Dorothy Lee & Wheeler and Woolsey

In each of their films, Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey joined their comedic talents with those of a young, vibrant, beautiful and always blonde actress. Betty Grable foot the bill as the player for two of these films: Nitwits (1935) and Hold ‘Em Jail (1932). Mary Carlisle also stepped into the role for one Wheeler and Woolsey film: Kentucky Kernels (1934). Thelma Todd brought her beauty and blonde hair, along with her own renown comedic talents, to another two Wheeler and Woolsey films: Hips, Hips, Hooray! (1934) and Cockeyed Cavaliers (1934). But it was Ms. Todd’s co-star in these films that more than any other actress provided the Wheeler and Woolsey team with a formula by which they successfully made over 21 films in the 1930s. Ms. Lee teamed with Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Woolsey for a total of 14 features and two shorts. Her career was so closely connected to the Wheeler and Woolsey team that, three years after Robert Woolsey died in 1938, Dorothy Lee disappeared from films completely. She did return to performing in the early 1940s, but only on the vaudville stage and at the behest of Bert Wheeler, who sought her out for help in launching his struggling solo career.

The following is a list of Dorothy Lee’s collaborations with the Wheeler and Woolsey team:

Feature-length films:
Rio Rita (1929)
Hook Line and Sinker (1930)
Dixiana (1930)
Half Shot at Sunrise (1930)
The Cuckoos (1930)
Cracked Nuts (1931)
Peach-O-Reno (1931)
Caught Plastered (1931)
Too Many Cooks (1931)
Girl Crazy (1932)
Hips, Hips, Hooray! (1934)
Cockeyed Cavaliers (1934)
The Rainmakers (1935)
Silly Billies (1936)

Short Films:
The Stolen Jools (1931)
Signing ’em Up (1933)