Variety (entertainment)

Variety (entertainment)
Name	Variety (entertainment)
Genre	Musical revue, vaudeville, cabaret, variety show, live entertainment
Years active	19th century – present

Variety (entertainment) is a genre of live and broadcast performance that mixes multiple acts such as song, dance, comedy, magic (illusion), acrobatics, and animal acts into a single program presented in theaters, clubs, on radio, and on television. Originating from 19th‑century popular entertainments, the form evolved through institutions such as music hall, vaudeville, and revue and shaped mass entertainment industries in cities like London, New York City, and Paris.

History

Variety traces roots to 19th‑century institutions including music hall in London, vaudeville circuits organized by impresarios like Tony Pastor in New York City, and continental formats such as the cabaret scene of Paris and Berlin. Early venues hosted performers drawn from minstrelsy, burlesque, and pantomime traditions connecting to impresarios and managers like Florenz Ziegfeld, B. F. Keith, and A. L. Erlanger who professionalized rosters and touring circuits. The advent of phonograph recording and motion picture exhibition led variety to interact with emerging industries linked to companies such as Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Warner Bros.; later, radio broadcasting entities like BBC and NBC adapted variety formats for nationwide audiences. During the 20th century, variety intersected with Broadway, Hollywood, and the rise of televised programs on networks including CBS, ABC, and ITV, while international performers from Frank Sinatra, Josephine Baker, Charlie Chaplin, Bing Crosby, and Ella Fitzgerald moved between live variety stages and recorded media.

Format and Elements

A typical variety program assembles a bill of acts that might include song artists connected to labels like Columbia Records and Decca Records, dance ensembles linked to choreographers associated with Martha Graham or Bob Fosse, stand‑up and sketch comedians in the tradition of George Burns and Lenny Bruce, illusionists akin to Harry Houdini, and specialty acts such as circus performers from troupes related to families like the Ringling Brothers. Production elements draw on staging techniques from theatrical designers who worked on productions at venues like Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Palace Theatre (New York), utilising lighting rigs analogous to those developed for Shaftesbury Avenue and orchestration arranged in the manner of conductors tied to Carnegie Hall. The running order typically balances headliners—names comparable to Judy Garland or Frankie Laine—with novelty turns influenced by producers such as Lew Grade and booking agencies like William Morris Endeavor.

Notable Venues and Shows

Historic venues associated with variety include Music Hall (Boston), The Apollo Theater, Radio City Music Hall, Folies Bergère, and Moulin Rouge (Paris), while broadcast staples include shows like The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, Laurel and Hardy film revues, and The Jack Benny Program. Internationally significant iterations appeared on stages such as Sydney Opera House and festivals like Edinburgh Festival Fringe; television formats flourished on channels such as BBC One, NHK, and RAI. Touring revues connected to producers like Florenz Ziegfeld spawned spectacles in theatres including Ziegfeld Theatre and venues on Broadway (Manhattan) and the West End.

Key Performers and Presenters

Key performers who defined the form encompass a range of entertainers including singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Patsy Cline, Nat King Cole; comedians and hosts such as Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, Eddie Cantor, Lucille Ball; dancers and choreographers like Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, Bob Fosse; and specialty stars like Harry Houdini, Charlie Chaplin, Josephine Baker, and Buster Keaton. Presenters and impresarios shaping bills included Florenz Ziegfeld, B. F. Keith, Tony Pastor, Lew Grade, and executives from networks such as NBCUniversal and BBC Studios who facilitated transitions to radio and television.

Influence on Film, Television, and Radio

Variety had formative influence on early silent film musicals and sound films produced by studios such as Universal Pictures, RKO Radio Pictures, and 20th Century Fox, informing cinematic revues like those featuring Marlene Dietrich and Fred Astaire. Radio adapted variety formats on programs distributed by networks like CBS Radio and Mutual Broadcasting System, developing talent pools that migrated to television programs on NBC, CBS, and global broadcasters including CBC and ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Television adopted the variety template for late‑night formats exemplified by The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and prime‑time specials produced by companies such as Desilu Productions and linked to stars like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

International Variations

Different national traditions produced regional variants: British music hall and variety (British TV) on BBC developed distinct humor and revue styles; French cabaret and revues at Folies Bergère emphasized chansonniers like Édith Piaf and performers such as Maurice Chevalier; German Kabarett combined political satire with song in cities like Berlin; Japanese variety show formats on NHK and commercial networks created high‑energy panels featuring talents from Johnny & Associates; Latin American television developed variety programs blending telenovela crossovers and musical numbers showcased on networks like Televisa and Globo.

Contemporary Revivals and Legacy

Contemporary revivals include televised talent competitions such as America's Got Talent and The Voice (U.S. TV series), cabaret renewals in venues like Joe's Pub and festival programming at Glastonbury Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe, while retro revues and nostalgia tours feature legacy acts inspired by performers like Bette Midler and Dame Shirley Bassey. The genre’s legacy persists in hybrid formats across platforms associated with companies like Netflix, HBO, and Amazon Studios, and in live circuits managed by agencies such as CAA and ICM Partners, ensuring variety’s techniques and talent pipelines remain influential in contemporary entertainment industrys.

Category:Performing arts genres