Francis Leon

He performed the first soprano part in Mozart's Twelfth Mass at St. Stephen's church in New York City at age 8.

Only 14 at the time, he quickly rose to fame by specializing in portraying female prima donna characters, mulatto coquettes in yellow makeup and elaborate costumes.

Leon's 300 dresses (which he refused to call "costumes") were a key piece of his act, and some cost as much as $400.

"[6] The idea that a male performer represented women better than women was echoed by another critic who noted, "Just as a white man makes the best stage Negro, so a man gives more photographic interpretation of femininity than the average woman is able to give".

He claimed to have studied ballet from a respected dancer and to have practiced for "hours every day" for seven years.

He said that in later years Leon owned a large office building in Chicago and that he lived to an "old age.