More StuffWhy do they call it Vaudeville?
The origins of the term vaudeville are unclear. Some sources say the word was a bastardization of "voix de ville," French slang for "songs of the town" – others say it came from "vaux de Vire," 15th century satiric songs written in the Vire valley in Normandy.
In Vaudevillian Sophie Tucker's autobiography, "Some of These Days, " her agent, William Morris, claimed that, in the Vire valley, wine and cheese was served at a red windmill to farmers waiting to have their wheat milled. Traveling entertainers took advantage of this captive audience by performing and passing the hat. This arrangement proved so popular that others soon copied it.
Morris insisted this place not only gave birth to the term "vaudeville," it also inspired the name of the Paris nightclub, Le Moulin Rouge (The Red Mill).
A bit about Vaudeville
What was Vaudeville?
Vaudeville was a type of variety entertainment that was popular in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the 1930s. It came from many sources, including concert saloons, freak shows, dime museums, and literary burlesque.
Vaudeville became one of the most popular types of entertainment in North America. Each performance was made up of a series of various acts - including musicians, dancers, comedians, trained animals, magicians, impersonators, acrobats, one-act plays or scenes from plays, athletes, lecturers, minstrels and even short films.
Now, you can own a piece of history - a replica copy of "How to Enter Vaudeville," your chance to explore the inner workings of this fascinating industry. Order your copy today!
Not PC?
Political correctness was not always on the Vaudeveille playbill. Still, many audiences enjoyed the free, uninhibited expression of blackface comedians and the "low comedy" of many dialect acts. They enjoyed recognizing, and laughing at, performances based on their own ethnic identities. At the same time, some acts provided a means of assimilation for members of the audience by enabling them to laugh at other ethnic groups, "outsiders."
By the end of vaudeville's heyday, the early 1930s, most ethnic acts had been eliminated from the bill or toned down to be less offensive. However, ethnic caricatures continued to thrive in radio programs such as Amos 'n' Andy, Life with Luigi, and The Goldbergs, and in the blackface acts of entertainers such as Al Jolson.
What killed Vaudeville?
Motion pictures were part of vaudeville from the late 1800s; first as curiosities and, eventually, as "added attractions." Managers quickly learned that movies pleased audiences as well as live acts. Even better, a film didn't demand a regular paycheck, was never drunk or late and offered consistent entertainment. By the time sound was added to movies in 1927, most vaudeville shows offered a feature film with some live entertainment.
Movies alone did not kill vaudeville. Responding to decreasing profits, Vaudeville producers offered music and dance revues with lavish production values and bigger-name stars. They attracted more affluent audiences but failed to lure more patrons. The State Theatre on Broadway presented the last vaudeville shows, four a day, until 1947.
More Stuff
So, what's Burlesque?Burlesque means, "in an upside down style." Like its cousin, commedia dell'arte, burlesque turns social norms head over heels. The genre traditionally encompasses a variety of acts such as dancing girls, chanson singers, comedians, mime artists, and strip tease artistes, all satirical and with a saucy edge. The strip tease element of burlesque became subject to extensive local legislation, leading to a theatrical form that titillated without falling foul of censors.