My Trails into the Past

This is my second year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow . I will write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or at My Trails Into the Past . I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways. There are several members of my family who performed as actors and actresses, some in comedy plays. Elizabeth and Helena Gleeson, my paternal great-grandaunts, performed in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Engaged at the Evans Opera house in Anaconda, Montana in February 1892. They were school teachers at the time and the proceeds from the play were for the public school library. Helena played the role of Maggie, while Elizabeth played Parker Minnie’s maid. [1] My husband’s uncle, Leonard Nilsen, acted in plays while in high school. He performed in The Tin Hero with the junior class at Hilmar High School in February 1939.  He played Spike Ryder, a champion swimmer. [2] My daughter, Ma...