Lee Hurst Live at the Backyard Book

Even with a BA in Theatre Arts, much of the information in "The Voice of the City" was news to me. Robert W. Snyder presents vaudeville as it really was, at least in New York City. From "small-time" to "big-time" we see how it all came together as an entertainment force spanning the period post Civil War to the Great Depression. The book covers the topic from the theatre owners to the talent agencies to the acts (and their audiences) themselves. Most interesting is how acts promoting ethnic stereotypes actually helped to bring diverse communities together and promote cultural exchange. No matter what you think you know about vaudeville, this book is sure to offer new insight.