Clarification: In the last quiz I noted that vaudeville was barbershop's #1 showcase from approx. 1880 until 1920, thereby suggesting, misleadingly, that vaudeville ended abruptly in 1920. Vaudeville, in fact, existed until the early 1930's when it finally fizzled due to the ever-increasing prevalence of radios which brought entertainment right into peoples homes, and because most folks were then struggling mightily through the depression and spent their money on basic necessities, not entertainment. What did happen in 1920, actually in the late teens immediately after WW1 concluded, was that barbershop went into a rapid and steep decline having nothing to do with vaudeville. It remained in eclipse until the barbershop revival movement took off, initially with the quartet contests in NYC starting in 1935, and continuing in 1938 (and thereafter) with the Society.
QUESTIONS:
1- From the late 19th century through the present day, barbershoppers have referred to (and obsessed over) ringing chords, but the word describing that aural delight has changed over the years. Prior to barbershop's golden age (before 1890), what term was used to describe a ringing chord?
2- How did vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley symbiotically help each other?
3- During the late 19th/early 20th century period when vaudeville was at the crest of its wave and every vaudeville show had a barbershop quartet, or several, what type of quartet predominated?
4- What characters did each singer in the old-time comedy quartets portray?
5- Barbershop quartets shared the vaudeville stage with many other types of acts. Of these, which were the most common?
ANSWERS:
1- A cracking chord.
2- This is not a trick question and the answer is exactly what you would think, i.e., the acts of vaudeville singers (certainly to include barbershop harmony singers) were filled with Tin Pan Alley songs, and the denizens of Tin Pan Alley used vaudeville as the premier vehicle by which to promote their songs and boost their sheet music sales.
3- Some were serious singing quartets but by far most were comedy quartets. "By far" is as precise as I can get as my source did not state the percentage of one type of quartet vs. the other. Note that then and now and during all the years in between, some great comedy quartets were also A+ with reference to their singing ability. Note also that the comedy routines of those old-time quartets were anything but sophisticated and cerebral. What was typically served up was slapstick, and/or bawdiness, and/or political incorrectness in the extreme by today's standards.
4- A dialect man, a straight man, an effeminate boy and a tramp. For reasons not explained by my source, the tramp was always a bass.
5- Comedy acts, many other types of vocal and instrumental musicians, dancers, mimes, and a myriad of novelty acts such as animal acts, fire eaters, sword swallowers, magicians, strong men and jugglers.
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