<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Dolan Ellis Scrapbook - Prior to New Christy Minstrels
Songs Original Songs Cover Songs Humor Video
Dolan Ellis, Arizona's Official State Balladeer
© Scott Farence, August 2006
Dolan Ellis
Arizona's Official State Balladeer
Since 1966
 
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Dolan Ellis Scrapbook

(Click on any image to see a larger size)

1950s & Early 1960s (before the New Christy Minstrels)

This first photograph is from around 1955.  We found a copy of it on the Web, posted on the site of Phoenix Channel 8 (PBS).  Their photo made it look as if Dolan were playing the guitar left-handed.  It turns out he is ambi-dextrous, but he plays the guitar right-handed.  We fixed the orientation and did a little more doctoring.  Dolan remembers this as his very first recording session, at a studio in Kansas.  He remarked on the lack of acoustic treatments (notice the venetian blinds, the high ceiling, and the tile floor).
Dolan Ellis Portofino's

Portofino's was very important to Dolan's career. Soon after he moved to Phoenix, the little coffee shop opened, and hired him to perform on weekends, while he tended to his job as a cameraman and director at a television station during the week.

Soon Portofino's moved to a larger location, and began bringing in the national stars. Dolan remained as the "House Act," opening for (and learning from) the artists who came through there. He quit his TV job and has been making his living as a full-time musician ever since.

Portofinos playbill This playbill shows three of the important national acts at Portofino's.
After Portofino's closed (it became an adult theatre), Dolan was free to play other clubs in the Valley, such as Crescendo, The Embers, and Baboquivari. He also traveled extensively "anywhere West of the Mississippi." This playbill from San Diego shows Dolan sharing the stage with The Tarriers. Eric Weissberg (of "Dueling Banjos" fame) was a member of the Tarriers at that time.
Another playbill with the Tarriers.
Walter Winchell writes about Dolan Ellis

Walter Winchell wrote about Dolan Ellis, amid all the gossip about famous music stars and teen idols.

(The popup window in this case is not exactly the same as the smaller image to the left--we wanted to be sure you can read about Dolan, the underlined text.)

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