Cholera struck with a vengeance the summer of 1867 along the line of the Kansas frontier. At the end-of-track boom town of Ellsworth, panicked townspeople raced to get away, reducing the population from nearly 1,000 to only 40 citizens by the middle of July.

In the face of the tragedy that was playing out, the Aug. 3, 1867, Junction City Weekly Union noted, “Our Ellsworth neighbors excel in keeping up a bold front under the most aggravating circumstances. When fleeing from the cholera, if asked where they were going, their universal reply was, ‘Going to see the Black Crook’.”

The Black Crook was a musical theatrical performance that had taken the country by storm with rumors of the appearance of nymphs upon the stage incompletely covered with clothing, some going so far as to describe a display of shameful nudity. It was currently playing in St. Louis, but plans were under way to bring it to Leavenworth, Kan. The opening performance was scheduled for July 22. Seating for the opening week was already sold out according to the July 13 Wyandotte Commercial Gazette.

The editor of the Wyandotte Democrat took in the 58th night of its run in St. Louis while in the city and pronounced the play “the grandest and most magnificent we have ever seen.” The city of Leavenworth was all abuzz over the arrival of 50 members of the troupe by way of a Missouri Pacific train on July 18. The scenery for the production filled three cars.

Within minutes of their arrival, “The Black Crookers and Black Crookesses,” made an appearance on the streets of Leavenworth.

According to the Leavenworth Daily Commercial of July 19, “These novel beings made several rambling and harmless promenades about the city, committing no depredations of villainous pranks on anyone. In fact, they seemed quite quiet and peaceable, and no one would suppose from their cheerful air and ready step they had crooked it for lo these many weeks.”

The play, written in 1863 by Charles M. Barras of New York, was first performed in 1866. By the time it reached Leavenworth it had played to audiences in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburg and at the present was “almost driving the people of Chicago crazy with enthusiasm and delight.”

Over 2 million people had seen the play, “and still the enthusiasm flags not.”

Set in and around the Hartz Mountains of 15th century Germany, Herzog, “The Black Crook,” is a deformed sorcerer, magician and alchemist who extends his own life by one year for each human soul that he captures.

Love and jealousy enter into the story that involves “the golden realm” of Stalacta, a fairy queen disguised as a dove. Of course, Rudolph the young suitor of beautiful Amina, saves the life of the fairy queen, thus Stalacta becomes his protector. Arch-Fiend Count Wolfenstein wants Amina for himself.

“And now commences a warfare between the powers of Darkness, under the leadership of the Black Crook and the Arch-Fiend, who are determined to destroy Rudolph, and the powers of Light, under the leadership of Stalacta, who is determined to preserve him.”

The scenes are the true wonder of the production, taking place in various aspects within Wolfenstein’s castle (one illuminated by hundreds of lights), the home of the Fairy Queen, and the Serpent’s Glen surrounded on all sides by “serpents and skeletons, and grinning fiends, it is weird and terrible to look upon.”

Not so terrible to look upon are the fairies “in the shape of Amazons” that are ever in the presence of Stalacta. At her home water nymphs and fairies surround her. In St. Louis, 50 of these visions of nearly naked “females” appear on stage at once, but according to the Atchison Free Press the stage of the Leavenworth Opera House could only accommodated 30 or 40. The editor of the Daily Commonwealth responded with the observation, “The editor of the Free Press was at the Opera House last night, and appeared disgusted, muchly. He refused to hire an opera-glass, because it was ‘double-barreled’.”

Excursionists arrived daily to see The Black Crook. Passenger cars were packed. Steamers brought visitors down the Missouri River from Atchison and St. Joseph, Mo. The steamer Columbia carried 100 St. Joe couples to take in the play before returning to the “handsomely decorated” Columbia to dance to a band hired for the occasion.

Women and girls were encouraged to attend the afternoon matinee performances where they could “enjoy quietly this most attractive play, no one need stay away from a false sense of modesty as the play is principally spectacular, and not in the least repulsive.”

The Black Crook closed out Aug. 7, 1867, after a successful run. A portion of the performers returned to St. Louis while others, along with the scenery and fixtures took the train for Louisville, Ky., leaving Leavenworth with just its memories.

No reports were found as to what those Ellsworth neighbors thought of The Black Crook. Perhaps the closing of performances was a signal for them to return to the frontier and pick up where they left off, living among bold border desperados on The Way West.

“The Cowboy,” Jim Gray can be reached at 220 21st RD, Geneseo, KS. Phone (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@kans.com.