Al Jolson - Dockstader's Minstrels

|His Works| Dockstader's Minstrels

Although often labeled as a minstrel, Al Jolson got his start in Vaudeville, at first playing with his brother, and ultimately as a single. Then, on April 16, 1908, Al Jolson took a major step in his life when he moved from Vaudeville to working with Dockstader's Minstrels. He took a pay cut to join the minstrels, but he know that it would likely pay off big, and he was right. He was to use that experience to catapult him to Broadway and world class stardom within just a short while.


The announcement in the New York Times of Jolson joining Dockstader. 28 Jul 1908		Al Jolson noted in the New York Times on 11 Aug 1908		Al Jolson noted in Variety in Aug 1908

Here are photos of the company, with Lew Dockstader and Al Jolson at the center.

The Dockstader Serenaders, with Al Jolson as the lead

After the first six months with Dockstader's Minstrels, Al Jolson was much more than just a member of the company!

And then Al Jolson was really being noticed.


Al Jolson as an act to be noticed in Variety, early 1909		Al Jolson advertisement for the Dockstader Minstrel from April, 1909		A better shot of his costume from the newspaper photograh.

Just about a year after joining Dockstader's Minstrels, the adventure was over, as he left the company to attempt to break into Broadway. Here is Al Jolson's first billing after leaving the minstrels. He was billed under Louise Dresser, who would later appear with him in the film, Mammy, and, yes, a dog act!

If you came here from a link or search engine
Click here to return to the main page of this site

Updated 11 Apr 24