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Period: to
Musical Theatre (1865-1955)
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The Black Crook
"The Black Crook" was premiered at Niblo’s Garden on Broadway with an audience of over 3,200 people. "The Black Crook" was well known for two reasons, being the first musical and being the first long run play. Although "The Black Crook" featured dance numbers, music, and special affects, historians no longer considered The Black Crook as a musical. "The Black Crook" was produced for $25,000 which was a great about of money in the 1860s. "The Black Crook" was NYC's first big hit show. (Mroczka) -
The Savoy Theatre
The Savoy Theater opened on October 10, 1881. This theatre was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte who wanted to own his own theatre to host the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. This became the Savoy operas. The Savoy theater was the first public building to be lit by only electricity. The theatre has continued to be ran by the Carte family for over 100 years. In 1929 Richard's son, Rupert D'Oyly Carte rebulit the theatre. It is still open to this day. (Savoy Theatre) -
Florenz Zigfeld
Florenz Zigfeld was born March 21, 1869. He was one of the most important Broadway producers of his time. In 1896 ZIgfeld produced his first Broadway show "A Parlor Match." In 1927 he opened his own Broadway theater. One of the greatest hit musical to premiere there was "Show Boat." He also created "The Zigfeld Follies" which helped launch careers of Marilyn Miller, Will Rogers, Ray Bolger, and many others. (Britannica) -
Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman was born in Queen's, NY on January 16, 1908. She is considered one of the best musical comedy performers of her time. She is well known for her loud, clear voice and roles in musical theatre. Between the years of 1930-1959 she created thirteen roles on Broadway. During WWI she entertained at local military camps. Merman was in at least 7 movies in the 1930s. -
Victor Herbert
Victor Herbert was born February 1, 1859. He was one of the most important theatrical composers. He is best known for composing many successful operettas that premiered on Broadway from the 1890s to 1914. He contributed songs to the Ziegfeld Follies of 1921 and 1923. Herbert was the founder of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 1914. He served as a director and a vice president. (Songwriters Hall of Fame) -
Sally
Sally was preformed on December 21, 1920 in the New Amsterdam Theater Broadway. Sally was "the biggest Broadway musical hit up to its time," said by Gerald Bordman who made over five million dollars at the end of Sally's 570 performances. In modern currency, that is sixty-five million USD. Sally's hit song, "Look for the Silver Lining" became so popular that it was heard on both "Boardwalk Empire" and "Downton Abbey". (Cantu) -
Show Boat
"Show boat" premiered on Broadway at the Zigfeld in 1927. "Show Boat" was different than any musical before 1927. It was the first musical to be based upon a serious novel. Based off of Edna Ferber's 1926 novel titled "Show Boat." The musical dealt with serious issues like racism and effects of alcoholism. It was the first Broadway show to feature an integrated cast. (Lunden). -
Rodgers and Hart
Richard Rodgers was an American composer and Lorenz Hart was an American lyricist together they created great hits. Including “Isn’t It Romantic?,” “Falling in Love with Love,” and "Ten Cents a Dance." Together they created over 500 songs for plays and produced 28 musicals. From 1936 through 1940, Rodgers and Hart wrote nine Broadway shows. Rodgers started writing with Hammerstein and they created Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King and I, Cinderella, and The Sound of Music. (Mroczka) -
Life With Father
"Life With Father" by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse, premiered at the Empire Theatre on November 8, 1939. The play was produced by Oscar Serlin. "Life With Father" is based off a book of stories compiled in 1935 by Clarence Day. "Life With Father" has became the longest running Broadway show with over 3,000 performances. (Lawson) -
Oklahoma!
This musical "Oklahoma!" premiered on March 31, 1943 in St. James Theatre. The time period 1943-1986 is known as the Golden Age of American Musical. The leaders of the Golden Age were Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Their first collaboration was "Oklahoma!". The musical was based on Lynn Rigg's play "Green Grow the Lilacs" (1931). "Oklahoma!" was the most ran show in the past decade beating the record of 500 performances. “Oklahoma!” ran for 2,212. ("Oklahoma!" Premieres on Broadway)