+
Website
Other

Radio Days Comedy Vaudeville Routines

For Students 9th - 10th
Interesting site that explores the roots of comedy routines on radio. Examines major figures and their comedy/vaudeville on the airwaves through the century. Good resource site.
+
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Buster Keaton

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical facts on the life of Buster Keaton,comic actor and film director in the 1920's.
+
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Sam Goldwyn

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS presents biographical information and a career timeline on one of America's greatest producers and Academy Award winner, Sam Goldwyn.
+
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Vaudeville

For Students 9th - 10th
From the PBS series, American Masters, this is a description of early 20th century American popular theater, Vaudeville.
+
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Vaudeville Comedians

For Students 3rd - 8th
Have a great time listening to and reading about old Vaudeville acts that included magic, juggling, comic routines, animals acts, and dance.
+
Handout
A&E Television

Biography: Harry Houdini

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a brief biography of Harry Houdini.
+
Handout
IMDb

Internet Movie Database: Fred Astaire

For Students 9th - 10th
The Internet Movie Database provides a "Mini biography" of Fred Astaire, his career in dance and film.
+
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Bert Williams

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia article gives a good overview of the life of Bert Williams, a black entertainer of the early 1900's who broke many color lines.
+
Article
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: See, Hear and Sing: Humor

For Students 9th - 10th
Today's comedy evolved from vaudeville (variety) shows of the 19th and early 20th centuries that included clowns, slapstick, dancers, singers, performing animals, acrobats, and magicians. This is an interactive site offering various...
+
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Sports and Leisure

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the options for leisure time in the Gilded Age for the typical American. Baseball, vaudeville, and bicycling all came into their own in the 1890s.
+
Article
Other

New York City Landmark: Palace Theater

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out where vaudeville was performed in New York's Palace Theater. Included is a timeline of the use of the theater from 1913 through 2000.
+
Handout
American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise

Jewish Virtual Library: Fanny Brice (1891 1951)

For Students 9th - 10th
The personal and professional life of comedian Fanny Brice (1891-1951 CE) is discussed on this site.
+
Article
Other

Sfsu: Origins of Mass Entertainment in the Gilded Age

For Students 9th - 10th
An introduction from the San Francisco State University of the various forms of mass entertainment that emerged during the Gilded Age. Follow the hyperlinks for in-depth discussion of the aspects of culture during this period in American...
+
Handout
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies

Mocomi: Harry Houdini the World's Handcuffs King

For Students 2nd - 8th
Discover interesting facts about Harry Houdini, famous escape artist.
+
Website
Other

Vintage Vaudeville and Ragtime Show

For Students 9th - 10th
This entertaining site contains the history of Vaudeville along with original soundbites of Vaudeville players.
+
Graphic
Curated OER

Collage

For Students 9th - 10th
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. There is also video and audio of early songs and movies.
+
Graphic
Curated OER

How to Enter Vaudeville

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Library of Congress explores Bob Hope and his role in American vaudeville in this century. Defines vaudeville routines and his bio information. Good resource site.
+
Graphic
Curated OER

New York Palace Theatre

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Library of Congress explores Bob Hope and his role in American vaudeville in this century. Defines vaudeville routines and his bio information. Good resource site.
+
Graphic
Curated OER

How to Enter Vaudeville

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Library of Congress explores Bob Hope and his role in American vaudeville in this century. Defines vaudeville routines and his bio information. Good resource site.
+
Graphic
Curated OER

The Show Has Started!

For Students 9th - 10th
This page allows you to download and listen to a complete Vaudeville show! (The sound files are in Real Audio 2 format.)