Vaudeville

This term had its origins in Paris in the early eighteenth century and refered to the songs performed at the Theatre de la Foire (Fair Theatre) and the Opera comique that put new lyrics (with timely subjects) to well-known melodies. As Opera comique became it's own musical genre using original music in the nineteenth century, vaudeville then refered to comedies with songs thrown in. This form of entertaiment was popular into the early twentieth century. Today, vaudeville is generally thought of as a variety show with unrelated acts consisting of stand-up comedy, virtuoso intrumental and vocal performance, and song and dance acts.originally a song with a short, amorous text. later applied to short musical comedies interspersed with popular songs. Today it refers to any light theatrical entertainment with music.