Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-28
VIM. l.. OOCKSTADER
DIED LAST EVENING
AFTER LONG ILLNESS
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Continued from page
Following the sale OF the Garrick
Theatre Mr.. Dockstader began the
rection OF flnc new home--ip adj
lltion TO one he already had there
il Atlantic City. n. j., where he and
,Irs. Dockstader had been summering
or years. The new house, at S2 North
Norris avenue. was about finished and
Mr.. and Mrs. Dockstader had planned
o go to Atlantic City yesterday and
inspect it, Since retiring from the
,trical work Mr.. and Mrs. Dockstader
nad divided their time between At
antic City and Wilmington, with n
number of short trips. They had plan
ned long western trip, but Mr.. Dock
stader's health was such that II was
deferred. lie was thought. however,
to be improving In health and he and
Mrs. Dockstader had planned n quiet
retired life. with homes here and at
the seashore.
At the bedside, when death came.
I'm addition to Mrs. Dockstader. were
n niece. Mrs. Clara Maurer of Frank
ford Pa, and three of Mrs. Dock
stader's sisters, Mrs. Anna Housenick,
Mrs. Jennie Cullen and Mrs. May
Davis. all Of Philadelphia. They had
been summoned on Monday when Mr..
Docks.ader's condition began. TO as
sumo serious proportions.
Though Mrs Dockstader is bearing
tp well under the shock, she is heart
broken. This is the third successive
death in her family within three
months. Frank Cullen. a brother-in-
law, died at his home IN West Phila-
aelphia in October. on November %
fvc weeks later to the day, ter father
Thomas Kennedy OF Philadelphia, died
and Mr.. Dockstader's death occurred
exactly five weeks after that. Rela-
tivea are doing all In their power e
comfort her In her bereavement
Long and Useful Career.
MIR. Dockstader. who WAS 90 years
old had long. interesting and use
ful career, His ability in the amusc
ment line. and as a general business
man. his nfrability and consideration
for his fellow-men. particularly thos'
less fortunate, cndearcd him TO nj
who enjoyed his acquaintance. Be
cause of these traits, and as he was II
business which brought him I'm con
tact with the whole public. he hat
prohably a larger acquaintance thar
any other man in Delaware III
friendships were, however. by ~
means local. lie was known all owe
the country by theatrical people an
was highly regarded by NIL. This ap
! piled 10 managers and heavy investor
/ and directors in the business, as we
as those whose stage work was ihei
/ living. lie believed In "A continued ei
/ COMPLICATION of the Golden i'ulc. r'
gardless of the station of those Wit
whom he was dealing. The result
that he enters the sunset with a hos
OF friends TO mourn him ana II
enemies. as far az is known.
The funeral will take place Satu
day afternoon. with services AZ tn
house. Intcrment VIII hc made
East Cedar lIill Cemetery Frankfort
Philadelphia.
In addition to Mrs. Dockstader' IN
only living relatives OF the decease
are a niece. Mrs. Clara Maurer
Frankford. Pa, and n nephew. EC
ward Tebhs Of Germantown. Pa.
Mr.. Dockstader was q son OF II
late William and Sarah Lee OF Franz
ford Philadelphia. where he was bor
December %. 1852. Having adopte
the stage name of William Lee Doci
stader. in his early theatrical caree
he had that name legaliZed, subs
quently, by the Delaware Legislator
He began his theatrical career wht
scarcely ont of his teens. Having
keen sense Of humor and being fasc
mated by the stage. he had no di
nculty in attracting the attention
those who were engaged in the bus
ness of entertaining the public. /
made his start with nothing but b
talents and very strong ambition
capitalize them. His first contra
3 was with Frank j. Frayne, in Broo
lyn, in 1875. playing the part Of 81
Dutchman" i'll Isl Slocomb.' I'll
venture was not the success that
had hoped for, and the following ye
he returned TO the home OF his parer
without funds, but with his determi
alton TO succeed even stronger than
+, was when he started.
, lie once told the writer of this ;
{ ticle that his parents did not we
him to return to the stage. They b
q other plans for him, but he could
Danish the stage idea. AS u matter
4 fact, they wanted him 10 remain
y home. So, without funds, he star
q for Atlantic City. He walked all
way, arriving two days later. footsO
!, but happy, and he got job in b;
house. The next year he purcha:
that bath house and this venture Si
him his start. At one time he was
: tensively engaged in the bath hot
:, business and also in other inciden
Il businesses at Atlantic City.
However, the lure of the stage h
him and occasionally he would ret,
10 the footlights. He played in ST
companies as far west as Denver {
as faI, north as Toronto. In 1884
started with the Dockstader Minstl
in New York. For seven seasons
d continued with the minstrel trou
d being one of the leading comedians
II Launched Out in Vaudeville.
.s AT the expiration Of this contr
~ he started out for himself with
> vaudeville act of his own compost
Dt and according to his own ideas,
~ made a favorable impression and
,a tracted more attention to himself,
D. far as managers were concerned, q
his previOus career had done
N These were not, however, all Of
IN activities. At one time he was a y
4 Usher and also an excursion promo
He ran regular railroad eXcursi
between Philadelphia and Alta