Harland Dixon

Harland Dixon (November 4, 1885 – June 30, 1969) was a Canadian-American dancer and choreographer, whose career encompassed vaudeville, musical theatre, and films. For much of his career he partnered with Jimmy Doyle, as Doyle and Dixon.

Biography Dixon was born on November 4, 1885, in Toronto, Ontario. His family were strictly religious, but Dixon studied gymnastics and developed an interest in vaudeville dance performances, many of which he became able to imitate. He left home and took work as a paper hanger in Buffalo, New York, then as a freight elevator operator in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1906 he moved to New York City with just in his pocket and worked for George H. Primrose in his minstrel show. In 1908, he married his childhood sweetheart, Charlotte MacMullen, in New York; they remained married until his death. He developed a duo dancing act with Jack Corcoran, and joined Lew Dockstader's minstrels, but then dissolved his partnership with Corcoran and joined with Jimmy Doyle. By 1921, Doyle was becoming less reliable, missed rehearsals for the show Good Morning Dearie, and was sacked by show producer Charles Dillingham. Doyle worked for a while as a solo performer and dance teacher, but died in 1927, in New York, aged about 39.