Vaudeville/Burlesque

English burlesque offered extravagant parodies of serious ballets, plays, and operas, while in Europe the term describes music that indicates moods of high spirit. North American burlesque offered variety shows comprising dancing, striptease, and ribald comedy unsuitable for family viewing.

Impresario Tony Pastor developed the affordable family entertainment genre known as Vaudeville, which was popular from the late 19th century until about 1930, particularly in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. It featured short, unrelated segments with magicians, impersonators, ventriloquists, singers, dancers, and/or legitimate stage actors performing segments of their Broadway shows. Many burlesque and vaudeville entertainers became successful stars in movies and on radio and television.