Vaudeville acts were one of the biggest contributors to defining American entertainment. These were particular to North America at the turn of the century and allowed entertainment to run away from stuffy concerts, balls, and theater. This was the great experimental age of American entertainment where several genres and modes were invented and almost nothing was off limits.

Burlesque shows became popular. Though originally a lower-class type of entertainment, some female models and celebrities like Evelyn Nesbit, the most beautiful woman in America in the early 1900s, got in on the act to boost their careers. Where celebrities went, just about everyone followed--whether the shows were decent or not.

Theater became extremely experimental and helped it become what it is today. These acts were also one of the biggest showings for movies and was primarily how film started circulating and becoming popular before movie theaters were built. They had acts that would be normal for any circus: acrobats and jugglers, a freak show, people doing tricks on horses, feats of strength, and clowns. The difference is that it was all mixed in and one never particularly knew what to expect.

Vaudeville shows have, sadly, died out. One of the main reasons was due to their sometimes offensive content. Minstrel shows have, thankfully, gone extinct and freak shows have been outlawed because it shows no sensitivity to those with extreme medical conditions. However, there are sad reasons why these have gone away.

In today's society, our attention span is incredibly short. We gain entertainment from our cell phones, the Internet, the television, and our gaming systems--and sometimes several at the same time. It is rare enough for the modern person to go to the theater, let alone stand outside while many acts perform. Who would have the patience for a single act that was not exactly someone's cup of tea? You cannot fast-forward through real life. And why drive all the way out to Coney Island when you can just watch any show on your DVR recorder and skip the boring parts? We, sadly, want more from our entertainers. Instead of burlesque, which was just meant to titillate, people would prefer to see it all come off. Instead of clowns, we would rather see reality star buffoons actually get hurt. It would benefit us all to turn off the electronics and enjoy some simple entertainments--to remember a time before we were all plugged in to an outlet.

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