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British Imports: Florodora
Broadway's original Florodora sextet and their male co-stars performing "Tell Me Pretty Maiden," which made this musical comedy a sensation.

At the start of the 20th Century, America was in the full glory of its cultural adolescence, bursting with energy and optimism. London was still the theatrical capital of the world, but New York was gaining fast in clout, sophistication and size. As of 1900, there were thirty-three legitimate Broadway theatres, and many more would be built within the next decade to meet growing audience demand.

New York's exploding population was also enjoying increased mobility. In 1904, the city opened its first underground commuter railroad lines. Thanks to these "subways," tens of thousands living far from the theatre district could catch a Broadway show and still sleep in their own beds. Add in the ever-increasing numbers of tourists who came into the city by rail and steamship, and Broadway had an expanded audience base that could support more productions and longer runs than ever before.