THE HOLMAN FAMILY

NELL HOLMAN Collection of Jim Wells, 11-23-03

 

EARL FINDS LOST YOUNGSTER FROM PLANE

EARL DAUGHERTY & BOB HOLMAN Collection of Jim Wells, 11-20-03   Missing Tot Discovered by Aviator and Mother Newsclipping courtesy of Jim Wells, 11-20-03      If they'd "pulled it" on the stage, melodrama style, in all probablility the mother would have rushed in on the scene crying for her "l-o-s-t c-h-i-l-d," to fall in a semi-faint, tearing her hair until the big Irish policeman on the beat located the lost Oswald being fed bananas at Tony's stand in the next block. Then would follow the mother's embrace, a reproving word, many kisses bestowed and "curtain."      But this story didn't happen that way at all with the exception of the scene of the mother greeting her child, which of course was only motherlike and natural.      A number of interested spectators were lined up at Chateau Thierry aviation field on a warm day, watching Aviator Earl Daugherty perform. Mrs. Nell Holman, in the true role of the mother, one of the onlookers, suddenly noticed that "Bobby," her three-year-old son had strayed from the crowd.      Detailed search in and around the automobiles parked nearby failed to find any trace of the missing youngster and the mother became alarmed.      Enter Knight, in flying armor, (Earl Daugherty),. A mere suggestion as to a scouting trip over the nearby cornfield, a minute's debate and the goggled and helmeted mother is buckled in the cockpit of the flying machine.      Earl Daugherty's role is the same as that of the big Irish policeman in the melodrama, for he needs but to circle the cornfield once or twice when a small toddling object is discerned in the patch below. A landing is effected despite all difficulties and the scene of the mother finding her child is repeated, but with more realism.           "Curtain."

EMAIL FROM JIM WELLS      "This story and the two images are from a page in the baby book of my grandfather, Bob Holman. My great grandmother was Nellie Holman, a silent film actress. She was good friends with Earl and was the first actress to fly in a plane.      My grandfather is the boy in the picture above. He was also a child star at Balboa Films in Long Beach." Jim Wells, 11-20-03

Certificate for Bob Holman

 

NELLIE HOLMAN & EARL DAUGHERTY      "This was a staged publicity shot for the story about her being the first movie actress to fly in a plane. My Great grandmother Nell's maiden name was "Schall", she was more of an "extra" in the films,       My great grandfather was a camera operator at Balboa Films and their son Bobby (little boy in picture), (my grandfather), was in several feature films including "The Red Circle" series with Ruth Roland, "Wildcats" and "A Bit of Kindling" with Jackie Saunders, Ruth Roland was my Great grandmother's best friend I have many pictures, postcards and letters from her." Photo and caption from Jim Wells, 11-23-03

 

HOTEL VIRGINIA, LONG BEACH A USGenWeb Archives Web Site

 

EL RODEO CLUB DANCE, 1910

El Rodeo Club November 4, 1910 Hotel Virginia Long Beach, California

Nell's Dance Card PROGRAM 1. Waltz ESD

Nell's Dance Card EXTRAS 1. ESD

"This dance card belonged to Nell from 1910 the "Hotel Virginia" and the El Rodeo Club, and it is filled mostly with the initials E.S.D. It sounds like Earl and Nell were possibly a couple before his flying days." Photos & comments from Jim Wells, 11-23-03

 

EL RODEO CLUB Back Row,: Left to Right: Lee Frank, Rodger Roe, Frank Long, C.L. Mecham, ? Burke, M. Schilling, F.N. Burghman, Bill Sweningsen?, Fred Hudson, Dick Bixby Front Row : ?E Fordham, John Stone, Phil Bixby, ?W.S. Horsenworth, E.S. Daugherty, ?P. Sweningsen, G.E. Lawson?, Larry Darby, Shorty Vial, Paul Frazier, Wilbur ?Denns or Donns.      "This is the "El Rodeo Club" picture. It was very hard to read the names on the back so I guessed on some of them, also there are 22 people in the picture and only 21 names on the back. Let me know if any of the names ring a bell." Photo & comments from Jim Wells, 11-23-03

 

NELL HOLMAN & KAY DAUGHERTY Collection of Jim Wells, 11-23-03

 

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