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: 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...
World Wide School
World Wide School: Etext of a Burlesque Biography
This site provides the complete etext for Mark Twain's story, A Burlesque Biography.
Virtual Salt
Virtual Salt: A Glossary of Literary Terms
This site provides a long list of literary terms complete with full definitions and examples.
Musicals 101
Musicals 101: Early u.s. Musicals
Scroll down a bit to read about the first identifiably American Musical, "The Black Crook." The bare legs of the dancers link it to what became the burlesque tradition.
Other
Bob's Byway: Glossary of Poetic Terms
Calling itself "unique," Bob's is easy to use, with cross-links throughout, phonetic pronunciation guides when necessary, and many examples and quotations. Click on the letter and scroll for the word.