Wm. Dooley's Funny Falls Cause His Death

By Camden NJ History
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New York Times article on the death of vaudeville comedian William Dooley, September 30, 1921
New York Times, September 30, 1921
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WM. DOOLEY'S FUNNY FALLS CAUSE HIS DEATH Knockabout Comedian Dies Soon After Collapse at the Palace From Injuries to Spine. William Dooley, whose knockabout acrobatic antics with his brother Gordon have been familiar for many seasons in vaudeville and the roof shows, died early yesterday morning. According to his friends, it was his flair for knockabout comedy that killed him—both his spine and kidneys had become affected by the constant strain put upon them by his many tumbles, and his death followed a complete physical collapse. He was 39 years old. He was a martyr to his stage work to the last, for he played with his brother Tuesday night at the Palace Theatre, and it was in his dressing room that he collapsed just before the matinée on Wednesday. He had known that he could not continue the strenuous knockabout work much longer, but had persisted in going ahead with the work that was killing him. On Tuesday night, when he gave his final performance, he remarked to his brother: "Let's make it good—we haven't many more shows to give together." He insisted on including in the performance, also, a burlesque of two well-known acrobats—a number that was not supposed to be a part of his act at the Palace. It was evident after the performance on Tuesday night that Dooley was ill, but he reported as usual for the Wednesday matinee, although with difficulty. After his collapse he was taken to his home at 308 West Ninety-seventh Street, and he regained consciousness only at intervals before his death late at night.

Knockabout Comedian Dies Soon After Collapse at the Palace From Injuries to Spine.

William Dooley, whose knockabout acrobatic antics with his brother Gordon have been familiar for many seasons in vaudeville and the roof shows, died early yesterday morning. According to his friends, it was his flair for knockabout comedy that killed him—both his spine and kidneys had become affected by the constant strain put upon them by his many tumbles, and his death followed a complete physical collapse. He was 39 years old.

He was a martyr to his stage work to the last, for he played with his brother Tuesday night at the Palace Theatre, and it was in his dressing room that he collapsed just before the matinée on Wednesday. He had known that he could not continue the strenuous knockabout work much longer, but had persisted in going ahead with the work that was killing him. On Tuesday night, when he gave his final performance, he remarked to his brother:

"Let's make it good—we haven't many more shows to give together."

He insisted on including in the performance, also, a burlesque of two well-known acrobats—a number that was not supposed to be a part of his act at the Palace.

It was evident after the performance on Tuesday night that Dooley was ill, but he reported as usual for the Wednesday matinee, although with difficulty. After his collapse he was taken to his home at 308 West Ninety-seventh Street, and he regained consciousness only at intervals before his death late at night.

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