Vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley Overview

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to Vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley music.

Vaudeville

A theatrical variety show featuring a mix of specialty acts such as comedy, music, and dance.

Tin Pan Alley

The name given to the collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Tony Pastor

Opened one of the first vaudeville theaters in New York City in 1881, known for offering 'clean' entertainment.

Blackface

A theatrical makeup used by performers to caricature a black person, often seen in minstrel shows and some vaudeville acts.

Al Jolson

A famous vaudeville performer and early Broadway star, known for his performances in blackface and his influence on American music.

Verse

The part of a song that sets up the story or emotional tone, often considered a mere introduction in the context of Tin Pan Alley songs.

Refrain

The main part of a song, usually consisting of a repeated melody and lyrics, often structured as 'AABA'.

Talking movies

Films that synchronized sound and dialogue with the action on screen, emerging in the late 1920s.

Phonograph wax cylinders

The earliest commercial medium for recording sound, used from the 1890s to the 1920s, where each cylinder lasted about 2 minutes.

78 rpm records

A record format that rotates at 78 revolutions per minute, introduced in the 1920s, capable of holding approximately 3 minutes of sound on each side.