Actress, singer and lecturer Mona Darkfeather made a special appearance at the Liberty Theater, 906-08 Pacific Avenue, during the week beginning on August 31, 1918. Advertised as an "Indian Princess," she was actually born Josephine Workman in California and due to her dark, exotic look, became an actress specializing in Native American roles. A small article in the September 5th Tacoma Daily Ledger stated that she had come from one of the oldest and best families in California. It indicated that her father was the owner of the first bank in Los Angeles and her grandfather owned Alcatraz Island. The Princess was said to be one of five heirs to the city of Puenta, California, a matter then being contested. Her name is misspelled as "Mono" Darkfeather on the large sign advertising a special movie feature, "Eyes of the World." Princess Mona, in her "rattlesnake" dress, appeared after each showing of "Eyes of the World" to sing and give advice to all girls with ambition to enter show business. G64.1-130 (TNT 8-31-18, p. 7-ad; TDL 9-5-18, p. 7-article)

Darkfeather, Mona; Costumes; Actresses; Singers; Liberty Theater (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Princess Mona Darkfeather appeared in person on stage at the Liberty Theater, 906-08 Pacific Avenue, for several days beginning August 31, 1918. Photographed in front of the theater dressed in an "authentic" Indian costume, Princess Darkfeather was born Josephine Workman in southern California. She became a screen actress after answering an advertisement, placed by movie producer Thomas Ince, calling for exotic looking girls to play "Indian maidens". She became a popular star in both one-reel Western melodramas and feature films often featured astride her famous pinto pony Comanche. Princess Mona spent several days in Tacoma in 1918, appearing after each showing of "Eyes of the World." She sang and gave lectures to aspiring young actresses. The woman to the right was not identified. (entertainment.msn.com & www.homesteadmuseum.org; TNT 8-31-18, p. 7-Ad; TDL 9-5-18, p. 7-article) G64.1-025, TPL-8837

Darkfeather, Mona; Indians of North America--Tacoma; Singers; Liberty Theater (Tacoma);

These nine fair maidens were part of Stadium High School's Senior Class play, "Sherwood," in May of 1922. "Sherwood," by Alfred Noyes, told the story of Robin Hood and Maid Marian in five acts. Directed by drama teacher Alberta Black, it played to packed houses on its two-day run. It was deemed a success by the News Tribune in their review of May 20, 1922, and acquired equal accolades noting "true talent combined with earnestness and enthusiasm" from the Tacoma Daily Ledger. The actresses in the above photograph were not identified. G64.1-051 (TNT 5-20-22, p. 7-article; TDL 5-20-22, p. 10-article)

Actresses; Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Stadium High School Senior Class Play. The Stadium Class of '22 presented "Sherwood" as the senior class play in May of that year. Dressed as jovial Friar Tuck and holding a sturdy staff is Edward Hamilton. He, along with Egbert Brix as "Little John," were noted by a News Tribune review for being "enjoyed particularly for the comedy which they added to the play." This photograph, and others, appeared in the 1922 Tahoma yearbook. (1922 Tahoma, p. 92) (TNT 5-20-22, p. 7-article) G64.1-050

Hamilton, Edward; Actors--Tacoma; Stadium High School (Tacoma);

The junior class of Annie Wright Seminary presented as its class play, "Innman's Ranch," in December of 1923. All the characters were played by the female students including the male roles. G10.1-098

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1920-1930;

Actor Harold Lloyd and his wife, Mildred Davis, in Tacoma on April 21, 1925, at Union Station. The Lloyds were on their way to New York from California and stopped in Tacoma for a few hours. Dressed primarily in white, including a white fur coat with white fox collar, white hose, white pumps and a small white handbag, actress Mildred Davis stands next to her famous actor/comedian spouse, who is sans his trademark hornrimmed spectacles. Miss Davis is formerly from Tacoma and was paying her first visit to her old hometown since her marriage in 1923. Desiring to show her husband the high school she attended, she and Mr. Lloyd caused a mob scene at Stadium High School where hundreds of students were excited to see the celebrities. Miss Davis had appeared with her husband in many of his comedies and was his leading lady in his best remembered film, "Safety Last." (1923) (TDL 4-22-25, p. 1) TPL-6689; G67.1-13

Actors; Lloyd, Harold; Lloyd, Harold--Family; Actresses; Davis, Mildred; Railroad stations--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1920-1930;

April 21, 1925, saw the return of former hometown girl, Mildred Davis, and her movie star husband, Harold Lloyd. Miss Davis had been a student at Stadium High School prior to her acting career. She and her husband (on right) are posed at Union Station along with Director Joe Murphy and Mr. Murphy's wife. The Lloyds were on the way to New York from California and made a brief stopover in Tacoma. (TDL 4-22-25, p. 1; TNT 4-22-25, p. 1+-article only)

Actors; Lloyd, Harold; Lloyd, Harold--Family; Actresses; Davis, Mildred; Murphy, Joe; Murphy, Joe--Family; Railroad stations--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1920-1930;

George A. Billings, the era's leading impersonator of Abraham Lincoln, posed in February of 1927 at the Narcissa Whitman memorial statue and drinking fountain in Wright Park. Mr. Billings, formerly of Tacoma, was best known for starring in the 1924 biopic "The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln." It was such a success that he continued to play Lincoln on vaudeville stages for the remainder of his career. The Whitman fountain commemorated the courage and devotion of the wife of missionary Marcus Whitman. The pair were massacred by the Cayuse Indians at their settlement near Walla Walla in 1847. As for the fountain, it disappeared from the park around the mid 1960's, the victim of vandals. (TNT 2/12/1927 p.1)

Former Tacoman George A. Billings, one of the leading impersonators of Abraham Lincoln, was convinced to "make up" and pose for the Tacoma News Tribune while visiting family in February of 1927. He had resided in Tacoma from 1907-08, working in the building and loan business and had returned to Tacoma in 1919 after serving in the first World War. That time he lived in Tacoma for 2 years with his brother Orville Billings. He soon left for Los Angeles where he was involved in various film productions. In 1924, he was approached to play Lincoln, to whom he bears an uncanny resemblance, in "The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln." He starred in the epic and continued to portray Lincoln in vaudeville for the remainder of his career. (TNT 2/12/1927, pg. 1)

George A. Billings, center, formerly of Tacoma, filled his later acting years with portraying Abraham Lincoln, to whom he bore an uncanny resemblance. He was in Tacoma in February of 1927 visiting family and friends and was persuaded to "make up" as Lincoln and pose for the Tacoma News Tribune. He is pictured with his niece Rhea Thompson and her husband L. L. (Lindsay) Thompson, a Tacoma attorney. Mr. Thompson had served as the Washington State Attorney General from 1919-1923. Mr. Thompson was the first Washington native to serve in that office and at 31 was one of the youngest. Mr. Billings was best known for his 1924 film depiction of Lincoln in "The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln." He also toured the country's vaudeville houses portraying Lincoln. (TNT 2/12/1927, pg. 1) (Thompson identification supplied by a family member and www.atg.wa.gov)

The assembled and costumed cast of the patriotic pageant, "Democracy," appear on stage at the McCarver Intermediate School on May 6, 1927. Many were dressed in clothing reflecting their various cultures. 100 pupils participated on stage in episodes of American history. The pageant was written and directed by history teacher Zeta Dalton. TPL-1553 (TNT 4-19-27, p. 17-article)

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Costumes; McCarver Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. Portrait of a man by Tacoma artist and writer Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Portrait of a girl with blonde hair by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Drawing of a man by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Drawing of a girl with long hair by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Drawing of a young man by Thomas Handforth.

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Drawing of horse, cabin and trees by Thomas Handforth. The original image is among the large Handforth Collection owned by the Tacoma Public Library. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Portrait of Harbine Monroe by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches; Monroe, Harbine;

ca. 1927. Drawing of Miss Virginia Perkins by Thomas Handforth. Miss Perkins was the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S.A. Perkins. Mr. Handforth had recently returned to Tacoma after several seasons in Paris and had completed several drawings of prominent Tacomans. (TNT 7/30/1927, pg. 5) (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches; Perkins, Virginia;

ca. 1927. Drawing of Marie (Mrs. Christen Sr.) Quevli by Thomas Handforth. Mrs. Quevli was formerly Marie Josphine Foss, the daughter of Senator Louis Foss of Mount Vernon. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches; Quevli, Marie;

ca. 1927. Portrait of a young woman by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum.)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Portrait of a young man by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Drawing of a young girl by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Drawing of a young girl by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Drawing of a man by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Portrait of a girl by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Portrait of a girl by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Drawing of a young man by Thomas Handforth.

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Drawing of a young boy by Thomas Handforth. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;

ca. 1927. Farm scene of barn and man with cows, by Thomas Handforth. The original image is among the large Handforth Collection owned by the Tacoma Public Library. (filed with Argentum)

Artists--Tacoma; Handforth, Thomas Schofield--Associated objects; Sketches;