The period 1870 to 1920 was a major time of change in the United States. It was started by massive European immigration, including migration from rural to urban centers that led to the dramatic growth of cities. White-collar and blue-collar working people alike benefited from an increase in personal income and leisure time. Tourism developed as an American pastime, annual vacations became a national habit, and city dwellers began taking half-holidays on Saturday.
Popular, live entertainment gained popularity in the late nineteenth century and reached its climax in the first decade of the twentieth. During the fifty-year period covered by this collection, minstrel shows were out-dated by the unexpected success of variety theater and an growing diversity of popular entertainment. Burlesque developed into a full-blown theatrical form and modern amusement parks attracted huge crowds.
The American Variety Stage featured material that illustrated the diverse forms of variety......
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Approximate Word Count: 504
Approximate Pages: 2 (260 words per double-spaced page) |