Finally was a small clipping that mentions
ELMIRA
(First Half) – Jean & White – Hunniford – Donna Darling Co. – Manuel Romaine Co. – At the Party.
None of the clippings had dates nor did any mention the state the theatre was located in.[i]
I was pretty sure this bill was from 1922 and Elmira, New York. Then I found an article on Page 19 of the January 29, 1942, Elmira Star-Gazette, which read,
In Elmira Theaters 20 Years Ago
MAJESTIC—“Bucking the Tiger” with Conrad Tearle and Keith Vaudeville featuring “At the Party” revue. Manuel Romain’s “That Trio,” Donna Darling and Boys, and Ventriloquist Hunniford and Jean and White.
Finally, advertisements in the Star-Gazette on January 28, 30, & 31 showed the same program would play at the Majestic on January 29th, 30th, & 31st (Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday). The ad also used the same “Follow the Arrow” in the advertisement.
Conclusion
One hundred years ago, Donna’s vaudeville act, “Donna Darling & Boys,” played at the Majestic Theatre in Elmira, New York.
Endnotes
[i] There are seven Elmira’s in the United States and two in Canada.
A few weeks ago, Randy Seaver, in his Genea-Musings, challenged folks to document their genealogy score. He suggested folks read, for background, Crista Cowan’s post Family History All Done? What’s Your Number? and Kris Stewart’s What Is Your Genealogy “Score?”. It is a great exercise to help you see you aren’t done yet with your genealogy research.
Finally, advertisements in the Star-Gazette on January 28, 30, & 31 showed the same program would play at the Majestic on January 29th, 30th, & 31st (Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday). The ad also used the same “Follow the Arrow” in the advertisement.