Rob Weinstein

For as far back as I can remember (in my mind, that’s the age of seven), my parents would- once a month- take my brother and me to our grandparents for dinner. There, we would meet-up with our aunt, uncle, and two cousins.

I was a “snooper”, and loved going through my grandparents’ “stuff”. It was then I discovered, “The Scrapbook”-- book loaded with photos of my grandmother from her prior life…that is, I discovered my grandmother had been a true star of stage. Or, as it was known in the early 20th century, Vaudeville.

Who was this woman that I only knew as my grandmother? And, who were all these other people? And, WOW,  did I find out!

That scrapbook and I became quite attached. I came to learn that my grandmother, or “ Hattie Darling” as was her billed name, had an act with her two brothers. She sang, danced and played the violin, while her older brother, Herman Timberg, wrote the material and was a comic. Her younger brother, Sammy Timberg, wrote music (and later went on to write music for Popeye, Betty Boop, and Little Lulu cartoons for Fleischer Studios).

My grandmother toured with the likes of Georgie Jessel and Sophie Tucker and was courted by Benny Leonard, the then World Lightweight Boxing Champion.

However, what captivated me the most was her relationship to Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo, aka The Marx Brothers. Or, as I preferred to call them, my teachers. You see, not only was I more than a bit of a class clown, but I also had been bitten by the acting bug. I ate these guys up. And it turned out that not only did my grandmother tour with them, but she also managed their act for a short time.

This scrapbook was a door into a world that brought to life an era that was the beginning of Broadway and so much more. The photos, autographs, news clippings and reviews are a window into a world that, to this day, fascinate me beyond words.

When I was in high school, my grandmother would take me to NYC, and her surviving family would gather for a night of laughing and singing. It was also my grandmother who taught me theater etiquette. Number one rule: Always arrive at least 30 minutes before curtain. Hattie Darling was a fountain of theater information, which I relish to this day. My fascination with the theater and having delved into acting has real roots that I am able to see. 

P.S. When Hattie passed, my uncle wanted her scrapbook and wanted to give me a photocopy. Hattie’s last gift was to will it to me.

Thank you, Grandma Hattie!