The History of Vaudeville Theater

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, there was a time in history, when a brand new style of entertainment swept the nation. It changed the very way that Americans would perform in theaters, while illustrating the creativity of people with an eagerness to entertain.
The The development of vaudeville theater had a significant impact on America by providing people of all ages with a new source of entertainment, a new type of music/ theater experience, and symbolized the cultural diversity of early 20th century America.
There really was no need for vaudeville theater, but it was still beneficial to Americans in multiple ways. For the performers, also known as vaudevillians, it was a way to express their creativity and talents with the rest of America. They would travel virtually everywhere and anywhere to entertain others, from small towns to the big New York cities. Not only that, but this was how vaudevillians made their living. It was their way of life, and the things they did would greatly impact not just their success, but their profit
In addition, for the average American, it was a very new and interesting form of entertainment. As vaudeville developed over time, the performers and the audience became much more diverse. In 1881, a man named Tony Pastor created a form of vaudeville that allowed families, including women and children, to enjoy the large variety of acts. Low ticket prices also helped define the audience for vaudeville. Tickets usually topped out between $1 and 75￠, compared to seats to a broadway hit which went for as much as $2.
There was no doubt that a vaudevillians life was often strenuous. In A History of the Musical Vaudeville by John Kenrick, he says “Appearing in vaudeville was no vacation. A successful act toured for forty or more weeks a year, doing ‘one nighters,’ split-weeks or weekly stands depending on a theatre’s size.” There was always a constant demand for new acts, and performances. People put up with the insistent schedules, because even those who were less experienced or skillful, could still make a decent living. For example, in 1919, the average factory worker could earn $1,300 a year. A small-time performer could earn up to $3,150 that same year, doing something that they enjoyed. Any performer with determination, devotion, and passion could make a suitable life for themselves.
Over time, vaudeville theater provided people of all ages with a source of entertainment.