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Music Hall and Vaudeville Trivia Quiz

Music halls and vaudeville were a popular form of entertainment during the late 1800s and early 1900s. This quiz tests players' knowledge of these two subjects. Best of luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by Triviaballer. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Triviaballer

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
313,232

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
720

Last 3 plays: Guest 101 (6/10), 1nn1 (10/10), Quizaddict1 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of the following is not a true statement regarding theatres and music halls in England during the 1850s? Hint

Theatres seated their patrons at tables in an auditorium.

In music halls you could drink alcohol while watching the show.

Theatres had a bar-room separate from the audience.

In music halls you could smoke while watching the show.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What establishment, built by Charles Morton, was opened in Lambeth, London in 1852 and is often considered the first true music hall? Hint

Weston's Music Hall

Evans Music-and-Supper Rooms

Canterbury Music Hall

Britannia Music Hall

3. Which locale, the site of the debut of singer Marie Lloyd in 1884, was called "the father and mother, the dry and wet nurse of the Music Hall" by Gaiety Theatre proprietor John Hollingshead? Hint

Palace Theatre, Westminster

Abbey Theatre, Dublin

Grecian Theatre, London

Lansdowne Music Hall, Islington

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What was the main cause of the 'Music Hall War' of 1907? Hint

Competing music halls fighting for stars like Marie Lloyd.

Conservative politicians denouncing music halls as 'immoral'.

The London County Council's performance taxations levied against music halls.

Poor working conditions for music hall workers.

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Question 5 of 10

5. A significant boost to the popularity of the Music Hall was in 1912 when King George V and Queen Mary visited the Palace Theatre. What event, the first of its kind, did they attend at the Palace Theatre on July 1, 1912? Hint

Britain's Got Talent

Cultural Appreciation Night

London Music Night

Royal Variety Performance

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Question 6 of 10

6. The British music hall was essentially the same form of entertainment as American vaudeville. The birth date of vaudeville in the United States is generally given as October 24, 1881, when a circus ringmaster named Tony Pastor offered 'polite variety programs' in his theatres. Where did Tony Pastor ignite vaudeville entertainment in the United States in 1881? Hint

Chicago

New York City

Boston

Baltimore

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Question 7 of 10

7. What man, the adoptive grandfather of a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, helped bring vaudeville to mainstream America by contracting acts in chains of theatres for regional and national tours lasting from two weeks to two years? Hint

E.F. Albee

David L. Sherwood

Martin O'Neill

George C. Wilder

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What famous entertainer got his start in New York City and vaudeville when he roped a wild steer that had broken out of the arena and began climbing into the stands? Hint

Jack Benny

John Wayne

Will Rogers

W.C. Fields

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following is not a true statement regarding the Orpheum Circuit of vaudeville theatres? Hint

Its annual earnings were second only to Standard Oil in 1920.

It operated more than 40 vaudeville theatres in over 30 cities in the United States and Canada.

Its founder, Martin Beck, was ousted as company president when the company went public in 1923.

Shortly after a 1928 merger, the Orpheum Circuit became RKO.

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following forms of entertainment is generally considered the most significant cause of the decline of music halls and vaudeville? Hint

Radio

Contract Bridge

Television

Cinema

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 07 2024 : Guest 101: 6/10
Nov 04 2024 : 1nn1: 10/10
Nov 03 2024 : Quizaddict1: 5/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following is not a true statement regarding theatres and music halls in England during the 1850s?

Answer: Theatres seated their patrons at tables in an auditorium.

There was much overlap between entertainment offered at theatres and music halls. Patrons at a theatre sat in stalls and had to leave the audience area if they wanted to drink or smoke. In a music hall, patrons would be seated at tables in an auditorium and they could drink or smoke if they chose to.

2. What establishment, built by Charles Morton, was opened in Lambeth, London in 1852 and is often considered the first true music hall?

Answer: Canterbury Music Hall

Canterbury Hall was the first purpose-built music hall in all of London. It was destroyed by heavy bombing in 1942. Due to the success of Canterbury Hall, Morton was nicknamed "The Father of the Halls".

3. Which locale, the site of the debut of singer Marie Lloyd in 1884, was called "the father and mother, the dry and wet nurse of the Music Hall" by Gaiety Theatre proprietor John Hollingshead?

Answer: Grecian Theatre, London

The Grecian Theatre was established as the Grecian Saloon in 1825. It was located in an area called "The Eagle" off of City Road in London. This location has led many to believe that the nursery rhyme "Pop Goes the Weasel" is referring to it in the following verse:

"Up and down the City Road
In and out The Eagle
That's the way the money goes
Pop goes the weasel."

4. What was the main cause of the 'Music Hall War' of 1907?

Answer: Poor working conditions for music hall workers.

The Music Hall War of 1907 started as a dispute between artists and stage hands against the management of the Holborn Empire (formerly Weston's Music Hall). Many other music hall employees joined in on a two week strike during which agreements were made regarding minimum wages and maximum work weeks for the artists.

Answer: Royal Variety Performance

The first Royal Variety Performance was an ornate spectacle with an estimated three million roses being used to decorate the Palace Theatre. Although she was probably the most well-known music hall artist of the time, Marie Lloyd was not invited to the event because she was deemed 'too risqu�'.

Answer: New York City

Pastor sought to make his theatres family-friendly, so he outlawed the sale of liquor in his theatres and any entertainment that was deemed inappropriate. He went so far as to offer hams as gifts to his audiences.

Answer: E.F. Albee

Along with B.F. Keith, Edward Franklin Albee II opened the Boston Bijou Theatre in 1885. They then opened vaudeville theatres that featured variety shows across the United States and Canada in which regional acts would get booked at their locales.

8. What famous entertainer got his start in New York City and vaudeville when he roped a wild steer that had broken out of the arena and began climbing into the stands?

Answer: Will Rogers

This feat of Will Rogers occurred in Madison Square Garden and Rogers became almost an instant celebrity with his feat being featured in newspapers. Rogers worked for 10 years showing his vaudeville acts at the Victoria Roof and other New York City locales.

9. Which of the following is not a true statement regarding the Orpheum Circuit of vaudeville theatres?

Answer: Its annual earnings were second only to Standard Oil in 1920.

Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) Pictures went on to become one of the big studios of the Golden Age of movies. While the Orpheum Circuit was financially successful, it was never one of the most profitable companies in the United States. Standard Oil was broken up by way of a Supreme Court decision in 1911.

10. Which of the following forms of entertainment is generally considered the most significant cause of the decline of music halls and vaudeville?

Answer: Cinema

Many of the music halls and vaudeville theatres began to transform themselves into cinemas during the late 1910s and early 1920s. The new medium of film attracted many of the big names from variety entertainment like the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton and W.C. Fields, who recognized that a better salary and working conditions were possible through film.

Source: Author Triviaballer

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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