Vaudeville
Vaudeville is a style of theater,
also known as variety, which flourished in North America from the 1880s
-
through the 1920s . Its popularity rose in step with the rise of
industry and the growth of North American cities during this period, and
declined with the introduction of sound films and radio . The
origin of the term is obscure, but the term is often considered a
corruption of the expression "voix de ville," or "voice of the city."
Another plausible etymology is that it is a corruption of the French
Vau de Vire, a valley in Normandy noted for style of songs with
topical themes.
The first vaudeville theater was opened by impresario Tony Pastor in New
Jersey in 1865. Vaudeville theaters featured performers of various
types: music , comedy , magic , animal acts, novelty,
acrobatics and gymnastics, and celebrity lecture tours. Many early film
and radio performers, such as W. C. Fields , Buster Keaton ,
the Marx Brothers , Edgar Bergen and The Three Stooges ,
started in vaudeville.
There was no sharp end to vaudeville. The advent of radio and the
cinema in the late 1920s started the decline, furthered in the
early 1930s by the Great Depression . The closing of the
prestigious Palace Theater in New York City in 1932 is
regarded as an important marker in Vaudeville's fading. The difficulties
in civilian transportation during World War II and the subsequent
rise of television helped end what was left of the old Vaudeville
circuits.
From newspaper promotional for vaudeville character actor Charles E.
Grapewin
The television variety show format owed much to Vaudeville, and many
Vaudeville performers made the transition to television. An equivalent
form of theater in the UK at the same time was referred to as Music Hall
-
, and in the UK the term Vaudeville was used to refer to what in
the US would have been called burlesque. e.g. a more low-brow form with
emphasis on stripping and erotic dance.
Vaudeville in the US also marked the introduction of big business into
the world of popular entertainment. Several circuits of theaters were
built by Keith & Albee, Sullivan & Consodine, Alexander Pantages, Marcus
Loew, and others. These businessmen hired full-time travelling
performers, set strict rules about the kinds of shows allowed in their
theaters, and competed fiercely among themselves for the best acts.
Keith & Albee in particular tried to maintain high standards for their
shows, and did not allow anything bawdy or even suggestive on their
stages. Even "legitimate" theater actors like Sarah Bernhardt
sometimes supplemented their income with appearances in these shows.
Vaudeville has all but disappeared from the stage, with the exception of
small (but popular) throwback acts like Triple Espresso .
Noted Vaudeville Performers Included:
- The Barrison Sisters
- Nora Bayes & Jack Norworth
- Jack Benny
- Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy
- Sarah Bernhardt
- Fanny Brice
- Joe E. Brown
- George Burns & Gracie Allen
- Eddie Cantor
- Charlie Chaplin
- Charlie Case
- Charmon
- Ching Ling Foo
- George M. Cohan
- Marie Dressler
- Jimmy Durante
- W.C. Fields
- Eddie Foy
- Trixie Friganza
- Joe Frisco
- Gallagher & Shean
- Anna Held
- Hildegarde
- Bob Hope
- Houdini
- George Jessel
- Al Jolson
- Buster Keaton
- Bert Lahr
- Harry Lauder
- The Marx Brothers
- Winsor McCay & Gertie the Dinosaur
- The Original Creole Orchestra
- Isabella Patricola
- Joe Penner
- Molly Picon
- Blanche Ring
- Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
- Pat Rooney
- Blossom Seeley
- Smith & Dale
- Eva Tanguay
- Sophie Tucker
- Ben Turpin
- Van & Schenck
- Weber & Fields
- Mae West
- Bert Williams
- Ed Wynn
See also
External link
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