Later Career
In 1890, Lucas served as an endman in Sam T. Jack's The Creole Show, often cited as the first African American production to show signs of breaking the links to minstrelsy. He married his wife during its run, and afterward they played a succession of variety houses, vaudeville stages, and museums. In 1898, Lucas performed in Boston in A Trip to Coontown, produced by Bob Cole. This was the first black production to use only African American writers, directors, and producers, and the first black musical comedy to make a complete break with minstrelsy.
Lucas later performed in Shoo Fly Regiment and Red Moon while continuing to tour vaudeville houses. In 1915, he became the first black man to star as Uncle Tom in a film version of Stowe's novel. He became sick while filming and died on 5 January 1916.
Read more about this topic: Sam Lucas
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