The Chocolate Kiddies is a three-act Broadway-styled revue that, in its inaugural production – from May to September 1925 – toured Berlin, Hamburg, Stockholm, and Copenhagen.
[2] The impetus for producing the Chocolate Kiddies was partly a culmination or outgrowth of (i) the success of a Harlem (and Atlantic City) jazz band led by Sam Wooding (1895–1985) and a floor show, initially developed for the 1923 opening of the Nest Club and (ii) the success of Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle's Broadway musical, The Chocolate Dandies, which, after 96 performances, closed November 22, 1924 ... leaving some of the cast available, from which, the Chocolate Kiddies picked up choreographer Charlie Davis and singer Lottie Gee.
The cast included singer Adelaide Hall, who came from the Miller and Lyles Broadway production Runnin' Wild, The Three Eddies, Rufus Greenlee and Thaddeus Drayton, Bobbie and Babe Goins, Charles Davis and Sam Wooding and his Orchestra.
[4] Russian-born Jewish American impresario Arthur Seymour Lyons[5] (1895–1964) staged an adaptation and, for several weeks prior to departure, rehearsed the company at Bryant Hall.
[Note 1] Duke Ellington, with Jo Trent as lyricist, composed four songs for the production – his first work for a musical revue genre.
[14] Book and staging: Music: Orchestration: Choreographer: Set design and costumes: Publisher: Sam Wooding's Orchestra from Club Alabam Huvudroller (Swedish)(leading roles): Prisbelönta dansöser från New Yorks största Neger teatrar(Award Winning Dance Shows From New York's Greatest Black Theaters) While in Berlin, the band, recorded several selections for the Berlin-based Vox label.