Moisture Festival nurtures the resurgence of vaudeville

Moisture Festival nurtures the resurgence of vaudeville

by E. Joyce Glasgow - SGN A&E Writer The fifth annual Moisture Festival drew to a close this past weekend. The phenomenon of "new" vaudeville - which has been brewing over the last 35 years or so, especially on the west coast of the U.S. - is becoming more and more known, recognized and loved by a larger public audience. Vaudeville's resurgence is very positive as it encourages wild creativity and variety in artists and brings the audience together in a live community gathering where they are able to have lots of fun and feel that they are participating. From the 1880s through the mid-1930s, vaudeville was the most popular form of live entertainment around the U.S. It was a world filled with characters, many of them newly arrived immigrants, trying to live the American Dream, each with a unique idea for an act, hoping to have success and make a living through performing. There were thousands of jugglers, dancers, singers, comedians, magicians, instrumentalists and numerous novelty acts. With the advent of films, radio, and finally television, the competition for the public's attention grew too great, vaudeville lost its popularity and over 20,000 vaudevillians disappeared from the stage. Some incredible acts managed to surf the waves into the new worlds of film, radio and then television (especially with the support of Ed Sullivan) and it was their talents - honed by their years in experience on the vaudeville stage - that made their acts so wonderful and memorable. Numerous performers live on in our hearts, have become popular icons and will never be forgotten. Vaudevillians included; the Marx Brothers, W.C. Fields, Houdini, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Jack Benny, James Cagney, Bob Hope, Fanny Brice, Molly Picon, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, the Nicholas Brothers, Bert Lahr, Ethel Waters, Maury Amsterdam, Rose Marie, Moms Mabley, Carl Ballantine and A. Robins (the "Banana Man"). Some of the especially great acts in the last week of the Moisture Festival that you should keep your eyes open for in future appearances are: Al Simmons, the Raspyni Brothers, Tom Noddy the "Bubble Man," Artis the "Spoonman," Jim Page, Moz Wright, Trio Manchego, Nanda, Baby Gramps, Godfrey Daniels, Hacki Ginda, the Du Caniveaux Zebra Kings Band and aerialists: Sally Pepper, Eric Newton, Duo Madrona, the Aerialistas, the Velone Sisters, Poppy Day, and Esther Edelman. Visit: www.moisturefestival.com for more information about next year's festival.