Dowling, Eddie

Eddie Dowling, a self-described "song and dance man" and Democratic Party activist, was born Joseph N. Goucher on Dec. 12, 1889, in Woonsocket, R.I. to parents of French Canadian and Irish descent, the fourteenth of seventeen children. He began performing as an early age, taking the name of his mother's family as a stage name. Dowling achieved success, first in Boston, and then in New York, where he became a Broadway fixture as composer, songwriter, playwright, actor, director and producer. His work ranged from frothy musicals and revues to productions of Shakespeare, Eugene O'Neill, and the first run of Tennessee Williams's "The Glass Menagerie," in which he acted, co-directed and produced. During World War II, he originated the famous USO camp shows. Dowling also mingled easily with the mostly Irish American politicians of Tammany Hall and the businessmen who supported them. Initially in the orbit of Al Smith, he switched his allegiance to Roosevelt after Smith's defeat, applying his talents to the theatrical aspects of Democratic Party conventions, rallies and campaigns. Dowling died at Smithfield, R.I., on Feb. 18, 1976.

From the description of Oral history interview : New York, N.Y., 1968 May 1. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 753963172