Tag Archives: Thomas Rooney

Donna at Hotel Brenton, Bass Point, Nahant, Mass. August 4, 1915.

Posted on August 2, 2025 by Don Taylor

In 1915, Donna—famously known as the “aeroplane girl”—performed at a grand carnival at Hotel Brenton in Nahant, MA. With vibrant lights, cabaret acts, and dancing, the event was directed by Thomas Rooney, whom Donna married just months later. A vivid piece of early 20th-century entertainment history. Continue reading →

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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 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 … Continue reading →

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The Donna Darling Collection – Part 2

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Don Taylor

  Donna Montran Vaudeville By Don Taylor The first newspaper clipping in the collection is one that screams in big print, “DONNA MONTRAN.” It then speaks of her as “BROADWAY’S NEWEST FIND – Under Personal Direction of Tom Rooney.” The … Continue reading →

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Walls – Paper or Brick | John Montran – (b-186?/7? – d. Bef 1911) – BM-14

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Don Taylor

Walls – Paper or Brick? Rice Paper WallsPhoto by Matt Litt via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) We all have our genealogical walls. Often, we don’t know if a particular wall is a brick wall or a paper wall. It might be a … Continue reading →

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