How to Enter Vaudeville
July 3, 2010 8:18 AM Subscribe
I presume it is your intention to start upon a Vaudeville career. How to Enter Vaudeville: A Complete Illustrated Course of Instruction by Frederick LaDelle.
Need more inspiration for the career switch? Why not check out some historic footage of vaudeville acts from 1898 - 1910.
Need more inspiration for the career switch? Why not check out some historic footage of vaudeville acts from 1898 - 1910.
Call me dense, but I am not getting the difference between the 'Blackface Act' and 'Ethiopian Entertainers'.
This has inspired me to go out and practice my 'Hobo/Tramp Act'.
This is fantastic!
posted by mazola at 8:58 AM on July 3, 2010
This has inspired me to go out and practice my 'Hobo/Tramp Act'.
This is fantastic!
posted by mazola at 8:58 AM on July 3, 2010
Finally put my electronics degree to good use. I made a career switch to the vaudeville circuit.
posted by hal9k at 9:04 AM on July 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by hal9k at 9:04 AM on July 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Forget Milton Berle! Forget Fanny Brice! Forget the Ritz Brothers! They don't hold a candle to me, because I'm the toast of Vaudeville!
posted by Iridic at 9:32 AM on July 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Iridic at 9:32 AM on July 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
The Whelk, you are not too old to join the (small crappy itinerant) circus. Just go to the tent when they are breaking down, and you might get tens of dollars for helping. If you hit it off, and show up at few more breakdowns, under your own steam, maybe you can ride with them and sleep on a pile of canvas. If you aren't wanted by the FBI or pursued by private detectives tracking you for some misdeed, all the better.
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:05 AM on July 3, 2010
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:05 AM on July 3, 2010
Comedy Boxers: This act is one in which no skill is required whatever.
At least I have this to fall back on.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 11:14 AM on July 3, 2010
At least I have this to fall back on.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 11:14 AM on July 3, 2010
The Whelk: I'm in the circus - when I started training I couldn't even do a tumble. My handstands are still rubbish, but I've picked up some strong skills in other things and have performance experience. I do burlesque too.
It's never too late to start - we get a lot of 30-40 somethings joining in and having a go!
posted by divabat at 11:15 AM on July 3, 2010
It's never too late to start - we get a lot of 30-40 somethings joining in and having a go!
posted by divabat at 11:15 AM on July 3, 2010
Aerialists: ... Special skill or strength are not required as directions for accomplishing the various acts come with the apparatus.
Dude, aerials are hard. Some people take to them like monkeys to trees, but without proper training you'll likely fall and paralyse yourself. Eep!
posted by divabat at 11:20 AM on July 3, 2010
Dude, aerials are hard. Some people take to them like monkeys to trees, but without proper training you'll likely fall and paralyse yourself. Eep!
posted by divabat at 11:20 AM on July 3, 2010
All high school guidance counselors need this book. I could have been a chapeaugraphist.
posted by pracowity at 1:03 PM on July 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by pracowity at 1:03 PM on July 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Whelk, you are not too old to join the (small crappy itinerant) circus. Just go to the tent when they are breaking down, and you might get tens of dollars for helping.
It's actually quite true. I signed up to volunteer at the local underground circus/cabaret and got offered a paying job on the production staff after three days.
posted by mykescipark at 1:26 PM on July 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's actually quite true. I signed up to volunteer at the local underground circus/cabaret and got offered a paying job on the production staff after three days.
posted by mykescipark at 1:26 PM on July 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Whelk, you are not too old to join the (small crappy itinerant) circus. Just go to the tent when they are breaking down, and you might get tens of dollars for helping.
I did this once when I was 12 and got all the goldfish I could carry.
I am not kidding.
posted by The Whelk at 4:06 PM on July 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
I did this once when I was 12 and got all the goldfish I could carry.
I am not kidding.
posted by The Whelk at 4:06 PM on July 3, 2010 [3 favorites]
I like how the electrical acts require "no skill" and yet draw the biggest crowds and pay the largest salaries.
posted by davejay at 10:34 PM on July 3, 2010
posted by davejay at 10:34 PM on July 3, 2010
MetaFilter: Choose almost any race or character you wish and a suitable line of talk to carry out the part will make the act go.1
posted by davejay at 10:36 PM on July 3, 2010
posted by davejay at 10:36 PM on July 3, 2010
One more thing: this pamphlet spells Xylophone with a Z. Was that actually the common spelling back then, or did the author just spell it phonetically?
posted by davejay at 10:38 PM on July 3, 2010
posted by davejay at 10:38 PM on July 3, 2010
I still wanna see the gypsy queen, in a glaze of vaseline, perform the guillotine.
posted by Goofyy at 10:00 PM on July 5, 2010
posted by Goofyy at 10:00 PM on July 5, 2010
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