Strictly Business Happy 120th Birthday, Variety! When Vaudeville, Gramophones, Caruso and Bernhardt Ruled Entertainment
Dec 16, 2025
Join David Monod, a cultural historian, and Peter Rader, a celebrated author, as they transport listeners back to 1905 to explore the vibrant world of vaudeville. They discuss the bustling entertainment marketplace and how vaudeville became accessible to the masses. Monod offers insights into the nuances of audience behavior and show structure, while Rader delves into the fascinating rise of icons like Sarah Bernhardt and the impact of emerging technologies like gramophones on celebrity culture. It's a lively romp through the origins of modern entertainment!
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Variety Built The Historical Record
- Variety created a dedicated record of vaudeville that turned scattered coverage into a reliable industry chronicle.
- David Monod says our knowledge of vaudeville largely exists because Variety reviewed shows and reported business news.
Vaudeville As A Business Model
- Vaudeville was a business innovation that organized older variety entertainments into a commercial, family-friendly format.
- David Monod explains the name and structure grew from reforms separating drinking from theaters and repackaging variety as vaudeville.
Democratizing Entertainment
- Vaudeville democratized commercial leisure by making entertainment inexpensive, timed, and repeatable across classes.
- David Monod notes prices ranged from a dime to $2 with multiple daily shows and reserved seating emerging by 1910.