Section 1 & 2

Popular types of acts in variety performance in the 19th century:

Opera

Pantomime

Mime

Marionette (Puppets)

Acrobatics

Circus acts

Romantic Ballet

Music Hall acts:

• Aerial acts - linked to circus acts
• Adagio - blend of dance and juggling; involved male dancer throwing female around
• Magic & Escapologists
• Cycling acts - links to circus acts - solo/troupe of trick cyclists
• Ventriloquists 
• Electric acts - use of static electricity to do tricks (lighting gas jets, setting fire to handkerchiefs with bare hands)
• Drag artists - Females impersonating Men/Men impersonating females
• Knife throwing & sword swallowing
• Juggling & plate spinning - also Diablo acts 
• Feat of strength - Involved both women and men
• Fire, razor blades, goldfish etc. eaters
• Wrestling & jujitsu - this made a basis for modern professional wrestling
• Mentalism - female assistant picks items from crowd, and male mentalist 'mind reads' what the items are
• Mime artists & impressionists
• Trampoline acts
• Animal acts - talking dogs, flea circuses, animal tricks
• Stilt walkers 
• Puppet acts(Marionettes)
• Comic pianists
• Shadow puppet acts
• Cowboy/wild west acts

The Oxford Music Hall - 1873                                   Canterbury Music Hall - 1856

Image source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury_Music_Hall

Image source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Music_Hall

From the 1850s to 1960,  music halls were very favoured in showbiz entertainment in UK. These venues offered a variety of popular songs, comedy, speciality acts and other entertainment. Well-known music hall include the 'Oxford Music Hall' which began in 1873, and Canterbury Music Hall. The Canterbury Music hall was one of the first, opening in 1853. The venue held a maximum of 700 people and the number of people wanting to attend grew, meaning a development of the size of the hall needed to be updated. Popular actor and singer Sam Cowell, was swept up from Evan's Supper Rooms and popularity increased. Music halls replaced saloon bars surrounding communal houses, as the years progressed in the 1830s. Employment increased in the 1900s as the constant demand for brand new common songs meant enrolling skilled songwriters. Gradually, a wide variety of acts were established and performed such as trampoline acts and comic pianists. Some music halls began removing tables due to too much socialisation with other guests, taking focus away from the acts being performed, which gradually became the norm in later years.


In the 1830s-1840s, song and supper rooms were established where customers were able to enjoy entertainment whilst being served hot food available for the whole night even till the break of dawn. ' Evan's Supper & Song Rooms' was very popular which was located in Covent Garden. Singers were of course paid which included a free beverage. A performer called 'Samuel Houghton Cowell' appeared in many song and supper rooms including Evans', whose act was comical singing and acting.

Image source : http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/evans.htm

Image source : http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/evans.htm

Image source : www.ukscreenassociation.co.uk

American vaudeville was most popular in the 1880s all the way up to the 1930s, and was quickly a very popular entertainment for a middle class audience. Variety theatre was around before the 1830s

Performances such as acrobatics, singing, dance presentations, comedy and Shakespeare were available all in one night, in the nineteenth century's first decades. Years on from this, more of a variety of entertainment increased. A diverse amusement was Dime Museums, where there would be quite odd exhibits, real and fake. This was similar in the 1800s and 1900s when travelling sideshows did this (Carnival show of freaks = people with mostly bizarre genetic mutations e.g multiple legs/arms). Other amusements such as riverboats and amusement parks also appealed to the lower-class.

For the more risqué, thrill seekers, saloons, music-halls, burlesque houses would cater to them.

Clips featuring variety performance acts

The River Dance at the Royal Variety Performance show in 1994

Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJP_n4mbEPE

Actor Jerry Lewis performing a pantomime performance for 'The Errand Boy'

Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4v8UdkTx30

Punch & Judy Puppet show in 1940s

Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syJC7S3_4yg

Acrobatic performances in the 1900s

Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aroavwvI8Y8

Anna Pavlova, well-known dancer in Romantic Ballet in 1920s

Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bRwb5DGekg

Circus acts in 1942

Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiJ02o6Tkdc

Variety performers:

Harry Houdini - Magician & escapologist

'Seven Musical Savonas' - Cycling band

Vesta Tilley - Drag artist

Danny La Rue - Impressionist & Drag artist

Victorina Troupe - Sword swallower

John Orlando Parry - Comic pianist

George Grossmith - Comic pianist

Marie Lloyd - Singer

Dan Leno - Singer

Little Tich - Singer

Arthur Askey - Comedian & actor

Fred Barnes - Singer

Bessie Bellwood - Singer

Herbert Campbell - Comedian & actor

Kate Carney - Singer & Comedian

Harry Champion - Singer & comedian

Charlie Chaplin - actor & comedian

Sydney Chaplin - Actor

Albert Chevalier - Comedian & actor

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_hall