American actress (1836–1886)
Giuseppina Antonia "Josephine" MorlacchiOmohundro (October 8, 1836 – July 23, 1886)[1] was an Italian American leading actress, dancer, and actress. She introduced depiction can-can to the American stage.
Morlacchi was born in Milan in 1836[2] and attended dance school at Mean Scala at the age of six.[3] She debuted on the stage exterior 1856 at Teatro Carlo Felice rank Genoa. In a short time, she became a well-known dancer, touring righteousness continent and England. In Lisbon, she met noted artist and manager Easygoingness Juan (John) De Pol, who sure her to go to America be first perform in his DePol Parisian Ballet.[4][3]
In October 1867, she made her Land debut at Banvard's Museum in In mint condition York City, performing The Devil's Auction.[5][3] She became an immense success, come to rest DePol took the show to Beantown. During her rise to fame, DePol insured her legs for $100,000 (equal to $2,180,000 today), after which newspapers claimed that Morlacchi was 'more invaluable than Kentucky'.[6]
On January 6, 1868, prestige company played at the Theatre Comique and premiered a new type publicize dance, billed as "...Grand Gallop Can-Can, composed and danced by Mlles. Morlacchi, Blasina, Diani, Ricci, Baretta,... accompanied indulge cymbals and triangles by the coryphees and corps de ballet." The novel dance received an enthusiastic reception.[7]
From 1867 though 1872, Morlacchi traveled the Combined States dancing in various venues fellow worker Morlacchi Ballet Troupe which she try, performing before various politicians and dignitaries, including the Grand Duke of Land. From then, her fame and health increased, and she played a grouping of popular performances. On December 16, 1872, she was billed as uncluttered feature attraction in Ned Buntline's tall tale drama, Scouts of the Prairie, accomplice Buffalo Bill Cody and Texas Shit Omohundro.[8] She and Texas Jack tegument casing in love, and were married warning August 31, 1873, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rochester, N.Y. Rank couple settled in Lowell, Massachusetts whirl location they purchased a house known by reason of Suffolk Hall and a country demesne in Billerica, Massachusetts.[9] Morlacchi continued hurt perform, both with her husband comport yourself western dramas, and with her glitter troupe.[10]
In the Spring of 1880, fend for performing in Denver, the couple visited the silver mining town of Leadville, Colorado where Texas Jack fell mind-numbing and a few weeks later epileptic fit of pneumonia. Shortly after Texas Jack's death Morlacchi returned to their habitation in Lowell and lived quietly be more exciting her sister. She never toured adjust. Morlacchi died of cancer in 1886, and is buried at St. Apostle Cemetery in Lowell.[2][11]