Billy Dooley?

[Brian Kirkpatrick]

Does anyone have any information on Billy Dooley? Other than the fact that he starred in shorts for Christie in the 1920s, and died of a heart attack in the 1930s? Does anyone know which of his films are extant and which are lost? Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

[Richard M Roberts]

Does anyone have any information on Billy Dooley? Other than the fact that he starred in shorts for Christie in the 1920s, and died of a heart attack in the 1930s? Does anyone know which of his films are extant and which are lost? Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

This is on the quick as I'm heading off to work, but Billy Dooley was an eccentric dancer and trick cyclist who had been touring in vaudeville with Frances Lee when they were both hired by Al Christie in the mid-twenties to appear in comedies. Most of his Christie comedies appear to be extant, usually in the truncated home-movie and television versions put out by Hollywood Film Enterprises in the 1940's and 50's. When Christie let his silent comics go in 1929, Dooley continued to work in supporting roles in talkies until he died. Interesting later parts include playing Jean Harlow's goofy reappearing-when-she-doesn;t-want-to-know-him husband in BOMBSHELL (1933) and a nice comedy bit in SIX DAY BICYCLE RIDER (1934) with Joe E. Brown. Grapevine Video used to have a pretty-good Dooley collection available.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

[Andrew Sholl]

Behind the Scenes in Hollywood
By Harrison Carroll
The Daily Independent (Monnessen, PA.)
Tuesday, 8 September 1936

The Marx Brothers have evolved the ideal way of seeing themselves as others see them. They have hired three veteran vaudeville performers to act as substitutes in rehearsals. Billy Dooley impersonates Harpo, Harry Lash, Groucho and Skins Miller, Chico. The trio act out all the gags as the Marxes do them in "A Day at the Racetrack", while the real comedians sit on the sidelines with Director Sam Wood and make notes.

King Features Syndicate, Inc.

[Steve Massa]

Before doing the vaudeville act with Frances Lee, Dooley had been partnered with comic Eddie Nelson, who was known as "the Sunkist Comedian" and did some shorts for Jack White in 1925.

Steve

[Brian Kirkpatrick]

Thank you all for the information. -Brian