Black Crook

Unfinished History

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Black Crook actress; note the tights.

THE BLACK CROOK

Generally considered the first truly American musical drama, The Black Crook hit both coasts with the force of a theatrical typhoon. The original 1866 edition played in New York for a record-breaking 475 performances, and within months San Francisco had mounted three knock-offs. A garish fable based on the Faust legend, the show's charms included such glitzy new mechanical effects as an onstage waterfall, plus a platoon of beautiful women in flesh-colored tights.

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The Black Crook

Photos: Museum of Performance + Design


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