WHAT IS VAUDEVILLE?
Vaudeville is a type of entertainment in which a variety of different acts perform on a stage. A vaudeville show often consisted of ten to fifteen unrelated acts - anyone who could keep an audience’s interest for more than three minutes. Beginning in the 1880s and through the 1920s, vaudeville was home to more than 25,000 performers, and was the most popular form of entertainment in the US and Canada.
Vaudeville was an essential part of every community. At the height of its popularity, there were over 400 vaudeville theatres throughout Canada and the US. Successful vaudeville entertainers would travel from town to town, performing their acts. One of the largest chain of theatres was the Orpheum Circuit, which controlled theatres from Chicago to California. In the musical Gypsy, Rose and her daughters believe they have hit the big time when their act is booked on the Orpheum Circuit.
Interesting fact: Vaudeville’s attraction was more than simply a series of entertaining sketches. It was symbolic of the cultural diversity of early twentieth century America. Vaudeville was a fusion of centuries-old cultural traditions, including the English Music Hall, minstrel shows of eighteenth-century America, and Yiddish theater. Though certainly not free from the prejudice of the times, vaudeville was the earliest entertainment form to cross racial and class boundaries. On the down side, some Vaudeville acts promoted negative caricatures and stereotypes. Further, segregation was a reality during American society at this time, and Vaudeville theatres often reflected that reality.
In the 1930s, vaudeville began to decline, and by the end of the decade it was dead. Why? The Depression, the growth of radio, and the birth and popularity of talking (and singing) movies provided fierce competition
WHAT IS BURLESQUE?
Burlesque is also a form of stage entertainment - similar to a variety show. Derived from elements of Victorian music halls and minstrel shows, burlesque shows in 20th century America were a blend of satire, performance art, music hall and adult entertainment, featuring striptease and broad comedy acts. Performers, usually female, often created elaborate characters with lush, colorful costumes, mood-appropriate music, and dramatic lighting.
By the early 20th century, two national circuits of burlesque theatres were thriving, along with resident companies in New York City, such as Minsky’s at the Winter Garden. In Gypsy the musical – the character Gypsy Rose Lee is at the height of her success when she performs at Minsky’s World Famous Burlesque theatre.
With their show of exposed legs and lewd entertainment, burlesque shows were not considered respectable, and raids by the local police were often prompted by offended citizens. Censorship laws in the 1930s, plus the competition of motion pictures, led to the decline of burlesque.
