Dolly Connolly

Dolly Connolly (December 16, 1888 – November 30, 1965) was an American performer active in vaudeville and musical theater during the early twentieth century. She appeared on Broadway between 1913 and 1921, with credits including All Aboard, The Passing Show of 1912, and The Right Girl. Beyond Broadway, Connolly built a substantial career in vaudeville, where she and her husband, composer and pianist Percy Wenrich, performed together as headliners on major vaudeville circuits.

Connolly's recording career spanned multiple labels. She recorded for Columbia Records and completed a duet for Victor Records. Among the songs she recorded was "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee." Her discography also includes "The Hypnotizing Man" from 1912 and the pairing of "Honey Man" with "Oh That Navajo Rag." On tour, she performed "Red Rose Rag," "Moonlight Bay," and "Alamo Rag," with Wenrich accompanying her. The sheet music for "When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose," for which Wenrich composed the music, sold more than two million copies. Copyright records credit Connolly as the lyricist of "I'm Lonesome for Someone Who Loves Me."

In 1928, Connolly was filmed for Vitaphone performing a selection of Wenrich's songs. She also modeled gowns for Dramatic Mirror. Performer Julian Eltinge, known for cross-dressing, appeared on a sheet music parody of the couple's sheet music, with Eltinge's image substituted for Connolly's.

From 1947 until Wenrich's death in 1952, Connolly resided in a sanitarium. She subsequently lived with her sister until her own death on November 30, 1965.