Why Did Vaudeville Become So Popular?

The development of vaudeville marked the beginning of popular entertainment as big business, dependent on the organizational efforts of a growing number of white-collar workers and the increased leisure time, spending power, and changing tastes of an urban middle class audience.

How did vaudeville become popular?

For many, vaudeville was the first exposure to the cultures of people living right down the street. Some of the most famous vaudeville performers began at an early age. ... Their acts were a form of assimilation, in which they could become active parts of popular culture through representations of their heritage.

What was vaudeville and why did it become popular?

What was vaudeville, and why did it become popular? Vaudeville was a type of inexpensive variety show that first appeared in the 1870s. Vaudeville performances consisted of comic sketches, song and dance routines, magic arts etc. There was nothing else like it anywhere in the world so it attracted many people.