What was Vaudeville? Vaudeville was the beginning of the entertainment industry in America. It was a theatrical genre of performance consisting of comedians, actors and actresses, ventriloquists, acrobats, dancers, musicians, and all manner of showcased talent meant to entertain the masses. It stemmed from small-town theater troupes to The Palace Theater in New York City. There were usually a variety of acts in each show, much like the modern day Jay Leno or other late night shows that feature multiple performers. Despite the diversity, the main focus of Vaudeville entertainment was comedy. Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers, Harry Houdini, and Bob Hope all started in Vaudeville before their television and film careers began.
At the time, any aspiring young performer or entertainer knew to go to Vaudeville for a sure shot at fame and fortune. For many, Vaudeville was a family affair, with many performances being inherited by families. It was a fusion of old and new cultural traditions, and was the first place you could really experience diversity in a way that crossed racial and class boundaries.
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