Mrs. John Wood

In the history of the American theatre, the artists of the mid-nineteenth century are often overlooked.  This general trend may stem from a misconception of the entire period because of the predominance of the melodramatic genre.  Those artists who have gained recognition are few and the names most often heard are the likes of Forrest, Edwin Booth, Lotta Crabtree, Macready, and Charlotte Cushman.  This study follows the career of another stage great of the mid-century American drama --- Mrs. John Wood.  Often referred to as “the burlesque Queen of the New York stage,” Mrs. Wood achieved tremendous popular successes in New York, Boston, New Orleans, and San Francisco.  Additionally, she had an interesting influence of songs of the Civil War.