Vaudeville, << VAW duh vihl or VOHD vihl, >> is a kind of theatrical entertainment that features a wide variety of acts. It was the most popular form of entertainment in the United States from the 1880’s to the early 1930’s. Vaudeville developed many stars who later gained great success in other types of entertainment, especially motion pictures and radio. These stars included Jack Benny, George Burns, Eddie Cantor, W. C. Fields, Al Jolson, Ed Wynn, and Sophie Tucker.
Some vaudeville theaters presented 20 or more acts in a single bill (performance). But the standard pattern was 8 to 10 acts. The range of material and performers was enormous. A vaudeville show presented jugglers, animal acts, skits, recitations, celebrities of the day, singers, and, most popular of all, comics and magicians.
Because of the efforts of powerful producers and theater owners, vaudeville became a highly organized nationwide big business. A number of individuals controlled large circuits (chains) of theaters. The best known of these circuits were operated by E. F. Albee, Martin Beck, Willie Hammerstein, B. F. Keith, Marcus Loew, William Morris, Alexander Pantages, and F. F. Proctor. All vaudeville performers wanted to star in “big-time” theaters that presented only two shows a day. But most appeared in “small-time” theaters that offered 3 to 12 shows a day. Some theaters presented shows that began about 9:30 a.m. and lasted until about 10:30 p.m.
The term vaudeville comes from a French word for a light play with music that was popular in France during the 1800’s. The American form grew out of attempts by saloon owners to attract more customers by offering free shows. These shows were known as variety. At first, variety had a bad reputation because it took place in saloons and often included vulgar material. But by the 1890’s, it had achieved respectability under the more elegant French name of vaudeville. Soon vaudeville had become the major form of live entertainment for family audiences. Showman Tony Pastor is credited with converting vaudeville into family entertainment by prohibiting drinks and upgrading the quality of the performers. He presented many famous vaudeville stars at Tony Pastor’s Opera House in New York City.
Vaudeville’s popularity declined with the development of sound motion pictures in the late 1920’s. But vaudeville-style acts are still presented in some nightclubs and on television.
