Chu Chin Chow: Before Annie. Before Rent. Before Cats even.

Inspired by Edward Knobloch's play, "Kismet" 

(NOT the musical version) of 1911, 

Oscar Ashe wrote, directed, produced, and starred in

Chu Chin Chow, a lavish re-telling of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves.

That's him above as Abu Hassan...

later played by Tyrone Power, Sr.

(yep, the Power before the Power!).

A mix of pantomime and musical comedy, Chu Chin Chow

opened in 1917 and became a hot ticket...

it boasted incredible sets and lighting,

provocative costumes, a camel, a donkey, and snakes.

 Instantly popular

with English soldiers on leave from the Western Front...

well, get a load of the costumes! 

Re-done as a silent movie with Betty Blythe 

(above and below)...

and a musical version in 1934 with Anna Mae Wong.

And stage-wise, it was revived again and again

with additional songs (and probably fewer animals).

Above, an original playbill from the 3rd season

(it played from 1917 to 1921...a record breaker at the time).

The show was name-dropped in Auntie Mame,

Upstairs Downstairs,

and most recently, Season 3 of Downton Abbey.

Mrs. Hughes: ""Then your dinners would be grand enough for

 Chu Chin Chow."