PBS
Broadway and The American Dream
Considering a unit study of American Musical Theatre? What better way to start than at the very beginning. Eight pairs of cards provide class members with background information about the genre from 1893 through 2004. The cards are...
Library of Congress
Loc: The American Variety Stage: Vaudeville 1870 1920
Provides information about Vaudeville, a popular amusement show during the late 19th and early 20th century.
Library of Congress
Loc: Bob Hope and American Variety
An EXTENSIVE biography on the life of entertainer Bob Hope from his early life through the USO shows to his television career. Great examples of images and personal notes and memorabilia.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Variety Stage: Bijou Theater
Musical theater and vaudeville were popular in the Gilded Age. Here is a theater program from the Bijou Theater in Boston. Leaafing through the pages gives a great slice of life at the time, not only because of the playbills, but also...
University of Georgia
University of Georgia: Virtual Vaudeville
Experience vaudeville in pictures, sound, and animation, with a selection of supporting primary-source documents, such as period newspaper clippings and historical photographs. The jewels of the site, however, are two performance...
Musicals 101
Musicals101.com: Musical Vaudeville and Burlesque
This site from Musicals101.com explains the emergence of vaudeville and burlesque from the middle class needs of industrialized America. Part II explains what makes up a vaudeville act.
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Bob Hope Obituary
Read all about the life and accomplishments of Bob Hope who died at the age of 100 in 2003.
Other
The British Film Institute: Charlie Chaplin
A wonderful celebration of the life and work of film great Charlie Chaplin. Fantastic resources including a biography as well as current global projects to restore his films.
Other
Vaudeville Memories
Wonderful site that offers all kinds of pictures and information about the performers, the theatres, the slang, and links to other sites.
Other
Vaudeville 101
Fun site gives timeline, factoids and figurines, and an outline of a vaudeville show.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Growing Pains of Urbanization: Relief From the Chaos of Urban Life
Learn how different economic classes in urban centers spent their leisure time in the late 19th century. Includes a good discussion of machine politics and the role it played in the lives of the lower classes, as well as its negative...
University of Iowa
The Keith/albee Collection: The Vaudeville Industry, 1894 1935
Find out about the vaudeville circuit of Albee and Keith from the manager reports, play bills, and trade newspapers included in this collection from the University of Iowa.
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Gertrude "Ma" Rainey
Often called the "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey was known for her deep-throated voice and mesmerizing stage presence that drew packed audiences and sold hit records in the early twentieth century.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Memory: The American Variety Stage Audio Sampler
Information from the Library of Congress on variety show entertainment, 1870-1920 in which students can actually listen to audio samplers of variety entertainment dating from 1913.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Variety Stage: Vaudeville and Popular Entertainment 1870 1920
This page is the front door to an extensive collection of play scripts, theater bills, motion pictures, sound recordings and photographs that document popular entertainment, especially vaudeville, from 1870 to 1920.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Variety Stage: Forms of Variety Theater
The "variety" in the title of this piece comes in the choices you can make at the top of the page. You can scroll down to the minstrel show, or you can click on the words at the top of the page. The history of the minstrel show is...
Library of Congress
Loc: American Memory: English Language Playscripts
This page provides a good overview of Vaudeville, including its organization. A description of Vaudeville sketches can be found about halfway down the page.
Library of Congress
Loc: Vaudeville and Popular Entertainment 1870 1920
Presented by the Library of Congress, this site explores vaudeville and popular entertainment from 1870-1920. Included are many pictures of early theater playbills and programs, collection on Yiddish and Britishplayscripts, Houdini, and...
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Ethel Barrymore
Examine the historical contributions of Pennsylvania native and member of the Royal Family of American stage, Ethel Barrymore.
Other
David Holt: The Roots of Mountain Music
This is a short history of the major influences that have combined to create mountain music, one of which is minstrel music. Provides a good decription of minstrel music in general. Includes names and descriptions of specific songs,...
Other
Blackboard @ Sfsu: Vaudeville in Ohio
Gives a great description of small town U.S.A. entertainment: traveling vaudeville shows.
Other
Juggling Hall of Fame: "From Boy Juggler to Star Comedian" (w.c. Fields)
This page presents an excerpt from "From Boy Juggler to Star Comedian," written by American comedian, W.C. Fields. It is a very interesting account of an important part of his life.
Other
Juggling Hall of Fame: w.c. Fields: A Juggler First!
An article by Rich Chamberlin in the May, 1993, issue of Juggler's World. Gives information of W.C. Fields in his early years as an entertainer.
IMDb
Internet Movie Database: Fred Astaire Mini Biography
The Internet Movie Database provides a 'Mini biography' of dancer Fred Astaire, including career highlights and trivia.