The Impact Of Burlesque And Vaudeville On Stand-Up Comedy

During this period, musicals (which were labeled “musical comedies” at the time) were in the form of acceptable of guilty pleasures - the appeal of women and their sexuality, silly characters that made fools of themselves, or the goofy country girl dancing through the chores of the day. Ziegfeld’s Follies, Marx brother shows, and Al Jolson playing his character in blackface are great examples of these shows that focused on showing off the stars and gave little care to the

Vaudeville was a theatrical paradigm in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance consisted of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill. Types of acts included popular and classical musicians, dancers, comedians, trained animals, magicians, female

Before vaudeville even got its name it was called variety shows in previous years. Variety shows had been around for a long time but as years progressed it became more diverse and had more acts included in it. Tony Pastor (known as the father of vaudeville) was one of the men credited for these variety shows. In 1881 Pastor established a variety theater in New York (“Vaudeville”). He had many different acts performed in his theaters, especially for family entertainment. He focused on very high standards of

At the start of the 20th century, the popular vaudeville shows that crossed the nation became

Nevertheless, during the 1860’s and before, “variety” shows were strictly for-men-only and were performed in boats, concert saloons (also known as honky-tonks and dive bars), tents, churches, and just about anywhere a troupe could set up a stage and proscenium (Gilbert 10-15). The Second Great Awakening, a time in America when fundamentalism was being played out on a political scale that would shape America’s future, made its mark on theatre (D. 46). An early theatre owner, actor, and promoter Tony Pastor is considered to have transitioned variety shows in the 1860’s from what were considered to be “dirty” shows to “clean” ones. Moreover, this also brought in both male and female patrons which essentially doubled the income (Stein 3). Whether

From rock bottom poverty to bottomless fame and fortune. From abandonment from his primary family to love from millions of fans. From a neglected childhood to a bountiful family of his own. From calamity to celebration, in frequent repetition, Richard Pryor has earned the title of Legend as a result of his deft narrative, brilliant wit, and selfless survival, (“Richard Pryor,” richardpryor.com).

movies containing mainly physical comedy is often called slapstick. The phrase comes from a prop, the slapstick, which was invented in the 16th century, but physical comedy has probably been a liked topic.The paddle was still being used in the 1800s when clowns in circus, along with variety shows performed knockabout comedy and also physical stunts. This type of comedy was very common in the English music halls Including American vaudeville theatres of the late 1800s. It was around this time that the paddle as well as the humor associated with it became known in English as slapstick

He states that the major component in a woman for him is her humorousness, on the grounds that that with out it existence might be too sad and boring.

In Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the tradition of New Comedy is faithfully brought to life in a musical set in ancient Rome, but relevant to the sensibilities of its 1960's audience. Through movie sets that suggest Roman surroundings, and comedic sequences that embody the spirit of the sixties, Sondheim creates a story where Roman characters, acting according to their types, draw in modern audience members and create a energetic romp through ancient Rome that is firmly rooted in the past, but could only have been taken in sixties-era America.

Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton are two of most decorated comedic actors to date, and they did not have to utter a single word. In fact, these actors brought about laughter throughout the silent film era, and gained large followings despite their contrasting comedy styles.

Garrison Denton Barnett English IV Honors 17 April 2015 Monty Python’s Influence on Comedy Monty Python, a British acting group from the 70’s, influenced comedy by incorporating new experiments with form and content. They were broadcasted by BBC from 1969-1974. Their show “flying circus” pushed the limits of what was acceptable. It was a sketch show that had a hint of consciousness that stretched the style of what was being broadcasted during this time period. They came into the business with new style and characteristics with a vision to pursue and they would not let the mainstream comedian ruin their plan to stand out and receive success.

    Accurate or not, the linking of the origins of comedy to some sort of phallic ritual or festival of mirth seems both plausible and appropriate, since for most of its history--from Aristophanes to Seinfeld--comedy has involved a high-spirited celebration of human sexuality and the triumph of eros. As a rule, tragedies occur

Hello my name is Jonathan Platt and today I will be preforming my research presentation on the theatre tradition of French farce.

When studying theatre history, there are many times when comedy is overlooked. Yes, the great tragedies such as Oedipus Rex, Romeo and Juliet, and Long Day’s Journey into the Night are important but what about the plays that make audiences laugh? Well, playwright Neil Simon proves that comedies shouldn’t be overlooked. Starting off as a writer for variety television and becoming a playwright with several Broadway hits, Neil Simon is an important figure because his plays are not only hilariously written, but they speak to all audiences.

Charlie Chaplin produced over 35 keystone comedies in the silent era of film, and numerous “talkies,” or films with sound, afterwards (Barson). Many consider most of his works masterpieces, (especially his later ones,) and consider Chaplin a genius of the theater who’s had a greater impact on the film industry than any other man of the era. Chaplin’s greatness has a root, as most things do, within his personal history. Due to disadvantaged childhood and his mother and father who’s occupation’s involved performing often, Charlie Chaplin had the ability to relate to his audience with his famed tramp character, and a desire to perform which began at a young age and inspired Chaplin as he climbed to greatness.