Jaden Adler
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Vincent Longo
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Film, Television, and Media / LSA
Program:
Authors:
Session: Session 4: 1:40 pm – 2:30 pm
Poster: 67
Abstract
Vaudeville, which is a form of live performance, was constantly in competition with the cinema of movies and television we are used to today. After the 1930’s, people say there is little to no sign of vaudeville. Scholarship assumes variety live performance died with the Great Depression and that movies and then television dominated American entertainment. Our study, in contrast, examined historical evidence for any sign of vaudeville. This research analyzed information about vaudeville performances in the early 1930’s to the late 1950’s in entertainment trade magazines. This analysis revealed that vaudeville did not die in the 1930’s at all, but continued on for a few more decades. In fact, long after the Great Depression, vaudeville thrived. After placing vaudeville bill information into a database and reviewing trade press newspapers, many signs that vaudeville continuing strong were noticed. This information helps us understand that the television and movie industry did not wipe out the traditional live performance scene entirely. Additionally, people often like to blame the great depression for wiping out everything, but vaudeville was not a victim of this tragedy. In looking deeply at a distant part of the entertainment industry, this project will help people understand the timeline of vaudeville’s disappearance and how it relates to broader history and the entertainment industry as a whole.
