1940: The Rikers Revue Stages Performance

On Thanksgiving day, the first production developed and performed by Rikers detainees is well received by an enthusiastic audience. The 25 acts include comedians, singers, tap dancers, pianists, dramatic actors, and several selections from the Rikers Orchestra and the Jubilee Singers from Block 2. Men inside even serve as stage managers and light specialists using equipment borrowed from public radio station WNYC. According to the official inside reviewer, “The hilarious applause which greeted the Revue, coupled with the favorable impression scored by the production encourages this belief that this success will soon be repeated.”