At the immature age of 17, he enjoyed a local reputation as a song and dance performer in Galveston, Texas, where he had been for several years. He first appeared professionally at the Comique, in the above city, about 1874 with Barry Maxwell.
A few years later he formed an alliance with James Ten Brooke, doing a black-face act. He continued with the latter a few seasons, and then formed a partnership with Ed. Sheehan, which lasted a year.
Subsequently he played a long engagement with Carncross’ Minstrels in Philadelphia; other prominent organizations were Moore and Burgess in London, England; Primrose and West, and Primrose and Dockstader’s Minstrels.
About fifteen years ago he created a black-face comedy part with Hallen and Hart in “The Idea.”
Later he played in white-face with the “Volunteer Organist,” in which he was equally successful.
About 1898, he rejoined Ten Brooke with Primrose and Dockstader, when they renewed former successes.
Mr. Dooley was one of the greatest singing comedians in minstrelsy.
Larry Dooley was born in Harrisburg, Tex., January 19, 1861; he died in Galveston, Tex., July 30, 1904.
W. W. Black, the well-known basso who achieved prominence in such productions as “Isle of Champagne”; “Jack and the Bean Stalk”; also with Lillian Russell, Donnelly and Girard and other noted stars, early commanded the attention of the late Col. Mapleson, who desired to send Mr. Black abroad to have his voice cultured. Before this period, however, he had a thorough schooling in that best of all institutions, minstrelsy.
Mr. Black was a member of Austin and Weir’s Minstrels in the late 70’s; subsequently he was associated with Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels and Simmons and Rankin’s Minstrels; likewise he was with McNish, Johnson and Slavin’s Minstrels in 1885-86-87; this was his last appearance in black-face.