- Description
Tap Dance America is a reference work of bibliographic information and does not point to digitized versions of the items described. The Library of Congress may or may not own a copy of a particular film or video. To request additional information Ask a Librarian.
See Also:
- James Cagney (biography)
- June Taylor (biography)
- Nicholas Brothers (biography)
- Leonard Reed (biography)
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American Masters: Vaudeville / Nicholas Brothers [television/video]
- Title
- American Masters: Vaudeville [Television/Video]
- Performers
- Nicholas Brothers
- Reed, Leonard
- Taylor, June
- Rooney, Pat
- Toy and Wing
- Cagney, James
- Published/Created
- 1997-11-26
- Genre
- Television/Video
- Abstract
- 1997/11/26
Ameican Masters: Vaudeville 1997/11/26 PBS. Explores the lives and achievements of Americas most celebrated native-born and adopted artists; archival footage and interviews with former performers and historians to examine the history of vaudeville from the 1880s to the 1930s. Narrated by Ben Vereen, begins by defining vaudeville, explaining its appeal to the working classes; its immigrant performers and audience; and its origins in other art forms such as the English music hall, street performers, clowns, the Yiddish theatre, and burlesque. He looks a the wholesome family aspect of vaudeville; the importance of the vaudeville circuit owners; the need to travel across the country; the usual sequence of acts on a vaudeville show; the resulting hierarchy of performers; the love/hate relationship of vaudevillians had with audiences. Looks at members of minority groups, particularly black performers, stressing the difficulty of overcoming stereotypes begun by the minstrel shows and blackfaced white performers. Finally, the demise of vaudeville as it was threatened by radio, movies, and television. Guests include Bill Irwin, Fayard and Harold Nicholas, Leonard Reed, June Taylor, Bobby Short, Al Hirschfeld, Morton Gould, Mel Watkins, Robert Townsend. Scenes from acts as Nicholas Brothers, Pat Rooney, Eunice Wilson and the Five Racketeers, Stump and Stumpy, Reed and Bryant, Bert Williams, Toy and Wing, Jimmy Cagney, Ginger Rogers, and Bill Irwin.
- Source
- Museum of Television and Radio Broadcasing: Museum of Television and Radio Broadcasing. ().
Last Updated: 12-16-2015