Giuseppina Morlacchi

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Giuseppina Morlacchi (1846 – July 25, 1886) was an Italian ballerina and dancer, who introduced the Can can to the American stage, and married the scout and actor Texas Jack Omohundro. She was born in Milan, she attended dance school at La Scala. She debuted on the stage in 1856 at Genoa. In short time she became a well-known dancer, touring the continent and England. In Lisbon, she met noted artist and manager John DePol, who persuaded her to go to America.

In Oct 1867, she made her American debut at Banvard's Museum in New York City, performing "The Devil's Auction." She became an immense success, and DePol took the show to Boston. On January 6, 1868, the company played at the Theatre Comique and premiered a new type of dance, billed as "...Grand Gallop Cancan, composed and danced by Mlles. Morlacchi, Blasina, Diani, Rcci, Baretta,... accompanied with cymbals and triangles by the coyphees and corps de ballet." The new dance received an enthusiastic reception.

From then, her fame and success increased, and she played a succession of popular performances. On Dec. 16, 1872, she was billed as a feature attraction in Ned Buntline's western drama, Scouts of the Prairie, with Buffalo Bill Cody and Texas Jack Omohundro. She and Texas Jack fell in love, and were married on August 31, 1873. The couple settled in Lowell, Massachusetts, though she continued to perform, both with her husband in western dramas, and solo.

Following the death of her husband in 1880, she returned to Lowell and lived quietly with her sister. She died of cancer in 1886, and is buried in Lowell.