By JAMIE PARSELL
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD —
Before “American Idol” — definitely before Simon Cowell rolled his eyes at hopeless contestants — a different form of entertainment existed in the U.S. To really appreciate the current pop culture sensation, one must time travel to the past — to the first true talent show. But you must bypass movie theaters, amusement parks and radio and TV programs, until the year 1881. There you will find the rise of talent, embedded in history books. Vaudeville was born on Oct. 24, 1881, and it became the most popular form of entertainment in both the U.S. and Canada. Each performance was made up of a series of unrelated acts — musicians, dancers, comedians, magicians, jugglers, singers — grouped together for one show. For decades, Vaudeville shows carried out the same theory behind today’s “American Idol.” It swept the nation, showcasing talent and entertaining the masses. However, by 1932, the movie business began to steal the spotlight and Vaudeville faded into history books.
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Bluefield is no stranger to Vaudeville history. Residents and co-workers have both shared stories about the once wide variety of entertainment in the city. But Vaudeville — a word I never heard of until this year — is no longer a part of Bluefield’s past. Over the past two weekends, the variety show has leaped into present day, thanks to the Summit Players Theatre in Bluefield. Using a bit of history and a fistful of pop culture, director Sara Helmadollar and producer Shawn Williams recreated the variety show for today’s generation. They did not disappoint the audience. I watched Jennifer Farley sing “These Boots Are Made For Walking.” Vain Colby and Shawn Williams sang a duet to an old Nat King Cole song. An all-girl band took the stage. A teenager from Rocky Gap, Va., made the audience laugh with comedy. And Tom Cole juggled, while Skip Crane told jokes. It was truly a variety of talent, all put together as a Vaudeville performance, not a talent show where one is crowned the winner.
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I sat in my seat, watching the individual acts, in awe of the performers. Who knew Vain Colby could sing? And Tom Cole knew how to juggle? I don’t know anybody who can juggle tennis balls and an apple (he also took bites out of the apple in his routine.) Impressive. In a show like Vaudeville, talent becomes center stage. There are no magical Hollywood tricks to sway an audience. The Summit Player Theatre presented a bare stage, a few props and a spotlight, just like the old days. Compared to glitz and glamour of shows like “American Idol” and “Dancing With the Stars,” an unadorned stage might seem a tad bit plain, a bit boring to others used to pop culture. But isn’t it fascinating to think about the origins of entertainment? To think before flicks like “Twilight” and “Star Wars,” there were black-and-white shows, silent movies, radio programs and finally, Vaudeville.
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Talent is everywhere; America is captivated by the rags to riches stories of average men and women making their way to Hollywood. Watching local residents stand up and showcase their hidden talent created an appreciation for not only the arts, but for confidence. Regardless of the size of the venue or the location, the courage to perform impresses an audience, before the opening line or note. I am one of those who marvel not only at talent, but at the motivation to take the stage. I applaud all those who stood up in front of an audience to showcase their hidden talent at the Summit Players Theatre. It was fun watching local residents transform into American idols, circus performers, dancers and comedians. Who knew such talent existed in the two Virginias? Just think — if it was 1881, we would be gathering together to watch a real variety show full of neighbors and friends every weekend.
Jamie Parsell is the Lifestyle editor of the Daily Telegraph. Contact her at jparsell@bdtonline.com.
