Thomas Jenkins Dolive (“doe-leave”) was born in Orlando February 27, 1890 and interviewed in December of 1971 by Hatabel Hyer. He was well known to many in Orlando as were his parents and siblings. According to Eve Bacon’s Orlando: A Centennial History (p. 265) Jenkins Dolive starred in the 1914 Civic Motion Picture Company’s silent film production, “Romance in Orlando”, as the hero who saved his sweetheart from a burning house fire. He went to New York and worked on other films as an actor as well as a set designer – which led to his profession here in Orlando as an interior decorator.
We are grateful for the Orange County Regional History Center‘s making this recording available for Orlando Memory.
Interview December 1971
LISTEN Part 1 (31:17) The letters Hatabel mentions are read in Part 1 of the Pioneer Party Line recording.)
LISTEN Part 2 (27:05)
Mr. Dolive was also interviewed by journalists Sandra Hinson and Sally Pace on two different dates: February 28, 1975 and again on March 5, 1975.
Interview February 1975
LISTEN Part 1 (31:12) Mr. Dolive’s grandmother’s Civil War story; father (Silis Gunn Dolive) comes to Orlando; meets the Guernsey’s; swimming in Lake Eola; the freeze of 1895; sharing with neighbors; families leaving homes.
LISTEN Part 2 (31:09) Other Dolives come to Orlando; Queenie McElroy at the First Presbyterian Church; the Dancing Deacon; Armory dances “in tails”; Braxton Beacham and his family.
Interview March 1975
LISTEN Part 1 (31:11) School burns; going to Rollins on train; first brick street and Daisy Huffstatler; polo in Orlando; baby Jenkins drinks kerosene!
LISTEN Part 2 (31:17) Streetcar rushes mother home for medical emergency; Dolives move to West Washington Street, with cow; youngsters visit county jail prisoners; a hanging; bars and saloons in Orlando; working at the San Juan Hotel.
LISTEN Part 3 (30:58) Summer resort work in North Carolina and Saratoga; the Duncan C. Pells move to New York; Mrs. Pell becomes actress Helen Gardner; house party in NY; Dolive becomes an actor/set decorator.
LISTEN Part 4 (30:57) Dolive meets Gloria Swanson; joins the Army; home on leave, Christmas 1917; service in France.
See also Orlando historian, Joy Wallace Dickinson’s story about Mr. Dolive in her Flashback column in the Orlando Sentinel May 25, 2008, “Web of kinships in Orlando converges in 1927 table from Paris.”
See the Find A Grave .Com page for photo of Thomas Jenkins Dolive.
Listen to interviews with more Orlando pioneers.
Back to topThomas Jenkins Dolive ("doe-leave"), born Feb. 27, 1890 was interviewed by Hatabel Hyer in December of 1971.
Interview with Jenkins Dolive December 1971 Part 2
Thomas Jenkins Dolive ("doe-leave") born Feb. 27, 1890 was Interviewed by Hatabel Hyer on December 1971.
Jenkins Dolive February 1975 Part 1
Interviewed by Sandra Hinson and Sally Pace on February 28, 1975. Topics of discussion: Mr. Dolive's grandmother's Civil War story; father (Silis Gunn Dolive) comes to Orlando; meets the Gurnsey's; swimming in Lake Eola; the freeze (of 1895); sharing with neighbors; families leaving homes.
Jenkins Dolive February 1975 Part 2
Interviewed by Sandra Hinson and Sally Pace on February 28, 1975. Topics of discussion: Other Dolives come to Orlando; Queenie McElroy at the First Presbytarian Church; the Dancing Deacon; Armory dances "in tails"; Braxton Beacham and his family.
Jenkins Dolive March 1975 Part 1
Thomas Jenkins Dolive was interviewed by Sandra Hinson and Sally Pace again on March 5, 1975. Topics of discussion include: School burns; going to Rollins on train; first brick street and Daisy Huffstatler; polo in Orlando; baby Jenkins drinks kerosene!
Jenkins Dolive March 1975 Part 2
Thomas Jenkins Dolive was interviewed by Sandra Hinson and Sally Pace on March 5, 1975. Topics of discussion include: Streetcar rushes mother home for medical emergency; the Dolives move to West Washington Street, with their cow; youngsters visit county jail prisoners; a hanging; bars and saloons in Orlando; working at the San Juan Hotel.
Jenkins Dolive March 1975 Part 3
Thomas Jenkins Dolive was interviewed by Sandra Hinson and Sally Pace on March 5, 1975. Topics of discussion include: Summer resort work in North Carolina and Saratoga; the Duncan C. Pells move to New York; Mrs. Pell becomes actress Helen Gardner; house party in NY; Dolive becomes an actor / set decorator.
Jenkins Dolive March 1975 Part 4
Thomas Jenkins Dolive was interviewed by Sandra Hinson and Sally Pace on March 5, 1975. Topics of discussion include: Dolive meets Gloria Swanson; joins the Army; home on leave, Christmas 1917; service in France.
Article about Jenkins Dolive published on the front page of the December 12, 1913 edition of The Daily Sentinel.
See also Orlando historian, Joy Wallace Dickinson's story about Mr. Dolive in her Flashback column in the Orlando Sentinel May 25, 2008, "Web of kinships in Orlando converges in 1927 table from Paris."
