vaudeville

Definitions

  • WordNet 3.6
    • n vaudeville a variety show with songs and comic acts etc.
    • ***
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
  • Interesting fact: While seeking a name and package design for the world's first self-rising pancake mix, creator Chris L. Rutt saw a vaudeville team known as Baker and Farrell whose act included Baker singing the catchy song "Aunt Jemima" dressed as a Southern mammy. Inspired by the wholesome name and image, Rutt appropriated them both to market his new pancake mix.
    • Vaudeville a variety show when performed live in a theater (see above); as, to play in vaudeville; a vaudeville actor.
    • Vaudeville A kind of song of a lively character, frequently embodying a satire on some person or event, sung to a familiar air in couplets with a refrain; a street song; a topical song.
    • Vaudeville A theatrical piece, usually a comedy, the dialogue of which is intermingled with light or satirical songs, set to familiar airs. "The early vaudeville , which is the forerunner of the opera bouffe, was light, graceful, and piquant."
    • ***
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
    • n vaudeville The name given by Oliver Basselin, a French poet of the fifteenth century, to his convivial songs composed in the valley of the Vire, which became very popular throughout France.
    • n vaudeville Hence In modern French poetry, a light, gay song, frequently embodying a satire, consisting of several couplets with a refrain or burden, sung to a familiar air, and often introduced into theatrical pieces; a song popular with the common people, and sung about the streets; a ballad; a topical song.
    • n vaudeville A light kind of dramatic entertainment, combining pantomime with dialogue and songs, which obtained great popularity about the middle of the eighteenth century. At present any short, light piece, usually comic, with songs and dances intermingled with the dialogue, is called a vaudeville.
    • ***
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
    • n Vaudeville vōd′vil originally a popular song with topical allusions: a play interspersed with dances and songs incidentally introduced and usually comic
    • ***

Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
F., fr. Vau-de-vire, a village in Normandy, where Olivier Basselin, at the end of the 14th century, composed such songs
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
From vau (val) de Vire, the valley of the Vire, in Normandy, where they were first composed about 1400 A.D.

Usage

In literature:

A few doors west is the Vaudeville.
"The Strand District" by Sir Walter Besant
It's too bad you missed the vaudeville.
"Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: The Moth and the Flame" by Clyde Fitch
Last night there was a Vaudeville company; and Charley, Roche, and Anne went.
"The Life of Charles Dickens, Vol. I-III, Complete" by John Forster
The two rescued youths proved to be vaudeville actors, and the boys grew very friendly with them.
"The Radio Boys Trailing a Voice" by Allen Chapman
When you want vaudeville, I will incline to grand opera.
"Eve to the Rescue" by Ethel Hueston
He lunges between all-science and all-vaudeville, and plays in his way, it is true, but he never plays with his mind.
"The Lost Art of Reading" by Gerald Stanley Lee
If there were such a thing as vaudeville among birds, the common sparrow would be a star imitator.
"The Log of the Sun" by William Beebe
Nothing but vaudeville nowadays.
"The Copper Princess" by Kirk Munroe
A lightning change that smacks of inferior vaudeville.
"Fantazius Mallare" by Ben Hecht
Chasson's vaudeville is going to be in Clintonia next week.
"The Radio Boys at the Sending Station" by Allen Chapman
***

In poetry:

But Zeus' inscrutable decree
Permits the will-to-disagree
To be pandemic,
Ordains that vaudeville shall preach
And every commencement speech
Be a polemic.
"Under Which Lyre" by W H Auden
Where's the speech with phrases frilly,
Trouncing foemen willy nilly,
Waving arms, gesticulations,
Posturing and wild gyrations?
Briefly, where's the vaudeville
That, in olden days was Bill?
"'Billy'" by C J Dennis

In news:

Darryl Rhoades brings his comedy to Vaudeville Cafe.
timesfreepress.com
Vaudeville Cafe crowns Mouth of the South winner Tuesday.
timesfreepress.com
On Saturday, June 30, Literacy Volunteers of Essex/Franklin Counties hosted its second Vaudeville Show at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall.
adirondackdailyenterprise.com
Richard Renner, Lawrence explains how he has developed his skills in making people laugh through his Vaudeville performances.
ljworld.com
Joe Borzotta's Mixed Bag Variety Show revives the golden age of vaudeville .
nj.com
A Stirring Revival of Vaudeville Theater.
tnr.com
' Vaudeville in the Catskills'.
riverreporter.com
Will Cressey and Vaudeville .
vancouversun.com
Alexander before he was Great, Bad Boys of Dance and a vaudeville comeback.
wbez.org
Modern-day circus Brilliant Corners gives vaudeville a rock 'n' roll update.
wbez.org
The North Branch Area High School Jazz Band and Harmonaires will perform a Vaudeville Show on Friday, April 15 at 7:30 pm in the Edelstein Auditorium.
ecmpostreview.com
Shakespeare goes vaudeville in British production.
brooklynpaper.com
Vaudeville show at Sycamore is canceled.
brooklynpaper.com
Aviators former vaudeville troupe at Waco air base.
wacotrib.com
Festival stages innovative Vaudeville version of 'Richard the Third.
nashvillecitypaper.com
***

Related words