When Johnny Comes Marching Home. As Presented by the Whitney Opera Company. [cover title]

—

---

From cover to cover, a chromolithographically illustrated program for this “glittering military comic opera” set in the South during the American Civil War. The three-act opera, with 24 musical numbers, was staged during the 1904–1905 season by Whitney Opera Company of New York.

Thoroughly and vibrantly illustrated with colorful scenes, the viewer’s eyes are filled with the immediacy of a stage performance. Many of the illustrations serve as visual depictions of musical numbers such as the minstrel song “My Honeysuckle Girl,” the patriotic songs “My Own United States” and “Flag of My Country,” and the double-page spread “Katie My Southern Rose.” Others employ standard racist tropes of the period.

At this time, the J. Ottmann Lithographic Company was under the helm of William Ottmann, the son of Jacob Ottmann. As of 1893, the firm “had thirty-four steam lithographic presses and employed 450 workers.” (Color Explosion, p113).

The playwright Stanislaus Stange was involved with numerous Broadway shows. In remarkable condition.

Price: $125.00