The first American blockbuster musical in 1866 was called “The Black Crook”. The audience was mostly men and it was 5 1/2 hours long. The music had no relationship to the show and critics called it tasteless and stupid. It ran for 474 performances in its first run and it had several revivals in the next 25 years. It also contained 100 ballerinas in tights who showed a little more of their legs than was usual for it’s day.

(The Great Courses – Great American Music: Broadway Musicals)