In late October 1949, home economist Virginia Daubert shared the stage at Memorial Hall with Lima furniture dealer Joe Early as she demonstrated the advantages to be gained by owning Norge appliances, which were available in Early’s store at 522 W. Market St.
“The cooking and electric refrigeration demonstration promises to be one of the most attention-compelling events that has ever been presented to Lima,” The Lima News shamelessly proclaimed. “Demonstrating the application of science to the everyday problems of the housewife for better living, and greater economy.”
In early December 1949, amateur actress Daubert took to the stage in the Temple Beth Israel auditorium in Amil Tellers of Dramatics’ production of “The Silver Cord.” Although less enthusiastic than it had been about the joys of electric appliances, The Lima News wrote Dec. 2, 1949, that “Mrs. Virginia Daubert reenacted the role of a doting, yet domineering mother, with the same finesse exhibited in the Wednesday night performance.”
Cooking demonstrations were part of Daubert’s job with Ohio Power; acting with the local theater group was her joy. She would do both until her death at the age of 57 on Dec. 1, 1965, gaining popularity for her appearances as a home economist, both in person and on radio and television, and for her many roles, both on-stage and off, with Amil Tellers.
In late November 1968, about three years after her death, Amil Tellers dedicated the Virginia Daubert Memorial in the expanded lobby of Encore Theater.
“A home economist with Ohio Power Co., she played a variety of roles from slapstick comedy in ‘Suds in Your Eye’ in 1959-60 to serious dramatic roles, such as ‘Glass Menagerie’ in 1961-62,” The Lima News wrote Nov. 20, 1968. The memorial featured a color photo of Daubert in her role in “Medea,” as well as a bookcase containing books donated and purchased for the memorial library.
An accompanying plaque read: “Dedicated to Virginia Daubert whose 20 years interest in the Amil Tellers helped create the Encore Theatre.”
Nearly 24 years after her death, in March 1989, Daubert was honored as one of the 100 “Women Who Made a Difference in Allen County” during a “Celebration of Women” sponsored by the YWCA, the American Association of University Women and the Allen County Historical Society.
Daubert was born June 21, 1908, in Martins Ferry, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Thomas. She graduated from Martins Ferry High School and attended Dennison University in Granville for one year. After college, she managed a grocery for nine years and worked for the Curtiss Publishing Co. In 1937, she joined Ohio Power Company as a home economist, working in Barnesville, Dillonvale and Coshocton before coming to Lima in July 1949.
Soon after arriving in Lima, she joined Amil Tellers, a name chosen when the group was founded in January 1933. “Amil” was chosen because it is “Lima” spelled backward, while “Tellers” was chosen after the founders saw an advertisement in the New York Times for a theatrical company called “The Barnaby Tellers,” according to a 1984 story in The Lima News.
When Daubert joined Amil Tellers, the theater company didn’t have a stage upon which to act after losing its home, a converted barn at Lakewood and Lincoln avenues dubbed the “Stable Gables,” in 1946. During Daubert’s first decade with Amil Tellers, the theater company presented plays at Lima Central High School, the American Legion Hall, at the former fine arts building of the Lima Friends of Music, at Temple Beth Israel and at the Argonne Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom, among other places.
Amil Tellers moved into its current home, the Encore Theater at the corner of Collett Street and North Shore Drive, in late October 1958.
Max Martin, a columnist for The Lima News, after noting that “The Drunkard” was the first play performed in the new building, added, “But what we came to talk about today is the theater building itself and this remarkable group of people who have provided this cultural bit for Limalanders. We are always impressed with initiative, and here’s a group of people who were inclined toward the theater. They wanted a place to present their productions in fine style, so they went to work, sought volunteer donations, and they have the building.”
They also had Daubert, who, when not busy with Encore, was active in the First Baptist Church, the Soroptimists — she was named Soroptimist of the Year in 1959 — and with her job as a home economist with Ohio Power, touting the benefits of electricity at cooking and home equipment demonstrations.
Among the plays Daubert appeared in with Amil Tellers between 1949 and 1964 were “The Man” in 1951, “Our Town” in 1958, “Suds in Your Eye” in 1959, “The Desperate Hours” in 1960, “The Glass Menagerie” and “Between Two Thieves” in 1961, “Death of a Salesman” in 1962 and “Medea” in1 963. Her final show, “Life with Father,” was produced in 1964.
On Dec. 2, 1965, the day after she died, Amil Tellers dedicated that night’s performance of “The Fantasticks” to her memory.
“Mrs. Daubert was chairman of the board of trustees of the Amil Tellers of Dramatics this year and a member of the community drama group for the past 16 years,” The Lima News noted.
Daubert’s career and accomplishments would be remembered for years following her death. As Mother’s Day approached in May 1993, Daubert’s daughter, Nancy Devaul, penned a personal tribute, which was published in The Lima News. After noting her mother’s many appearances on TV and radio with Easter Straker in her roles as a home economist and actress, DeVaul remembered, “She was always there when I needed her – she was my tower of strength, an angel on earth and my best friend.”
Devaul, a retired teacher’s aide from Marimor Industries, followed her mother’s footsteps into community theater, appearing in 13 plays at Encore.
“She was an inspiration to me, she really was. I was always interested in dramatics because of my mother. I’ve been in plays since I can remember,” Devaul told The Lima News in July 1984. “There’s nothing like being on the stage. The lights are magic. The smell of the costume room is magic. It’s a marvelous feeling.”
Devaul died at the age of 81 in December 2008.
SOURCE
This feature is a cooperative effort between the newspaper and the Allen County Museum and Historical Society.
LEARN MORE
See past Reminisce stories at limaohio.com/tag/reminisce
Reach Greg Hoersten at [email protected].
