Joseph J. Sullivan (vaudeville)

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.^[1][2] His other song compositions include Little Paddy Rooney in 1893.

Joe J. Sullivan as depicted on an 1893 songsheet.

Joe J. Sullivan in 1922.

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?'.^[3]