Name/Title
The Cobbler [Postcard]Description
Circa 1910s real picture postcard of "Springer As The 'Cobbler' in / Chu Chin Chow."Context
Chu Chin Chow was a version of the Arabian Nights’ Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves tale, staged with a sumptuous extravagance, it proved to be one of the phenomena of the stage of the early part of the century.
The robber chief Abu Hasan is preparing to pull a coup in the home of the rich merchant Kasim Baba, and the bandit’s beautful captive, Zahrat al-Kulub, has been introduced into the house, in the guise of a slave girl, to spy out the land. Ali Baba, Kasim’s poor, layabout brother, accidentally discovers Hasan’s lair and the riches hidden there and, when the greedy Kasim goes to steal what he can from the hoard, he is captured and killed. Hasan plans to launch his attack on the late merchant’s household on the occasion of the wedding of Ali’s son Nur al-Huda and the slave girl Marjanah, but Zahrat foils his plan and wins her revenge, disposing of Hasan’s men with the traditional boiling oil before stabbing the robber chief to death. Ali ends the evening in the well-padded arms of his brother’s widow, Alcolom.
The Cobbler, who was hired to sew the pieces of Kasim’s quartered body back together for burial, sang of his trade in the exceptionally popular, bass-baritone Cobbler’s Song (‘I sit and cobble at slippers and shoon…’).
and Hasan’s disguised declaration ‘I Am Chu Chin Chow of China’ were other favorite moments of a score which also included a lot of incidental music to serve the show’s many scene changes, parades and dances.