1870 Giuseppina Morlacchi Can Can Dance Program Buffalo Bill Wild West Connected

Description

This is an original 1870 program from Boston’s Adelphi Theatre that features Giuseppina Morlacchi and her ballet troupe performing the “New Can Can” among other acts.   This 1870 program was issued shortly before Morlacchi would star with Buffalo Bill Cody and Texas Jack Omohundro in Ned Buntline’s initial production of Scouts of the Prairie which debuted in 1872 and was the prototype for the Wild West Shows that would become hugely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Giuseppina Morlacchi is credited with introducing the Can Can dance to the United States and starred in the first performance of Buntline’s Scouts of the Prairie and then married Texas Jack Omohundro in 1873.  Morlacchi was a personal friend of Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickock and was a featured performer along with her husband in Wild West Shows during the 1870s.
This program is titled THE FOOTLIGHTS and is a four page pamphlet format measuring about 6.5” x  10.25”.   The masthead indicates this is Vol. 1, Nos. 1 to 6 and is dated Boston, Sept. 5 to 10, 1870 so thus the date.   The Footlights was published by Tooney & Morton and Edited by Judge Morton.   A Worldcat search locates to copies of “The Footlights” but I presume Tooney & Morton were Boston theatre and/or musical hall promoters that had some ownership or association with the Adelphi Theater.    Featured along with Morlacchi are Sophie and Jennie Worrell who were popular burlesque entertainers in the 1870s.
This program is an original antique issued in 1870.  The program has what looks like a small spindle hole punched in the middle and is very good condition overall.   Email any questions.  Thanks for looking.
The following is some historical information Giuseppina Morlacchi from Wikipedia:
Giuseppina Antonia "Josephine" Morlacchi Omohundro (October 8, 1836 – July 25, 1886) was an Italian American ballerina, dancer, and actress who introduced the can-can to the American stage.
Biography
Morlacchi was born in Milan in 1836[1] and attended dance school at La Scala at the age of six. She debuted on the stage in 1856 at Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa. In a short time, she became a well-known dancer, touring the continent and England. In Lisbon, she met noted artist and manager John DePol, who persuaded her to go to America and perform in his DePol Parisian Ballet.[2]
In October 1867, she made her American debut at Banvard's Museum in New York City, performing The Devil's Auction.[3] She became an immense success, and DePol took the show to Boston. During her rise to fame, DePol insured her legs for 0,000, after which newspapers claimed that Morlacchi was 'more valuable than Kentucky'.[4]
On January 6, 1868, the company played at the Theatre Comique and premiered a new type of dance, billed as "...Grand Gallop Can-Can, composed and danced by Mlles. Morlacchi, Blasina, Diani, Ricci, Baretta,... accompanied with cymbals and triangles by the coryphees and corps de ballet." The new dance received an enthusiastic reception.[5]
From 1867 though 1872, Giuseppina traveled the United States dancing in various venues with Morlacchi Ballet Troupe which she formed, performing before various politicians and dignitaries, including the Grand Duke of Russia. From then, her fame and success increased, and she played a succession of popular performances. On December 16, 1872, she was billed as a feature attraction in Ned Buntline's western drama, Scouts of the Prairie, with Buffalo Bill Cody and Texas Jack Omohundro.[6] She and Texas Jack fell in love, and were married on August 31, 1873 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rochester, NY. The couple settled in Lowell, Massachusetts where they purchased a home known as Suffolk Hall and a country estate in Billerica, Massachusetts.[7] Morlacchi continued to perform, both with her husband in western dramas, and with her dance troupe.[8]
In the Spring of 1880, after performing in Denver, the couple visited the silver mining town of Leadville, Colorado where Texas Jack fell ill and a few weeks later died of pneumonia. Shortly after Texas Jack's death Morlacchi returned to their home in Lowell and lived quietly with her sister. She never toured again. Morlacchi died of cancer in 1886, and is buried at St. Patrick Cemetery in Lowell.
Payment Terms
Winning bidders will receive an email at the end of the auction explaining the option for paying with Paypal. If you have questions about how to pay for this item please let me know. If you made multiple purchases for a single shipment contact us for combined shipping charges which will normally be less than the amount shown on Paypal invoice. You will receive an email notifying you when your item ships. Buyers outside the USA, please provide a telephone number for customs forms.
Shipping Terms
Please click on the Shipping & Payment tab above to access the eBay shipping calculator which will give you the options and costs for shipping your item depending on your zip code or country.  All items are professionally packed and well protected for shipment. All paper items are shipped in a plastic archival sleeve with rigid backing and marked "DO NOT BEND". If you have special shipping instructions please let us know and we'll try to comply. If you win multiple items and want them shipped together please contact us for a revised PayPal invoice. All shipments within the USA are sent with Delivery Confirmation. Buyers outside the USA please provide your phone number with payment so that we may include this on the customs forms. We are not able to declare items as "gifts", misrepresent the contents or value or otherwise falsify customs forms. Media Mail is a cheaper shipping option for some items such as books. Please be aware that Media Mail can take up to 21 days and that items which do not qualify for Media Mail such as magazines can not be sent by Media Mail. Buyers will receive an email notification at the end of the auction and when the item ships. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us. We strive for 100% buyer satisfaction in all transactions.