About Joseph J. Sullivan
Lived 1900 – 2000. Joseph J. Sullivan was an entertainer, singer and lyricist.
Joseph J. Sullivan was a blackface comedian and acrobat in New York. He is best known for composing the vaudeville song Where Did You Get That Hat? which he first performed in 1888. It was a great success and he performed it many times thereafter. His other song compositions include Little Paddy Rooney in 1893.
Little else is known about his life, but in July 1922 a monthly New York theatre magazine described how he had recently 'brought back the "flannel-mouthed" Irish comedians when he regaled vaudeville patrons with Where Did You Get That Hat?'.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Joseph J. Sullivan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Joseph J. Sullivan?
American vaudeville entertainer
When was Joseph J. Sullivan born?
Joseph J. Sullivan was born in 1900.
When did Joseph J. Sullivan die?
Joseph J. Sullivan died in 2000.
What was Joseph J. Sullivan's occupation?
Joseph J. Sullivan was an entertainer, singer and lyricist.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Joseph J. Sullivan
· DBpedia: Joseph J. Sullivan (vaudeville)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Joseph J. Sullivan. https://biography.guide/joseph-j-sullivan/
MLA: "Joseph J. Sullivan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/joseph-j-sullivan/.
Chicago: "Joseph J. Sullivan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/joseph-j-sullivan/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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