History of the Riano Brothers / Dobbins

[oldohiohome]

The Cincinnati Enquirer  (Cincinnati, Ohio) 18 Sep 1946, Wed  - Page 17

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27275439/renie_riano/

Sandra

This article says that Renie Riano's grandfather was Samuel Couples, and that he owned the Walnut Theatre in that city. His daughter Irene took the stage name of Irene Rice. Which partly explains why the Wikipedia article said his name was Joseph Rice. See posts #36 to #39. The name on the 1880 census is Joseph Couples. (post #41).

Joseph's father was named Samuel, but no sign that he owned a theater. 1870, age 69, he is a laborer.

1860:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCGM-DW6

1870
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6L9-1R5

[oldohiohome]

This is the part of the Cincinnati Enquirer article that I found curious:  "the Four Rianos, the family act in which her mother, father, uncle and step-brother appeared."

Who was the step-brother?  Was he the Australian called John W. Riano?  How could he have been a step-brother?

The oldest brother in the family was John, born about 1859 either in Canada (1880 Census) or New York (1870). Maybe it's him. He would be her father's brother at least. But the wife's age in the household allows for her to be his mother as well. So ..?

I found a credit for a play written by John W Riano and will attach the image. It's from

Dramatic Compositions Copyrighted in the United States, 1870 to 1916 ...
Library of Congress. Copyright Office
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1918

https://books.google.com/books?id=hjLKGXpTj-sC&pg=PA2382&lpg=PA2382&dq=John+W.+Riano&source=bl&ots=1xPtB6qTb_&sig=BzdKieRpWtf7dkIzBFIDxFArf_E&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiTv_aT0PLfAhVMzlQKHWLoA0gQ6AEwAnoECAMQAQ#v=onepage&q=John%20W.%20Riano&f=false

[Erato]

This snippet suggests that in 1898, Irene was not yet calling herself Riano.  Maybe Irene and Robert got married somewhere in Europe during the European tour.

The New York Clipper, 1 January 1898 [from the Vaudeville and Minstrel section of the paper]:

[oldohiohome]

Irene Riano, Renie Neil, and Jane Neil, returning from the Fiji Islands, June 30, 1936, to Los Angeles

Irene born July 4, 1872, London, Ohio
Renie born "August 7, 1900, New York City"
Jane born July 8, 1919, Philadelphia, PA

address in US: Hollywood Plaza Hotel, Hollywood, California

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZQW-B2K

[Erato]

At Fulton History, there are many small references to Irene Rice.  She was an acrobatic dancer at least as early as 1891.  An ad in the 26 September 1891 'National Police Gazette' offers "cabinet size photos of actresses in tights" at ten cents each; the list is long and includes Irene Rice.

[oldohiohome]

There is a John Riano who plays a man in an ape suit in the movie "Boarding House Blues" (1948). I don't think this is the brother of our Rianos, since he would be 88 at the time, and one of the reviews talks about him taking falls as part of the act. Maybe it is the next generation. The ape suit is what got my attention, since the Four Rianos dressed like that in the act, based on one of the pictures posted earlier.

Or it could just be an unrelated actor who liked the name and the concept.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040176/reviews?ref_=tt_urv

[oldohiohome]

Irene Riano, Renie Neil, and Jane Neil, returning from the Fiji Islands, June 30, 1936, to Los Angeles

Irene born July 4, 1872, London, Ohio
Renie born "August 7, 1900, New York City"
Jane born July 8, 1919, Philadelphia, PA

address in US: Hollywood Plaza Hotel, Hollywood, California

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZQW-B2K

I looked at dobsearch.com for "Jane" with this exact date of birth, but was able to eliminate all the women who turned up. She might have decided to go by something else as an adult, or she died before the databases were assembled.

Also looked for surname "Neil" and surname "Riano". also looked for exact dob in California. Nothing looked good.

[BingoBuster]

Irene Riano, Renie Neil, and Jane Neil, returning from the Fiji Islands, June 30, 1936, to Los Angeles

Irene born July 4, 1872, London, Ohio
Renie born "August 7, 1900, New York City"
Jane born July 8, 1919, Philadelphia, PA

address in US: Hollywood Plaza Hotel, Hollywood, California

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZQW-B2K

I looked at dobsearch.com for "Jane" with this exact date of birth, but was able to eliminate all the women who turned up. She might have decided to go by something else as an adult, or she died before the databases were assembled.

Also looked for surname "Neil" and surname "Riano". also looked for exact dob in California. Nothing looked good.

I remember Jane's passport having the year as 1918 instead of 1919 if that helps any bit

[oldohiohome]

I'll give it another go with 1918. was the month and day the same?