Synopses & Reviews
In this book Brooks McNamara explores the world of the concert saloon in New York from the Civil War to the early years of the twentieth century. A concert saloon is defined as an establishment offering various kinds of entertainment, including alcohol, with some also providing gambling and prostitution. All of these saloons employed 'waiter girls' to sell drinks and sit with male customers and all had bad reputations. McNamara focuses on the theatrical aspects of the concert saloon and examines the sources of saloon shows, the changes in direction during the century, the peforming spaces and equipment, as well as the employees and patrons. McNamara paints a picture of a lively and theatrically fascinating environment and his work sheds new light on our understanding of American popular theatre. The book contain informative illustrations and will be of interest to historians of theatre, popular culture, and American social history.
Review
"This well-researched volume in the valuable Cambridge series explores concert saloons, a form of theatrical entertainment that flourished in drinking establishments in the second half of 19th century in New York City.... Recommended." Choice
Review
"...a convincing interpretation of performance history. [McNamara] has nudged the field of performance studies to consider the interdependence of entertainment and economics in ways that have compelling implications for American history...makes a welcome addition to popular culture and theatre history fields alike." Jane Barnette, Bowling Green State University, Theatre Journal"This well-researched volume in the valuable Cambridge series explores concert saloons, a form of theatrical entertainment that flourished in drinking establishments in the second half of 19th century in New York City.... Recommended." Choice
Synopsis
A concert saloon is an establishment offering various kinds of entertainment, including alcohol, with some also providing gambling and prostitution. Brooks McNamara explores the concert saloon in New York from the Civil War to the early years of the twentieth century. He focuses on the theatrical aspects of the concert saloon and examines the sources of saloon shows, changes in direction during the century, performing spaces and equipment, and employees and patrons.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 136-140) and index.
Synopsis
McNamara explores the world of the American concert saloon, establishments offering theatrical shows, alcohol, and sometimes gambling and prostitution. McNamara focuses on the period from the Civil War to the early twentieth century and examines sources of the shows, performing spaces and equipment, as well as employees and patrons.
About the Author
Brooks McNamara is Professor of Performance Studies, Emeritus, in the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, and Director, Emeritus of the Shubert Archive. He is a specialist in the history of popular entertainment and has published widely in the area including The American Playhouse in the Eighteenth Century and in, among others, American Popular Entertainments, as editor.
Table of Contents
Prologue: sources of the concert saloon and its shows; 1. Where the devil's work is done: new York City concert saloons during the Civil War era; 2. Changes in direction: the concert saloon after the war; 3. Concert saloon acts; 4. Concert saloons: spaces and equipment; 5. Employees and patrons of the concert saloon; 6. Related forms.