The Library of Congress
[American Memory]
American Variety Stage, 1870-1920



Houdini


Theater Playbills and Programs


Sound Recordings

Collage



Motion Pictures


English Playscripts


Yiddish Playscripts

Selected Materials from the Library of Congress


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The American Variety Stage is a multimedia anthology selected from various Library of Congress holdings. This collection illustrates the vibrant and diverse forms of popular entertainment, especially vaudeville, that thrived from 1870-1920. Included are 334 English- and Yiddish-language playscripts, 146 theater playbills and programs, 61 motion pictures, 10 sound recordings and 143 photographs and 29 memorabilia items documenting the life and career of Harry Houdini. Groups of theater posters and additional sound recordings will be added to this anthology in the future.
The mission of the Library of Congress is to make its resources available and useful to Congress and the American people and to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations. The goal of the Library's National Digital Library Program is to offer broad public access to a wide range of historical and cultural documents as a contribution to education and lifelong learning.

The Library of Congress presents these documents as part of the record of the past. These primary historical documents reflect the attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs of different times. The Library of Congress does not endorse the views expressed in these collections, which may contain materials offensive to some readers.


Understanding the Collection

Editor's Note

Bob Hope and American Variety
(A Library of Congress Exhibition)

Working with the Collection

How to View: Images | Video

How to Order Photographic Reproductions

Copyright and Other Restrictions

Acknowledgments


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Oct-19-1998