VAUDEVILLE

[@jillydelarosa]

I have been looking for this episode forever! That's my grandma and great-grandpa at 1:08:43 - Ming and Toy. They were not Chinese, they were Filipino, but Chinese was what was recognised, so they went with it. My grandma later went solo as a singer and performed along the Chop Suey Circuit.

[@GregoryGolda]

What a great connection!

[@jillydelarosa]

Gregory Golda I have several of their press photos as well as the entire Vitaphone short featured here. I had a massive scrapbook of newspaper clippings, but it was sadly lost in a move.

[@ChelseaH1]

They are beautiful! What a blessing to have this footage!

[@philipwilliams9060]

.... AMAZING! 👍👍👍

[@jay_nickkel]

So cool, do you perform now too!? It usually runs in the family so I had to ask!

[@stevecharman8420]

At the end it says TV replaced Vaudeville. However I think KZbin now is much more like the old Vaudeville. If you don't like the 20 second clip of the singing cat, the next one on a Tsunami in Japan will knock your socks off

[@track1219]

Good point! Definitely a variety of acts on KZbin!

[@jackevans2029]

Know your history Vaudeville wasn't replaced by TV dummy it was replaced by motion-picture THEATERS whose five cent admission charge was far lower than at vaudeville shows.

[@stevecharman8420]

@@jackevans2029 I never said TV replaced Vaudeville. You obviously didn't read what I said.

[@WitoldBanasik]

I am afraid you dont understand the profound meaning of the vaudevillians. They were the funniest people on stage and the saddest individuals while in private. Still most creative and hardworking human beings I ever watched. Amazing Grace ❤!

[@stevecharman8420]

@@WitoldBanasik I'm afraid you don't understand when someone speaks metaphorically.

[@caroleynon5468]

I helped make this documentary by putting together the producer, Greg Palmer with many of the cast members who were long forgotten and hidden from their public. These were just some of the troupers who trodded the boards of the nation entertaining us through the last century during the Great War, Great Depression, and the big one. Vaudeville led a slow death, but limped it’s way until the mid 1950s in Movie Palaces, with the Wurlitzer’s that were scattered around the nation, before the drive in movies, made them the relics of days gone by. We are lucky to have these Vitaphone Shorts to see the genius and inventive anachronistic traditions that were the stock and trade of each artist who in their time made an impact on the technology, economy, politics, and culture of our society at large. We owe them a great deal of gratitude and respect for the sacrifices they made in their arduous work and the achievements they made in moving forward our nation in every aspect of life.

[@vinniebarusa]

That’s pretty accurate!

[@justinsalsberg3870]

Really great to have this available to watch. The history and forgotten classics, the legends.... all need to be passed on to future generations

[@vincentd.centenophd263]

I completely agree! I'm one of the pianists for a local vaudeville/melodrama in Astoria, Oregon called "Shanghaied in Astoria". I am thoroughly enjoying the experience!

[@samuelparker9882]

Justin Salsberg Vaudeville brought LAUGHTER into the dreary lives of everyday people. There's NOTHING wrong with that.

[@reneastle8447]

Vaudeville will make a permanent comeback into the mainstream. I'm planning to put together a Retro Decade Revival Project. Our goal is to bring old school back into the mainstream, with the decades ranging from the 1980s to the Victorian Era.

[@tillmandavid9448]

@@reneastle8447 Is There A Way I Could Be Down?

[@reneastle8447]

@@tillmandavid9448 You can help out by spreading the word to everybody, list down what needs to be revived during the project and create a petition on Change.org to bring it into full swing.

[@MrCrowebobby]

My dad was in Vaudeville for a few years and because he was born in Nova Scotia and kept a record of every place he ever lived, even for one night, to show immigration when he applied for citizenship. Because we weren't close, I didn't bother keeping -- or even looking at the list -- how I regret that now that I'm 84. He taught me the basic tap routines -- time steps, soft shoe, and waltz clog -- and I eventually became a professional dancer.

[@Madmen604]

Where from in Nova Scotia? Thats where I'm from too.

[@MrCrowebobby]

@@Madmen604 No idea, he left when he was 10 and never spoke about it. I may on his naturalization papers, but I can't look them up right now. Take care.

[@franzitaduz]

This is the greatest monument to American live entertainment. Thanks for keeping all those people’s art alive.

[@2legit2quit70]

my grandpa was born in 1901 and used to tell me all sorts of stories. i wish he was still alive today so i could hear them one more time. this truely was a magical time

[@aviovintage]

I can recommend you Charlie Chaplin's autobiography. For me it was a very authentic look into this time that has intrigued me for a long time.

[@supachaloopa3611]

This documentary is a goldmine of information from the very mouths of those who lived Vaudeville. It has the good, the bad, and the unbelievable. What a treasure to have for your collection.

[@rhythmfield]

Agree 100% - this is a VERY valuable piece, a treasure

[@aarondigby9859]

The greatest most talented performers ever to grace a stage.

[@karebushmarebu233]

@@aarondigby9859 u old

[@gloriahanes5338]

A few Vaudeville stars who sang made the transition to radio, and I might add quite successfully. My mother use to sing on the RKO radio station right before Bob Hope. She retired early, married, and had six children this was her dream job.

[@rhythmfield]

What was your mother’s name, Gloria? That’s amazing.

[@robertbrawley5048]

The EdSullivan show was my chance to see Vaudville act. . They had the Russian sailor dancers , Boring Minervitch and his Harmonica Rascals , jugglers and acrobats

[@rowbyrowby]

So great "someone" filmed these old acts -- and the interviews -- with the film it would be difficult to imagine what Vaudeville was all about. ...Rowby.

[@pingpong5000]

We have lost so much, we had Variety in the UK in the 50's and 60's and I loved it, it was only after that was lost as well that I found out about Vaudeville from documentaries, thank God some of it had been saved on film. Turns out that those old films I loved as a kid and still do were the great vaudevillians who survived WC Fields Jimmy Durante and the Marks brothers to name but a few. Great video, thank you!

[@ealswytheangelicrealms]

I had my own show called Bebe Burlesque. I sang and danced but when I told one of the old time vaudeville jokes I got a lot of laughs and applause. People in the audience had never heard those old jokes so they thought I wrote them. I used jokes by Eddie Cantor and especially Wheeler and Woolsey because I knew the audience had never heard them before. Audiences usually don't want to hear jokes they have already heard.

[@m.lecollie3565]

An art form lost to the ages. It had a real true humanity and soul which was on stage right in front of you live and authentic. Nothing else like it.

[@carolbradshaw6105]

I loved working on this... I found many of these guys for Susan Lacy. Joey Faye and Arthur Tracy and Sally Demay... great Vaudevillians and real troupers! We will never see such entertainment again!

[@MagicJesus]

Hooray for you, ma'am

[@valmarsiglia]

Well thank you very much for your efforts, this is a wonderful documentary.

[@franzitaduz]

Lucky you..... Thanks.

[@auapplemac1976]

I've heard of Arthur Tracy, but never saw an image of him. Joey Faye was in the "The Tender Trap" (Sinatra & Reynolds).

[@nancypatricia511]

This documentary came up in my feed just a day or so ago. I always wonder what I watched to trigger other videos to show up in my feed. This is an era and a time that I have been aware of in name as well as various Vaudevillians like Maury Amsterdam, Rose Marie, and William Frawley in particular because he would do vaudevillian acts on I Love Lucy. But how and when Vaudeville got started and the context of its beginning was never clear. What I am most impressed with is that people were willing to take a chance with their lives by making a place for themselves on stage instead of going to a boring job. For others, they may not have had enough education or skills to do even that. They were looking for a way to survive in a foreign land that promised much more in their imagination than it could keep in reality; not looking for fame, but simply a way to keep themselves fed. Thank you for posting this documentary that filled in a lot of gaps like how and why mistral shows got their start, and how some of the Hollywood stars got their start. Seeing this gave me an appreciation for what people have to give. I also see KZbin and other social media as a revival of Vaudeville where people have an opportunity on a worldwide digital stage to share whatever it is that makes them unique and maybe even make some money to keep themselves fed.

[@frankkirbyiii2368]

This was a great program. What a gem.

[@matthewwagner7107]

What an excellent documentary on the most mysterious form of Vaudeville. I cannot help but feel so connected to it yet so far from understanding it.

[@rubytuesday4564]

Thank you for all involved who showed us what vaudeville was and what it felt like. My dad was in the audiences in NY when he could afford to attend. Vaudeville travelled as film shorts played on the sides of circus tents and buildings in small towns everywhere in the US. The game was distribution, and the traveling circuses made it possible.

[@jazzyspazzrawr]

Wonderful interviews with the people who were there and stunning footage of this important aspect of American culture. Such a well done documentary!

[@lizlocher3612]

One hundred percent fabulous 🤩😂 video, seeing all the original performers doing their legendary acts and hearing their comments on the Vaudeville Lifestyle in their present ages was mesmerizing!!! I worked in burlesque n I loved it n loved it as did all these enigmatic n iconic performers,.... Such a treat to see. Ben Vereen narrating was enchanting!!! I loved 😍 this video!!! Thanks for posting!!!!

[@lizinwisconsin6728]

I can't tell you just how much I enjoyed seeing this! I remember seeing some of the entertainers on The Ed Sullivan Show. All were such talented people that have been forgotten about. I especially loved seeing the Black entertainers--beautiful Ethel Waters and the hilarious Moms Mabley!! Thank you for uploading this documentary. Wonderful!! :-)

[@aarondigby9859]

Ethel Waters and Moms Mabley the greatest entertainers of there time. Bar none.

[@shawandabonner9681]

I love this documentary! Ive learned so much about vaudeville that I didn't know.

[@JAZZHOBO]

I am Overjoyed to find this movie! My Grandmother and Her mother + 3 aunts worked Vaudeville and Played Piano in Moving Picture Shows Silent Movies? Nope, the Movies often had a Woman who was able to Swing to the Action on screen.

[@joanodom2104]

Luckily, the resorts in the Catskills kept variety and Vaudeville type acts going strong through the 1980s.I recall a few Pocono resorts had acts in the eighties. I actually lived in the Delaware Water Gap and occasionally got to fill in for cancelled singers. It was such fun!

[@mjemigh3304]

Yes, I was one of those '80s Poconos guys a few years before finding my niche market, which I have only recently retired from. All of the entertainers in those resorts were a blast to be around. Lots of older guys on their way out and lots of young guys like me on the way in, all with the common thread of a love for an audience. I suspect you had at least some of that vibe going on, as well. Cheers!

[@BrianWalters-ei7sd]

Behold the grandaddy of American entertainment. Long live Vaudeville.

[@AnnieVanAuken]

I also bought this videotape many years ago. It's still a personal favorite, although all my tapes are now in storage...over there ----> :?D

[@WitoldBanasik]

Vaudevillians were the most gifted, smart and hardworking actors and humans in general. We can hardly find anyone like them... I mean Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers or Judy Garland nowadays. O tempora o mores, signum temporis. Less is more in terms of multitasking, that is so important for today's millenials and postmillenials. Just food for thoughts. To me openmindednes and tolerance and collective creativity mixed with vita activa and vita contemplativa are the name of the game... called life or love if you like. It stands for humanity... love and life means the same, of course. Cheers to you for the uploading the marvelous documentary❤.❤

[@dsnyguy1]

Wonderful! Just wish I had been around to see these acts in person! Thanks!

[@lindaanthony7890]

Me too

[@AnnieVanAuken]

No you don't, because if you were around to see these acts you'd be long dead now, and think of all the amazing things you would've missed. No frozen yogurt. No smartphones. No President Biden.....on second thought....

[@StorySAC]

My grandfather managed theaters from the days of minstrel shows and then vaudeville, traveling Broadway shows, and then motion pictures from the early 1900s until the mid 1960s. He knew all the stars, as he wrote and delivered the checks!

[@hartmanthehornplayer7343]

What a great show! My mother grew up in London during the blitz and she almost never talked about her childhood. One thing she told us was about going to the vaudeville show every week and seeing the same songs and hearing the same jokes. The only thing she remembered clearly is the song being sung at 9:30. Mom sang this to me in the 1960s so I'm sure I'm not getting the words right. She said a lady in a wedding gown would sing: There I was standing in the church when they handed me a note and here's the very note. "Can't get away to marry you today My wife (bass drum boom) won't let me!' Seeing that bit at 9:30 was like finding a lost family treasure! PS: I'm a musician and I have perfomed with Ben Vereen (the narrator here) at a corporate event!

[@yohei72]

Fascinating stuff. It was pointed out in some book I read that the acts that actually got recorded on film - especially sound film, at the point where vaudeville was about to die - were the biggest and best acts. Most vaudeville wouldn't have been this high quality or lavish.

[@franzitaduz]

Actually, it was Fox Movietone News that did this. They showed the shorts in theatres all over the country in between movies. When the gentleman remarked that giving the act to film once was taking it forever, he was right.....

[@glendagarcia6194]

Excellent documentary. Illuminating and yet sad. A must watch if you want to learn anything about the entertainment industry.

[@dale19532]

Many moons ago (there are few written records or survivors), out theatre dept. in college required seniors to do what was called a "senior seminar', which included oral presentations. including lectures and performances illustrating same. At a brainstorming session, the four senior presented their ideas. Being the "cerebral" one of the group, I probably proffered something like Shakespeare or ancient Greek theatre (honestly can't remember). Val, our dancer probably suggested something to do with dance, Cookie, our resident blonde beauty with a talent for comedy, probably offered something along those lines. But I think it was Al who suggested Vaudeville. It was perfect, giving all of us a chance to shine via the various talents of that era! I remember choosing Mae West as my subject, which gave Cookie a chance a chance to show off her talents, besides being just a gorgeous blonde. During my "lecture" I got a laugh from a risque joke, and did a little joke knee bend bow, which got a bigger laugh. Tried it again later, and it fell flat, teaching me a valuable lesson - don't pile shit on top of manure! I don't remember who picked W.C. Fields, which I played, (having a natural talent for mimicry and again I got good laughs, which helped me perfect comedic timing. Someone else (Cookie?) did Fanny Brice, which I think Val performed - don't remember much else (it WAS nearly 50 years ago, after all!) However, the finale involved the Four Cohans. I'm sure Val must have choreographed it, and we SLAYED! And we passed with flying colors! The best part was that we got a letter from the director of an senior resident facility who'd brought some of her residents with her to see the show. Don't know how or why she got wind of it, but her letter glowed with praise, saying that we'd brought much joy to her residents, who actually remembered those days! I still think that even after all of my other good reviews, that one was the best!

[@joaniemcguire1856]

What a wonderful documentary. All those talented performers I so enjoyed watching. But what about all those orchestra and band members. Where did they come from and how did they learn to play their instruments. Are they the forgotten talent that made it all work?

[@TheDonnellymarie]

This is a fascinating documentary. I really enjoyed watching this upload. Thank you for uploading this.

[@rhythmfield]

This is a really significant, fascinating documentary. I’m so glad you made it available on KZbin, Mr Golda, thank you very very much. As a professional drummer who started in musical theater as a child, I’ve never known the depth and the variety of America’s entertainment business back in these wild early days. I grew up in the town of New Rochelle, New York, which had five movie theaters on the little Main Street downtown strip. All my life I heard that these were vaudeville houses in the 1920s, perhaps even earlier. I even worked as an usher in a couple of the theaters back in the early 1980s, but I had no idea of the energy, variety, and almost a sort of ribald “anything goes“ quality that really was the early birth of what we know now as Broadway theater, as well as movies, music… The influence of these early entertainers is still there if you know how to look for it. But the raw sweat and hunger of those early vaudeville days is almost all gone, things are just too carefully planned and corporate now.

[@PlanetRockJesus]

Great comment. I agree. I love history, and the history of entertainment.

[@thomaswhitten2537]

A good tribute to those times. But it's also a very serious lesson to be learned, especially now days, that you have to maintain the ability to change. Vaudeville died because it's inability and lack of want to change. One piece of advise I always give a 16 year old today is: Nothing lasts forever. We have to be flexible, see change coming and adapt to it. No matter what your industry is. I loved this video! A wonderful tribute to those performers and the legacy they've given us. 😀

[@lindaanthony7890]

Vaudeville went out because movies became popular. What eventually would destroy vaudeville was vulgarity, not “it’s inability to change.” At its peak from the 1880’s to the 1920’s, it was Tony Pastor who cleaned up prior “Variety” acts and Vaudeville became more family entertainment. There are many great and informative books on the subject.

[@LorenIpsum75]

Gregory, thank you so much for posting this American Masters episode. I remember seeing some of the acts on the Sullivan show, too. What fun. Wishing you best. Thanks again.

[@rogermansour993]

GREAT SPECIAL.I BELIEVE THE STOREFRONT BUILDING CONVERTED INTO A VAUDEVILLE THEATER AND LATER BECAME A MOVIE HOUSE.I LIVED IN BERWYN , ILLINOIS IN THE 1980S WHERE THIS BUILDING IS LOCATED. EVANGELIST ROGER MANSOUR

[@Beeftrain_mma]

So sad how the black performers were mocked and treated badly

[@exet]

Lol did you see the black guy with the big lips hahahahah. How is that not funny

[@mrdanforth3744]

Everybody was mocked and treated badly in vaudeville.

[@suebaribass]

Thank you very much for sharing this! Amazing history...

[@sandrashevey8252]

My father, a gag writer to vaudevillians, had an office at the Palace theater. I had thought it was the Brill Building and said so one day. `No, Sandy, ` he said. `It was the Palace`.

[@lickmyfuckinnuts]

I'm so very appreciative for the work you have done here. This is a great Enlightenment for so many

[@keithbearden1119]

I would watch full documentaries on any of these performers.

[@disco0752]

Kinda nice seeing Carl Ballentine. Always loved his routines and he always brought a smile to my face.

[@StevenTorrey]

Ironically, what we are watching is filmed performances from 100+ years ago; a moment of ephemera surviving in time. Ed Sullivan & the Hollywood Palace reminds people of what vaudeville was like. Like the so called death of the Broadway Musical, Vaudeville's demise is just a mean rumor. Fortunately, those filmed performances of the ephemeral moment are preserved and can now be found on the internet.

[@iwaisman]

There is a Groucho Marx film on development, starring Geoffrey Rush. Groucho started in Vaudeville with his brothers, pushed by their mother.

[@mrdanforth3744]

I believe their mother Minnie was related to Weber and Fields.

[@ejdotw1]

What an outstanding documentary - THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!

[@johnprovince5304]

1:08:44 Ming and Toy were actually Filipinos doing a Chinese act.

[@jillydelarosa]

John Province Hi! I'm Mei Toy (real name Margaret Paguio)'s granddaughter; did you know them? I'm always looking for people who might have.

[@juanguillermopereiravasque1507]

Excelente documental,gracias.

[@Petroschristidis]

Excellent documentary ! Thanks !

[@janedurham7293]

That was wonderful. I am familiar with many of the performers but many of them I did not know. They have been lost to time. It's great that they are kept alive in a film that people find on KZbin. KZbin has a lot of crap on it but it is also a treasure trove. I recently listened to a 70 year old radio broadcast. The old classic stuff you can come up with is just amazing. It's really interesting hearing some of the people who were actually performers talking about the things they remembered.

[@jeremiahlong7759]

My Great grandpa was a vaudeville actor his name: Alfred Richard Bell

[@NelsonStJames]

The fact that things evolve and change wouldn't be so sad, except that in America, we tend to totally erase that past, and that that we can't erase, we mock and ridicule.

[@jonathanwidger3323]

Anyone wanting to know the truth about show business and human nature must see this documentary. I’m humbled by what some of these performers could do. Many of them were better than any of us today.

[@edwardbliss8931]

Vaudeville was the original KZbin

[@peepas2633]

This is such a simple point, but it is too incredibly profound and real. This comment stuck in my mind throughout the entire video and rang truer every minute.

[@Anaaaa_2727]

Why does this comment not have 2k likes

[@princessmarlena1359]

🎹🎹🎶🎵

[@MarioEpstein]

Vaudeville was the original form of American show business. KZbin is certainly a chapter in that book!

[@edryba4867]

No, Vaudeville required TALENT.

[@TheForeverfree1]

The Ed Sullivan show! One most popular TV shows of my generation!

[@julesotis13]

thanks for posting this in an easy to look at clean format . ive seen it before . always inspiring as a performer

[@rafaeljavega3553]

Lo podían traducir para los que no sabemos inglés. Son espectáculos antíguos muy valiosos

[@Qrayon]

Rafael would like a translation of this video into Spanish. That would be nice!

[@chookaschookas444]

Brilliant and so wellp resented. Why do we not have more of these documentaries on TV? Blood and Guys and Explosions are terrible. These programmes are wonderful

[@robertcombs55]

I Loved every minute of this!!!

[@nexussever]

I loved this, but was surprised that they did not mention "Laugh In." That was my generation's link to Vaudeville.

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

I saw a vaudeville act a few years ago that was really neat, but I wish I could have seen it in its heyday.

[@georgerodriquez7744]

I agreed with them its like back i was growing up with music there was only AM radio and in that station the music from country.Rock and thats why i know all type of music.

[@ArchernAce]

I love this show...every aspect was represented.

[@amywalker7515]

I've seen old movies with two black boys like the two in this feature dancing. Even white performers often didn't get parts in many films unless they were superstars. The hits of those days seemed to feature the same few performers over and over again, like the Marx brothers, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, The Barrymores and so on.

[@loletmacapagal3163]

This video about vaudeville is an important link to the continuing history of Philippine drama. Its history explains the love of Filipinos for variety shows.

[@PotterPossum1989]

Nowadays, we have America's Got Talent and Little Big Shots.

[@johnstirret5021]

Bert Lahr's son, John sure looks like him.

[@xylfox]

Trixie Fraganza was the Grand-Grandmother of Rap !!!

[@michellelekas211]

(:

[@lindawoody8501]

Billy Barty mentions that his parents asked him to work on the stage and it was fine. My late mother was acquainted with Billy Barty's Mother in Los Angeles through the bowling league both were participants of. My Mother knew several stars and she was very enchanted by Billy Barty's Mom and always said nice things about her.

[@JAZZHOBO]

I useta hear PigMeat Markham and Moms Mabley on WLAC Radio station when I lived in Arkansas.

[@Gail1Marie]

Interesting to see what Keith and Albee looked like. The Keith-Albee-Orpheum (KAO) Corporation (booking vaudeville and movies) was formed by the merger of the holdings of Keith, Albee, and Martin Beck's Orpheum Circuit. In 1928 a controlling portion of stock was sold to Joseph P. Kennedy. In turn, the stock was purchased by RCA, along with Film Booking Offices of America (FBO), to create Radio Keith Orpheum (RKO Pictures). And vaudeville transitioned to films.

[@LuisRivera-vf9pk]

Very educational, truly informative.

[@aarongreen3100]

This documentary has to be the biggest inspiration for Mr. Show's Megaphone Crooners

[@dennislyon8030]

My Great grande mothy was a dancer aka flapper 👍

[@dennispalmer5543]

Who is the commentator in this video? I have heard his voice before, like in the radio story of “Guys and Dolls.” Somebody out there help me out.

[@francisbtube]

I love how the credits show us that Beatboxing is NOT a recent invention.

[@roderickfernandez8554]

This is in remembrance of violet Carlson top of the bill at The Palace Theater a great Vaudeville star performing with her husband I had the Good Fortune to meet her and 1965 when I was doing Summer Stock hair and costumes and makeup my first time I forget what show she was doing but we became instant friends she loved to talk about the old days of Helen Morgan and Weber and Fields George and Gracie and I could listen for hours several years later I moved to California to work on a project and of course I told her that I was on my way and she said he'you will stay with me until you find something so I did I think I stayed two or three weeks and it was one of the highlights of my whole career. She loved to tell stories about the old days and I love to listen to stories about the old days and they were some stories. After I got my own place we spent a lot of time together hardly a day one pass when we didn't speak on the phone. When she died it was possibly one of the worst things I've experienced aside for my own parents. It was so good to see her in this program because I've looked and looked and looked and I can't find any vitaphone shorts with her and her husband don't even know if she did any you know. I must stop or this is going to be at to volume production thank you very much these clips that you put on are just wonderful period. I've actually met some people who don't even know what the word Vaudeville means. I do love all the modern means of communication Vaudeville was something special the people in it were sometime special and they mustn't be forgotten that's all I'm using a friends phone My name is not Michael he'smy good friend] I'm very lucky

[@francisbtube]

Thanks for posting Gregory. Really interesting.

[@donnarouse5366]

I love what they bought to me! Even though I hadn't been born yet!

[@josephciolino2865]

Jolson never sang "Mammy" in Vaudeville. IN fact, he spent very little time in Vaudeville as an adult. He went right to Broadway.

[@efrenmjr]

I love how at 35:53 it just cuts to Chaz eating the Ukulele 💀

[@Bill23799]

What was the difference between Vaudeville and Burlesque? I used to think Burlesque was just strippers but I don't think that's true. Nevermind, they explained it.

[@princessmarlena1359]

🎶🎵”There’s no mustache, like my father’s mustache! That’s the biggest mustache in toooowwwnnn! Play me off, Johnny!” 🎹🎹

[@EnchantressShane]

Vaudeville is back in the Rockaways Queens, NY

[@michellelekas211]

Wonderful "American Masters" doc. This is on DVD as well.

[@michaelstair8658]

A testimony to everyone who loves to entertain, past, present and future!

[@elmerkilred159]

I remember seeing a lot of the actors (commenting on what they did)when I was growing up, on the TV and some in the movies. They're all gone now. KZbin (in a way) is the new Vaudeville Theater. Maybe, the third iteration of it. There are some things missing from today's TV and Movies that Vaudeville brought, and that is drive, determination along with years of trial and error. (Stand up comedy survived).

[@Biber0315]

Bobby Short is just so classy.

[@track1219]

Love the hula-lula singer at 17:15 !

[@richardnailhistorical3445]

Yes I have a comment - who were those very 'last' two guys in this film playing a flute & ukulele? Who were they? They were great entertainment!

[@mytuber81]

Washington D.C. is ground zero for amateur Vaudevillians. No matter how terrible they perform they get a raise.

[@stephenjackson1604]

I agree. KZbin and TikTok are the new Vaudeville.

[@davidmas3900]

Thanks for posting!

[@tru750]

Absolutely brilliant

[@D0S81]

9:08 the fact this footage s now 101 years old is fascinating. yet when i was born it was only 60. its crazy

[@sandrashevey8252]

So great. So upbeat. So optimistic. So cheeful! WHat kind of junk culture do we have today? Don`t make me say it!!

[@adrianmonk4440]

Roaming Street performers, SMALL traveling circuses, & SMALL traveling road, or minstrel shows, & SMALL traveling stage productions were the ancient roots of Vaudeville. Even TRULY Medieval Renaissance Fairs (1000AD to 1500 AD) featuring Musicians, Wrestling, Juggling, Punch & Judy Puppet Shows, Magicians, & Reciting, etc. By 1600 AD, Stages had Curtains & became more indoor & permanent. All part of the evolution. Russian pogroms, etc. displaced Hebrew villages, & sent inhabitants migratory. THERE IS NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS.