Donna Darling Collection – Part 84

Posted on December 30, 2021 by Don Taylor

Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Treasure Chest Thursday, I’m looking at a page from the Donna Darling Collection. The page includes three clippings, all relating to the Grand Theater.

The Grand

This is the first week of the Grand’s new and permanent policy of offering a program of pictures and vaudeville at popular prices and judging from the reception accorded the entertainment yesterday by the patrons it should develop Into a successful institution. The Hollywood motion picture bathing girls present the variety entertainment, while the screen’s chief feature is a Monty Banks full length comedy, “Racing Luck.”

“The Evolution of the Bathing Suit” is what the Hollywood organization, of which Donna Darling is the star, calls its revue. The schedule is opened by a magnetic little miss who calls herself the poet or the show. She introduces Miss- Darling, who sings a song about the girl of 1860, to be followed by three girls who dance in bathing costumes of that period. Betty Bryant dances as the modern girl, Alice Louise is the Bowery type, Clarice Allyn the Chinese bather, Jerry Jean the Atlantic City model, Nattie Norine the Palm Beach stroller and Tom Watson and Al Ross as the life guards.

There are few slow moments in the production, the dancing is varied and pleasing and the singing of Miss Darling, who wears some beautiful costumes, is well worth the applause it receives. There is a hula dancer who is the most interesting hula dancer we have seen in front of the footlights of a Terre Haute theater this season, and the team of Watson and Ross is excellent in its eccentric creations. The show, as a whole, is a well-balanced piece.

The Grand orchestra, under the direction of George Jacob, violinist, who has Cliff Lowe, his pianist, as his trusty right-hand man, surprises one with its skill in handling the musical score of the show.

Along with the article is an advertisement and a photo of Donna with her beautiful cloak.  Both of the clippings also mention she is at the Grand Theatre.

Key features:

    • Venue: Grand Theatre in Terre Haute.
    • Cast: Betty Bryant, Alice Louise, Clarice Allyn, Jerry Jean, Nattie Norine Tom Watson, and Al Ross.
    • Also on bill:
      • The movie: “Racing Luck” with Monty Banks.

Analysis

According to Wikipedia[i], Racing Luck with Monty Banks was released on 11 May 1924, so the show needed to be after that.

Donna began her Bathing Girl Review in the fall of 1924 and played at Indiana theatres from February through May of 1925. My uncle Russell’s research indicated that Donna played in Terre Haute, IN, on 18 April 1925. I do not know where he got this information; however, this date fits in nicely with Donna’s itinerary being in Rushville, IN, on 26 March and Vincennes, IN, on 27 April.

Cinema Treasures indicates the Grand Opera House opened in 1907 and changed its name to the Grand Theatre when movies replaced live entertainment. This clipping shows that the name had changed by 1925 when it switched to having a film and vaudeville mix.

Terre Haute Saturday Spectator, 11 April 1925, Page 10. (via Newspaper Archives)

The 11 April Saturday Spectator[ii] ran an ad for The Grand Theatre showing the “Hollywood Motion Picture Bathing Girls featuring Donna Darling” to run all week starting Sunday. That ad suggests her show ran from 12 April to the 18th. Really interesting is that the Saturday Spectator of 18 April says that, “The Donna Darling Company will continue on the bill the remainder of the week. A change in songs, dances and costumes was made Thursday.” I had no idea that the show changed during the middle of a run.

Conclusion

During the week of 12-18 April 1925, Donna’s “Evolution of the Bathing Suit” played at the Grand Theatre in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Sources

[i] Wikipedia: Racing Luck (1924 film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_Luck_(1924_film).

[ii] Terre Haute Saturday Spectator, April 11, 1925, Page 10 (Via Newspaper Archives).

Posted in Treasure Chest, California Bathing Girls (1925), Donna Montran, Vaudeville | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Wolcott – Surname Saturday

Posted on December 25, 2021 by Don Taylor

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Ancestry indicates that the surname “Wolcott” is a Habitational name for someone from Wollcot in Somerset, England. Possibly so named from the Middle English wolle meaning “spring” and cot, meaning “cottage” or “shelter.” Forebears indicate it is derived from a person from Wollscott in Warwickshire.

Geographical

Approximately 7,775 people worldwide bear the surname Wolcott, and 7,650 of them live in the United States. With the most living in New York, California, and Florida.

Wolcott Ancestors

I have eight known Wolcott ancestors:

    • 5th Great-grandmother: Mary Wolcott(1767-1857) b. Mass., d. New York
    • 6th Great-grandfather: Samuel Wolcott (1736-1802) – b. & d. Connecticut.[i]
    • 7th Great-grandfather: Samuel Wolcott (1713-1800)
    • 8th Great-grandfather: Samuel Wolcott (1679-1734)
    • 9th Great-grandfather: Samuel Wolcott (1656-1695)
    • 10th Great-grandfather: Henry Wolcott (____-1680)
    • 11th Great-grandfather: Henry Wolcott (____-1655)
    • 12th Great-grandfather: John Wolcott (____-____)

Historical

Mary Wolcott was born in Massachusetts and died in New York.

Her father, Samuel Wolcott, was born and died in Connecticut.

I do not have birth locations for the earlier ancestors; however, Henry Wolcott was one of the founders of Windsor, Connecticut, and was identified as one of the original persons identified in the 1662 Charter of Connecticut (the basis of Connecticut being the “Constitution State”).

Wolcott Descendants

I have 867 known descendants of John Wolcott; 121 Brown, 94 Wolcott, 31 Parsons, 17 Berg, 16 Hanson, 16 Larson, and 15 Briggs descendants. Six hundred eighty of those descendants are known descendants of Mary Wolcott. I have previously written about 5 of them.

Famous Wolcott’s

Wikipedia indicates fifteen famous Wolcott’s, including three governors, two senators, a representative, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Oliver Wolcott. There are also eight places named “Wolcott” in the US.

Sources:

Ancestry Surname Page: https://www.ancestry.com/learn/facts.
Forebears Surnames Page: https://forebear       s.io/surnames.
Ancestry – Don Taylor’s Roberts-Brown tree on Ancestry.
Wikipedia – Wolcott.

Endnotes:

[i] Ancestors before Mary Wolcott (1767-1857) have been potentially identified but not confirmed through my personal research.

Posted in Surname Saturday, Brown-Montran | Tagged | 1 Comment

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 60

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Don Taylor

Surnames: Hill (2), Hobbs (3), Née Robinson

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
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 contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. 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.

Fred Lincoln Hill, circa 1935.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Fred Lincoln Hill, 139 Neal St #87 (for Mrs. Mosley).”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Fred Lincoln Hill, circa 1935.

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Fred Lincoln Hill, and his wife Katherine C, living at 139 Neal.

  • Maine Marriage Records list Fred Lincoln Hill, the son of Irving E and Sarah E (Oat) Hill marrying Katherine Caswell on 17 May 1918. Fred was 28 years old, suggesting his birth in 1890.
  • This is a photo of Fred about 1935 when he was about 45 years old.

Family Search identifies Fred Lincoln Hill,  bor 14 April 1890 as ID 9HPN-N3X. Twenty-four trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Fred Lincoln Hill.

I have uploaded two photos of Fred to his Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of him to my Flickr photostream.

Photo confirmed to be Fred Lincoln Hill by a grand-niece.

Mildred Iris Hobbs (née Robinson) before 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Albert Hobbs – copy – Caldwell St. Woodfords #37.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Mildred Iris Hobbs (née Robinson) Unknown date but before 1935.

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Albert C Hobbs, and his wife Mildred R, living at 30 Caldwell.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Albert and Mildred still living at 30 Caldwell. Living with them are their two children, Janet I (age 14) and Albert R (age 9). Albert is 47, and Mildred is 45.
  • Ancestry Family Trees indicate that Mildred Iris Robinson was born 26 October 1894 in Aroostook County, Maine, and married Albert C. Hobbs on 4 May 1922.
  • This photo wasn’t taken at the Wight studio; instead, it was provided to the studio to be copied about 1935, when Mildred was about 41 years old; however, she looks somewhat younger than 41 in this photo.

Family Search identifies Mildred Iris Robinson, born 26 October 1894, as ID KC9D-8YS. There are Forty-one trees at Ancestry.Com that refer to Mildred.

I have uploaded this photo of Mildred to her Family Search Memories. 

Janet I. & Albert R. Hobbs, April 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Albert Hobbs, Caldwell St. #16 – 18 April. 1936.”

Why I believe this to be these individuals.

  • Janet I. & Albert R. Hobbs, April 1936

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Albert C Hobbs, and his wife Mildred R, living at 30 Caldwell.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Albert and Mildred still living at 30 Caldwell. Living with them are their two children, Janet I (age 14) and Albert R (age 9). Albert is 47, and Mildred is 45.
  • On 18 April 1936, this photo was taken when Janet was about nine years old, and Albert R was about six years old.

Family Search identifies Janet Iris Hobbs, born 22 October 1925 as ID KW8K-MHN, and Albert Robinson Hobbs, born 12 May 1929, as ID KH4C-6JH.  Nine trees at Ancestry refer to Janet Iris Hobbs, and five trees refer to Albert Robinson “Robby” Hobbs.

I have uploaded two photos of Janet & Albert to their Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional pictures of them to my Flickr photostream.

Janet I. & Albert R. Hobbs, circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Albert Hobbs, Caldwell St., Woodfords #16 (Janet Hobbs, Robert Hobbs).”

Why I believe this to be these individuals.

  • Janet I. Hobbs, circa 1935

    Albert R. Hobbs, circa 1935

    These photos are clearly the same two children of Albert and Mildred Hobbs taken about a year earlier. A note on the envelope even indicates the names are Janet and Robert.

Family Search identifies Janet Iris Hobbs, born 22 October 1925 as ID KW8K-MHN, and Albert Robinson Hobbs, born 12 May 1929, as ID KH4C-6JH. Nine trees at Ancestry refer to Janet Iris Hobbs, and five trees refer to Albert Robinson “Robby” Hobbs.

I have uploaded one photo of Janet and one photo of Albert to their Family Search Memories. 

Dorothy Hill, circa 1936 (age 3)

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Wilbur P. Hill, 535 Stevens Ave #409.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Dorothy Hill, circa 1936 (age 3)

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Wilbur P Hill, and his wife Elizabeth L, living at 535 Stevens.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Wilbur (age 44) and Elizabeth (age 38) living at 535 Stevens. They are living with Wilbur’s father, William Hill. Also with them are their three children, Frederick L (age 12), Dorothy (age 7), and Charles W (age 4).
  • This photo appears to be of a little girl about 2 or 3 years old, which fits the sex and age of Dorothy.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Dorothy Hill, daughter of Wilbur Powers and Elizabeth (Latham) Hill. Ancestry.Com also does not have a profile for Dorothy Hill; however, her father, Wilbur Powers Hill, married to Elizabeth, appears in two family trees.

 

I have uploaded Dorothy’s photo to Dead Fred.

 

 

Conclusion

  • I identified four individuals who had Family Search profiles, so I posted their photos to Family Search
  • I identified another individual who did not have a Family Search profile, so I posted her photo to Dead Fred.

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.

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Was Grace Darling Donna’s sister? (Part 1)

Posted on December 19, 2021 by Don Taylor

Madonna Mae Montran Issue

Donna Montran Research
Vaudeville
Rooney
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.During my analysis of the Donna Darling Collection (Part 83), I learned that the actress Grace Darling could be the sister-in-law of my grandmother, Madonna Montran, stage name Donna Darling) married Thomas Valentine Rooney in 1915. Grace Foster, stage name Grace Darling, married Pat Rooney in 1908. Could Thomas and Pat have been brothers, thus making Donna and Grace sisters (in-law)?

My first step in investigating the possibility is to look at the life and relationships of Donna’s second husband, Thomas Rooney.

Donna’s first marriage to Chester Fenyvessey in 1911 was short-lived. By 1914, Donna and Chester separated, and Donna headed to California. Out there, she was with Mack Sennett’s Bathing Beauties and was a dancer in the silent film “Birth of a Nation.” In 1915, Donna relocated to Boston, MA. Then, on 24 November 1915, Donna married Thomas Valentine Rooney in Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Marriage Record os Thomas Valentine Rooney and Donna Mae Montran – 24 Nov 1915 – Click to enlarge.

Thomas Valentine Rooney (1887-1960)

Thomas is a step-grandfather—the second husband of my grandmother: Madonna Mae Montran.

      • Thomas’ father: Neil H. Rooney (1865-1910)

Thomas Valentine Rooney was born on 29 January 1887 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He was the second of five children of Neil H and Mary E (Fahey) Rooney.

The 1900 Census indicates that Neil and Mary Rooney had five children; John, Thomas, Neil (Jr.), James, and Mary. Neil immigrated in 1883 and married Mary about 1885. That suggests they couldn’t have had any children older than John.

In the 1910 Census, Mary is widowed, and there are no additional children. The Census provides middle initials for the children; none of them have the middle initial of “P,” suggesting that Pat Rooney is unlikely a brother of Thomas.

Thomas was the producer of the “California Bathing Girls,” starring Donna Montran, during 1920 and 1921, so they were together then. However, by the summer of 1921, Donna had moved on to a new show, “Donna Darling & Boys,” that wasn’t produced by Thomas, so I’m pretty sure they separated by then.

After Donna

Thomas married Daisy Elizabeth Ford on 13 April 1928. The couple moved to California about 1930, where Thomas worked as an “Actors Agent” for 40 years with the Michael J. Hamieburg Agency.

Daisy died on 14 December 1959, and Thomas died four months later on 29 April 1960, in Los Angeles.

Conclusion

It does not appear that Thomas Rooney had a brother named Pat, so it is unlikely Grace Foster (stage Grace Darling) was a sister-in-law of Donna’s.

Further Actions / Follow-up

  • Find Grace (Foster) Darling Knieling and Pat Rooney in various records and determine if Pat Rooney and Tom Rooney were otherwise related.
Posted in Donna Montran, Vaudeville | Tagged | 1 Comment

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 59

Posted on December 17, 2021 by Don Taylor

Hibbard, Hicks, Higgins, & Hight

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
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 contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. 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.

Charles Edgar Hicks, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. C. E. Hicks, 71 Lawn Av #75.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Charles Edgar Hicks, circa 1934

    The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Charles E Hicks and his wife Dorothy E, living at 71 Lawn ave.

  • The 1930 US Census lists Charles E. Hicks and his wife, Dorothy, at 71 Lawn. He was
  • Based upon the photo pack number (#75), the photo was taken about 1934 when he was about 34 years old.

Family Search identifies Charles E. Hicks, born 1899 in Maine, as ID GCYK-1SL. According to Family Search, his parents are Herbert C and Jennie Hicks. Charles Edgar Hicks found in 12 Ancestry public trees.

I have uploaded a higher definition (300 x 300) photo of Charles to his Family Search Memories. 

Donald Merton Hibbard, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Merton Hibbard, 102 Morning St #100.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Donald Merton Hibbard, circa 1936

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Merton T Hibbard and his wife Alberta living at 102 Morning.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Merton Hibbert and his wife Alberta living at 126 North Street in Portland. Living with them are their two sons, 5-year-old Donald and 3-year-old Richard.
  • Find-a-Grave lists Donald Merton Hibbard, son of Merton Thomas and Alberta Florence (Hall) Hibbard, born 23 August 1934.
  • This photo appears to be of Donald about 1936.

Family Search identifies Donald Merton Hibbard, son of Merton Thomas and Alberta (Call) Hibbard, as ID 9M2C-FPQ and married to Barbara Louise Leavitt. Seven trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Donald M Hibbard, married to Barbara Louise Leavitt.

I have uploaded a higher definition (300 x 300) photo of Donald to his Family Search Memories.

Richard Hibbard, circa 1937 (age 1)

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Merton Hibbard, 102 Morning St #731.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Richard Hibbard, circa 1937 (age 1)

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Merton T Hibbard and his wife Alberta living at 102 Morning.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Merton Hibbert and his wife Alberta living at 126 North Street in Portland. Living with them are their two sons, 5-year-old Donald and 3-year-old Richard.
  • Based upon the Photo ID number (#731), this photo was taken about 1937, probably when Richard was about a year old.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Richard Hibbard, son of Merton and Alberta Hibbard. Richard does not appear in any Ancestry Trees, but his father, Merton Thomas Hibbard, appears in 33 Ancestry Family Trees.

I have added a higher definition (300 x 300) photo of Richard to Dead Fred. 

Helen or Barbara Hight (?), circa 1937.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Harold Hight, 14 Mayo St #1019.”

Why I believe this to be one of these two individuals.

  • Helen or Barbara Hight, circa 1937.

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Harold A Hight, and his wife Ruby M, living at 14 Mayo.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Harold A and his wife Ruby M, still living at 14 Mayo. Living with them are five children, Helen E (age 15), Harold B (age 10), Barbara J (age 8), Robert J (age 6), and Arthur R (age 3)
  • Based upon the photo ID (#1019), the photo was taken about 1937. The child in the picture is clearly a girl. Helen was born 26 October 1926 and would have been about 11 years old; Barbara was born 28 February 1932 and would have been about 5 in 1937. The child in the photo looks to be about 8, so it could be either girl.

Family Search identifies Helen E Hight, daughter of Harold and Ruby (Hasey) Hight, as ID G98N-XCD. Barbara does not have a Family Search Profile. 9 Ancestry trees refer to Helen E Hight. 5 Ancestry trees refer to Barbara J Hight.

Because I have been unable to identify which girl is in the photos positively, I have one image here and a second photo I’ve uploaded to my Flickr photostream. Hopefully, a family member will identify which child it is definitively. 

Blair & Susanne Higgins, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Stanley Higgins, 216 Franklin St #152.”

Why I believe this to be these individuals.

  • Blair & Susanne Higgins, circa 1935.

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists H. Stanley Higgins, and his wife Hazel, living at 216 Franklin.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Henry S Higgins, and his wife Hazel, still living at 216 Franklin. Living with them are their two children, Blair (age 9) and Suzanne (age 7). All were born in Maine.
  • This photo was probably taken about 1935, when Blair was about five and when Suzanne was about three.
  • I am confident these photos are of Blair and Suzanne Higgins.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for either Blair or Suzanne; however, Blair R Higgins is found in fourteen family trees at Ancestry. Suzanne Higgins is found in five family trees at Ancestry.

I have uploaded one photo of the children to Dead Fred and a second photo of them to my Flickr photostream.

 Conclusion

  • I fully identified six individuals. Three of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their photos to Family Search Three of them did not appear to have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their pictures to Dead Fred.
  • I failed to identify one photo. I believe it could be either of two girls; consequently, I only posted those 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.

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment