Vaudeville
noun
A type of entertainment popular in the USA in the late 19th and early 20th century, using a variety of acts like singing, dancing, comedy and magic.
The vaudeville show at the theater was a hit, attracting audiences with its diverse line-up of performers.
Often appears as...
- vaudeville show
- vaudeville theater
Usage tips
Historical
adj
Relating to or characteristic of vaudeville.
Her vaudeville style of comedy kept the audience laughing throughout the performance.
Often appears as...
- vaudeville performance
- vaudeville comic
noun
A type of entertainment popular in the USA in the late 19th and early 20th century, using a variety of acts like singing, dancing, comedy and magic.
The vaudeville show at the theater was a hit, attracting audiences with its diverse line-up of performers.
Often appears as...
- vaudeville show
- vaudeville theater
Usage tips
Historical
adj
Relating to or characteristic of vaudeville.
Her vaudeville style of comedy kept the audience laughing throughout the performance.
Often appears as...
- vaudeville performance
- vaudeville comic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Era Specific
Vaudeville refers to an entertainment style that's not common today but was popular in the past.
The museum exhibit on vaudeville gives insight into early American showbiz.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Nuance
Understanding vaudeville is important for grasping the development of American theatre and comedy.
Many sitcoms still use comedic timing that originated in vaudeville.
Pro Tip 3/3Multidisciplinary
Vaudeville was a mix of many kinds of performances, not just one type.
The versatility of vaudeville acts made it appealing to a wide audience.
Pro Tip 1/3Era Specific
Vaudeville refers to an entertainment style that's not common today but was popular in the past.
The museum exhibit on vaudeville gives insight into early American showbiz.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Nuance
Understanding vaudeville is important for grasping the development of American theatre and comedy.
Many sitcoms still use comedic timing that originated in vaudeville.
Pro Tip 3/3Multidisciplinary
Vaudeville was a mix of many kinds of performances, not just one type.
The versatility of vaudeville acts made it appealing to a wide audience.
Pro Tip 1/3Era Specific
Vaudeville refers to an entertainment style that's not common today but was popular in the past.
The museum exhibit on vaudeville gives insight into early American showbiz.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Nuance
Understanding vaudeville is important for grasping the development of American theatre and comedy.
Many sitcoms still use comedic timing that originated in vaudeville.
Pro Tip 3/3Multidisciplinary
Vaudeville was a mix of many kinds of performances, not just one type.
The versatility of vaudeville acts made it appealing to a wide audience.
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Video examples
This Clown Philosopher...
the human face is symbolic of heart or emotion that circus gets more popular clowns get more popular the pantomime world is coming together the circus reaching a golden age and eventually where all this pays off a mass entertainment scale is with vaudeville
Video examples
Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe...
with the latest technologies of our time, is the closest experience that can bring the archival story of the 1901 fair out of boxes and into life. Stories, like Tannie and Henrietta, a husband and wife vaudeville duo in love
Video examples
A tap dancer's craft -...
tap dance has grown up in the world of American popular entertainment. From minstral shows and vaudeville, to night clubs, musical theater, and movie musicals, tap dance has held a featured role.
Video examples
This Clown Philosopher...
the human face is symbolic of heart or emotion that circus gets more popular clowns get more popular the pantomime world is coming together the circus reaching a golden age and eventually where all this pays off a mass entertainment scale is with vaudeville
Video examples
Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe...
with the latest technologies of our time, is the closest experience that can bring the archival story of the 1901 fair out of boxes and into life. Stories, like Tannie and Henrietta, a husband and wife vaudeville duo in love
Video examples
A tap dancer's craft -...
tap dance has grown up in the world of American popular entertainment. From minstral shows and vaudeville, to night clubs, musical theater, and movie musicals, tap dance has held a featured role.
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Alfred Lunt
American Director
There were a great many in vaudeville - people who never quite came through. But they had their place, and they filled it. They kept theatres open. Those pan-timers, those interstate-timers, those four-a-dayers, those six-a-dayers - they were an integral part of that endearing merry-go-round called vaudeville.
Quote examples
Matt McGorry
American Actor
For me, my preference for comedy is grounding it in the psychology of the character, and not just kind of making faces. Even when it's a crazy character, grounded comedy resonates more with people because it doesn't look like you're watching someone do vaudeville. No offense to vaudeville.
Quote examples
Julie Andrews
English Actress
When you are traveling in vaudeville, you experience so many different kinds of audiences, depending on what time of the week it is, how long the pubs have been open, and things like that.
Quote examples
Michael Dirda
American Critic
I once read that in vaudeville, it was often the straight guy who got paid more than the comic because that's the tougher job. He has to set up the jokes in just the right way.
Quote examples
George C. Wolfe
American Playwright
Musicals spring forth from minstrelsy, vaudeville, melodramas; it was all these things combined to create the form.
Quote examples
James Broughton
American Director
Dance, vaudeville, drama, movies - as a child I loved everything that went on in a theater.
Quote examples
Ann Reinking
American Actress
Bob's work gleaned from hoofing, from vaudeville, from ballet.
Quote examples
Larry Gelbart
American Writer
If vaudeville had died, television was the box they put it in.
Quote examples
Anna Held
Polish Entertainer
I do not like vaudeville, but what can I do? It likes me.
Quote examples
Ralphie May
American Comedian
I'm a fan of old vaudeville theaters.
Quote examples
Alfred Lunt
American Director
There were a great many in vaudeville - people who never quite came through. But they had their place, and they filled it. They kept theatres open. Those pan-timers, those interstate-timers, those four-a-dayers, those six-a-dayers - they were an integral part of that endearing merry-go-round called vaudeville.
Quote examples
Matt McGorry
American Actor
For me, my preference for comedy is grounding it in the psychology of the character, and not just kind of making faces. Even when it's a crazy character, grounded comedy resonates more with people because it doesn't look like you're watching someone do vaudeville. No offense to vaudeville.
Quote examples
Julie Andrews
English Actress
When you are traveling in vaudeville, you experience so many different kinds of audiences, depending on what time of the week it is, how long the pubs have been open, and things like that.
Quote examples
Michael Dirda
American Critic
I once read that in vaudeville, it was often the straight guy who got paid more than the comic because that's the tougher job. He has to set up the jokes in just the right way.
Quote examples
George C. Wolfe
American Playwright
Musicals spring forth from minstrelsy, vaudeville, melodramas; it was all these things combined to create the form.
Quote examples
James Broughton
American Director
Dance, vaudeville, drama, movies - as a child I loved everything that went on in a theater.
Quote examples
Ann Reinking
American Actress
Bob's work gleaned from hoofing, from vaudeville, from ballet.
Quote examples
Larry Gelbart
American Writer
If vaudeville had died, television was the box they put it in.
Quote examples
Anna Held
Polish Entertainer
I do not like vaudeville, but what can I do? It likes me.
Quote examples
Ralphie May
American Comedian
I'm a fan of old vaudeville theaters.
Example 1 of 10
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