 1885 Henry E. Dixey, Burlesque Comedian Medal. White metal. 51.2 mm. Choice Uncirculated. Nearly fully prooflike with some darker toning areas. Henry Dixey (1859-1943) began his stage career in Boston in 1868, at the age of nine. He became what was known as a ''pedestal dancer''. He would dress in leotard and tights, whitewash his entire body, stand on stage atop a pedestal in the pose of an Adonis or Apollo, and as the curtains opened, give the ladies a thrill. Then, he would dance on the pedestal, usually tap. He teamed up with Broadway producer Edward E. Rice and opened in 1884 at New York's Bijou Theatre in a comedic musical named Adonis, which reprised his pedestal act but to which Dixey added topical sketches and songs, changing them as the public's interest moved to newer scandals and fads. Adonis ran for hundreds of performances and became the longest running Broadway musical of its day. In the play, Dixey the statue comes to life, finds being human less than it is cracked up to be, and happily returns to the life of a statue at the end. The play made Dixey Broadway's first idol and inspired the striking of this medal.
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