Beginning in the 1880s and through the 1920s, vaudeville was home to more than 25,000 performers, and was the most popular form of entertainment in America, according to a documentary on PBS. But somewhere along the line, Vaudeville became less fashionable — until now.
The Labyrinth Walk Coffee House is once again resurrecting this form of entertainment with a variety of acts including singing, dancing, and comedy. The big event is set for August 24 at the UUC of Oak Cliff, 3839 W. Kiest Blvd., Dallas at a rather old fashion rate of $10. Tickets can be purchased at the door or, bowing to current trends, online at www.labyrinthwalkcoffeehouse.com. Adding to the event will be an old fashion free Ice Cream Social from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
James Cagney said that everything he learned, he learned from vaudeville. Not sure what he would have learned from the Wigouts – an unusual collection of unusual folks doing an unusual skit to tickle your funny bone.
The Circus Freaks are a plucky band of versatile variety vaudevillians who mix improvisational theater, musical mayhem, and big top talent for your enjoyment. circusfreaks.org
Vaudeville wouldn’t be vaudeville with a song or two or three. Providing the music will be Emmeline Miles, a pint-sized singer/songwriter from Dallas, Texas who revels in big words, unconventional cords, and persistent melodies (www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOFmO5_3zyY); Steve Leach, a singer/guitarist who has been singing in around Dallas and beyond for years and knows how to rock a crowd; Angelo Gomez, a versatile singer and actor; Gabrielle of Lancaster, a smooth jazz vocalist; and last, but certainly not least, folk singer extraordinaire Judith Anderson (Check her version of Second Hand Rose at www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrR-mtZ0XKQ).
And then there is the dancing. Adira performs her exotic belly dancing while Inaya performs a a hoop dance defined as incorporating hula hooping into a dance that is fun, feminine and sexy. And then there are the Texas Vanilla Drops staring Dee and Glorian who have a combined 100 years plus of tap dancing experience (check them out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnQlhwctS5k).
Check them all out in person August 24.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff donates its facility to the coffee house which is a non profit organization run entirely by volunteers.