The Saint Louis Attitude

Our play is a tale of two love stories that take place in the Chestnut Valley. Both are tragic for different reasons, yet are placed within the boundaries of this community that was at the edge of downtown St. Louis, just seventeen square blocks, but in the Gay 1890's it was the center of the universe. The story of the lovers, Frankie and Johnny whose tale of unfaithfulness has gone into history. The other, Babe Conners and her man William. Babe Conners was a famous Black madame whose establishment was frequented only by society's best.

The backdrop of our story is thus. Black St. Louis had a substanial amount of the businesses in the valley that were patronized by everyone. It was a vibrant, lively and huge amounts of money flowed through the venues of entertainment. There were over 300 drinking establishments that included bars, bucket shops saloons, opium dens and bawdy houses. Each one of them had their own piano player. Music was central to the time period and our production. Ragtime was perfected here and "Cocaine Lil" was popular. The sheet music for the much covered song, Frankie and Johnny, is about an event that happened in the Valley. Though it's origins have been placed all over the country, it is a Black story, a St. Louis story. A Black madame's theme song, stolen, became the toast of Europe. There are many folk legends that came out of the valley and are based on actual events such as Stagger Lee, Duncan verses Brady and more and are again, Black stories. To be sure the Valley was tricky and creative in ways to seperate one from thier hard earned cash. And the taverns, bars, saloons and bardellos were the entryway of vast amounts of cash.The city was never angelic. It was always a wide open city, a sailors town, a riverport.

URL:
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/1917239-1?pid=5072

Category: Arts | Performing Arts | Theatre

Price:
General Admission: USD 25.00

Artist: Sharon Morton