Author Topic: History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins  (Read 6934 times)

Offline BingoBuster

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History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins
« on: Monday 14 January 19 21:51 GMT (UK) »
Hello there!

Was wondering if anyone could help me with some further details. I recently found out that several of my great uncles had been apart of a vaudeville / acrobatic act called either 'The Four Rianos" or 'The Riano Brothers". Three of them runaway to join when they were young. I haven't been able to bring up anything aside from a similarly named act but I'm not sure if they are related or not. Here's what I have so far.

Parents: James L. Dobbins / Mary A. Cryan

- Francis Dobbins / 1879– BIRTH ABT 1879 • Oswego CO NY/ DEATH New York City, New York
- Robert Dobbins - ABT 1864 • Dutchess CO NY
- William Dobbins - ABT 1873 • Sullivan CO NY / 30 JULY 1942

I also know Francis had a daughter named Renee who was an actress on Broadway and then went to Hollywood as a character actor. Another aspect I'm really curious about. I don't have anything on her.

I have only been able to find obscure scans of newspaper articles without any reference to date / publishings, but I'm really intrigued and was hoping anyone would be able to assist me in this endeavor if possible. Thanks!


Online Erato

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Re: History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins
« Reply #1 on: Monday 14 January 19 22:20 GMT (UK) »
If you do a search on the exact phrase "four Rianos" at the Fulton History site, there are many, many newspaper articles.

http://www.fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html

Here's a sample from the Rome Daily Sentinel [Rome, NY], 5 May 1903, p. 2
Wiltshire:  Banks, Taylor
Somerset:  Duddridge, Richards, Barnard, Pillinger
Gloucestershire:  Barnard, Marsh, Crossman
Bristol:  Banks, Duddridge, Barnard
Down:  Ennis, McGee
Wicklow:  Chapman, Pepper
Wigtownshire:  Logan, Conning
Wisconsin:  Ennis, Chapman, Logan, Ware
Maine:  Ware, Mitchell, Tarr, Davis

Online Erato

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Re: History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins
« Reply #2 on: Monday 14 January 19 22:31 GMT (UK) »
Wiltshire:  Banks, Taylor
Somerset:  Duddridge, Richards, Barnard, Pillinger
Gloucestershire:  Barnard, Marsh, Crossman
Bristol:  Banks, Duddridge, Barnard
Down:  Ennis, McGee
Wicklow:  Chapman, Pepper
Wigtownshire:  Logan, Conning
Wisconsin:  Ennis, Chapman, Logan, Ware
Maine:  Ware, Mitchell, Tarr, Davis

Online Erato

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Re: History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins
« Reply #3 on: Monday 14 January 19 22:39 GMT (UK) »
Wiltshire:  Banks, Taylor
Somerset:  Duddridge, Richards, Barnard, Pillinger
Gloucestershire:  Barnard, Marsh, Crossman
Bristol:  Banks, Duddridge, Barnard
Down:  Ennis, McGee
Wicklow:  Chapman, Pepper
Wigtownshire:  Logan, Conning
Wisconsin:  Ennis, Chapman, Logan, Ware
Maine:  Ware, Mitchell, Tarr, Davis


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Re: History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins
« Reply #4 on: Monday 14 January 19 23:36 GMT (UK) »
One reason they're hard to find is that they were out of the country for a prolonged period.  Then they changed to the 'Three Rianos' after one of them died.
Wiltshire:  Banks, Taylor
Somerset:  Duddridge, Richards, Barnard, Pillinger
Gloucestershire:  Barnard, Marsh, Crossman
Bristol:  Banks, Duddridge, Barnard
Down:  Ennis, McGee
Wicklow:  Chapman, Pepper
Wigtownshire:  Logan, Conning
Wisconsin:  Ennis, Chapman, Logan, Ware
Maine:  Ware, Mitchell, Tarr, Davis

Offline oldohiohome

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Re: History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins
« Reply #5 on: Monday 14 January 19 23:49 GMT (UK) »
Clipping of a black and white photograph of The Four Rianos, two in animal costumes

Date Range
    1900-1909, 1910-1919
   
http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/collections/vaudeville/items/the-four-rianos/   

Offline BingoBuster

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Re: History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins
« Reply #6 on: Monday 14 January 19 23:52 GMT (UK) »
Amazing finds. Thank you! I didn't even know about the death of one of them, hence why it was probably tricky to find anything concrete! Is there anything pertaining to Renee perchance or her career name on broadway or hollywood?

Offline oldohiohome

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Re: History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins
« Reply #7 on: Monday 14 January 19 23:52 GMT (UK) »
Clip at google newspapers of Rene Riano vs husband John W Neil for non-support, etc.

She says "My mother and father playte on the stage together for 25 years. They belong to the Four Rianos, known on the first-class vaudeville circuits."

article: Woodville Republican, July 10, 1920

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=999&dat=19200710&id=qRwlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yhIGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2962,399097

Offline oldohiohome

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Re: History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins
« Reply #8 on: Monday 14 January 19 23:53 GMT (UK) »
google "four rianos" for more.