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vaudeville

vaudeville

23 9.5
A live show with many short acts like songs and comedy
  • noun
  • /ˈvɔːdɪvɪl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : teatro de variedades
  • When the place is not used for boxing, it houses vaudeville, touring stage shows, and some special movies.
  • vaudeville circuit
  • vaudeville stage
  • vaudeville theater

Where they did take preventive measures, sometimes schools were closed, churches and vaudeville shows and theaters as well.

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Examples

  • He grew up dancing in a lot of vaudeville houses.

  • "And that," she said, "figures to be around the time vaudeville comes back."

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Then they hit on the idea of filming popular vaudeville acts.

  • While he was making his debut on Broadway, he was still appearing in vaudeville shows.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Danny Rose (1984) is a movie strongly rooted in the American tradition of vaudeville comedy.

    Academic text (1992)
  • "Besides," Mrs. Lockhart added, "our vaudeville troupe has an engagement in San Diego in less than twenty-four hours."

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Today, the Coney Island Vaudeville Extravaganza presents a swimming exhibition from Englishman Bill Burgess!

  • Many famous performers got their start in vaudeville, showcasing their talents in variety shows.

  • The vaudeville performance included comedy sketches, musical numbers, and dance acts that entertained the audience.

  • She always dreamed of headlining a vaudeville show, where she could display her singing and dancing skills.

Synonyms

variety
vsvaudeville
88 4.8

An entertainment show with many different acts like songs and comedy

is the historical early 20th version of that general form
revue
vsvaudeville
  • Archaic
18 8.6

A stage show of short songs, dances and comedy sketches that often makes fun of current events

is a general mixed act entertainment rather than a topical satirical format
variety show
vsvaudeville
11 3.4

A show made of different short acts like songs, dances, and jokes

is the historical form mainly popular in the early 20th century
music hall
vsvaudeville
  • Archaic
1 7.8

A show with songs, jokes, and short acts that was popular in Britain long ago

is like that but not tied to Britain and mainly early 20th popular

Antonyms

14 5.5

A boring feeling when things are the same again and again

Compounds

1 7.5

A theater that presents a series of short live acts like comedy, music, and dance

How Entertaining

spectacle
68 4.2
revue
  • Archaic
18 8.6
vaudeville
  • Archaic
23 9.5
play
1.4
recital
69 3.6
lecture
365 3.1

Surface Forms

vaudeville singular
vaudevilles plural

Etymology

The word vaudeville comes from a French name for light, popular songs called vaux-de-Vire, which means 'valleys of Vire' and refers to a place in Normandy. Those songs were later used in mixed shows of music, comedy and dance, so vaudeville came to mean a variety show.