Who are the famous vaudeville performers?

List of vaudeville performers: A–K

What was vaudeville and why did it become popular?

What was vaudeville, and why did it become popular? Vaudeville was a type of inexpensive variety show that first appeared in the 1870s. Vaudeville performances consisted of comic sketches, song and dance routines, magic arts etc. There was nothing else like it anywhere in the world so it attracted many people.

Why was vaudeville so popular?

The development of vaudeville marked the beginning of popular entertainment as big business, dependent on the organizational efforts of a growing number of white-collar workers and the increased leisure time, spending power, and changing tastes of an urban middle class audience.

What are the different types of vaudeville acts?

Vaudeville. Types of acts have included popular and classical musicians, singers, dancers, comedians, trained animals, magicians, ventriloquists, strongmen, female and male impersonators, acrobats, illustrated songs, jugglers, one-act plays or scenes from plays, athletes, lecturing celebrities, minstrels, and movies.

Who are some of the most famous vaudeville performers?

Emory Parnell (December 29, 1892 – June 22, 1979) was an American vaudeville performer and actor who appeared in over 250 films in his 36-year career. He was nicknamed “The Big Swede” and was sometimes credited as “Emery” or “Parnel”…. more

Who was on the vaudeville circuit as a teenager?

You might not know about their career as vaudeville performers. Keller was offered a place on stage as a teenager, but turned down the opportunity. By 1920, she and Macy were in need of money, and toured the US and Canada on the Orpheum circuit for four years.

When did vaudeville begin in the United States?

The source in the citation included with each entry confirms their appearance and cites information in the performance notes section. Vaudeville was a style of variety entertainment predominant in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.