Books by "James J. Olson"
2 books found
Vaudeville, as it is commonly known today, began as a response to scandalous variety performances appealing mostly to adult, male patrons. When former minstrel performer and balladeer Tony Pastor opened the Fourteenth Street Theatre in New York in 1881, he was guided by a mission to provide family-friendly variety shows in hopes of drawing in that portion of the audience – women and children – otherwise inherently excluded from variety bills prior to 1881. There he perfected a framework for family-oriented amusements of the highest obtainable quality and style. Historical Dictionary of Vaudeville contains a chronology, an introduction, an extensive bibliography, and the dictionary section has more than 1,000 cross-referenced entries on performing artists, managers and agents, theatre facilities, and the terminology central to the history of vaudeville. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about vaudeville.
Hollywood Songsters: Garland to O'Connor
by James Robert Parish, Michael R. Pitts
2003 · Taylor & Francis
For fans of musicals, singing, Hollywood history, and the lives of stars, no other work equals this new three-volume reference to the on- and off-camera careers of more than 100 performers who made major contributions to the American screen musical. From June Allyson to Mae West, Hollwood Songsters provides a detailed narrative-ranging from 2,000 to 5000 words each-of the lives and careers of stars forever etched in our memories. Each entry includes a filmography, discography (of both albums and CDs), Broadway appearances, radio work, television appearances and series, and a full-page photo of the subject. This is the ideal reference work for everyone one from the mildly curious to the devoted fan.