63rd Street Theatre, 1921, The 63rd Street Music Hall
Shuffle Along production photo, 1921, Playbill
A Broadway Opening....
Shuffle Along opened on May 23rd, 1923. The plot centers on Sam and Steve who run for mayor of Jimtown. If either one wins, he will appoint the other his chief of police. Sam wins with a crooked campaign manager, and appointing Steve.
Shuffle Along production photo, 1921, Playbill
Shuffle Along production photo, 1921, Playbill
“Shuffle Alongs success wasn't simply due to its existence and the inevitability of colored shows to play well but because, at its core, it was a quality musical melange that, despite its rough edges, was created by clearly gifted artists.” (footnotes)
Shuffle Along production photo, 1921, Playbill
Shuffle Along production photo, 1921, Playbill
Shuffle Along production photo, 1921, Playbill
“Shuffle along is an established artistic success; without regard to the commercial possibilities, which are great. To the_____performers, this means much. The show is a rainbow of hope and encouragement to every artist of the race.” (Baltimore Afro-American, 1921)
Shuffle Along was seen as a triumph for Balck Americans fighting for acceptance in the theatre industry.
New York Herald, 17 May 1921, Newspapers.com
Florence Mills, 1 August 1923, Museum of the City of New York
Daily News, 26 May 1921, Newspapers.com
Florence Mills replaced Gertrude Sanders, breathing new life into the song "I'm Craving That Kind of Love," and catapulting her to stardom.
Shuffle Along grossed $13,000 a week and paid off the $21,000 in debt in the first five weeks. The Production closed in 1924, after running 504 performances on broadway.
Shuffle Along Company, The Broadway Collection