Charles Ludlam began his theater career with the Play-House of the Ridiculous in 1966 (Screen Test, Indira Ghandi's Daring Device) and wrote The Conquest of the Universe, and this production marked a split,in 1967. John Vaccaro continued with the Play-house of the Ridiculous, and Ludlam formed The Ridiculous Theatrical Company, which had its own long-running illustrious career that included Camille, Turds in Hell, Irma Vep, and many, many others.