PBS American Masters: Vaudeville

Before television, before radio, even before silent movies, the most dominant form of popular entertainment in America was vaudeville--a traveling circuit of variety shows in which performers sang, danced, juggled, joked, and did just about anything they could to amuse their audiences. American Masters pays tribute to this unique theatrical genre with the presentation of more than eighty original acts, including rare performances by George Burns & Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, James Cagney, Bert Williams, Eddie Cantor, W.C. Fields, Bert Lahr, and many others. Narrated by renowned stage star Ben Vereen, Vaudeville explores the intriguing history of this stage entertainment and its impact on contemporary media such as film, television, and the modern stage.