Vaudeville

theater · entertainment history · variety shows · American culture

What was vaudeville?. Vaudeville was a type of theater show popular in America and Canada from the 1870s to the 1930s where lots of different performers took turns on stage. You might see a singer, then a comedian, then acrobats, then a magician, all in one evening.

All different acts. No two vaudeville shows were exactly alike because they mixed comedy sketches, musical performances, juggling, ventriloquism, dancing, and acrobatics. It was like a surprise party where you never knew what amazing talent would come out next.

Stars were born here. Many famous performers like Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, and the Marx Brothers got their start in vaudeville before they became movie stars. These stages were like the training ground where comedians and singers learned to make audiences laugh and cheer.

Where everyone went. Vaudeville theaters were found in almost every town, and people of all ages loved going to watch shows. It was the most popular form of entertainment in America before movies took over in the 1930s.

It changed entertainment. Vaudeville taught performers how to entertain large crowds and taught audiences what they loved about live performance. The variety format that started with vaudeville is still used today in talent shows, award ceremonies, and variety specials.