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Apprenticed at 14 to life in the circus, Tony Pastor seemed destined for a career in show business. Indeed, true to his desire and his rigorous training, Pastor spent his life within the theater milieu. He made significant contributions to both variety and vaudeville as a songwriter, performer and theater owner. With a head for business, a knack for discovering new talent, and a sharp understanding of popular taste, Pastor initiated new business practices in theater and gave audiences what they sought in entertainment.
This book offers a moving and thorough examination of Pastor's rise and gradual decline during the growth and development of the New York stage. Through the story of his life and career, the reader discovers Pastor's unique contributions to popular American theater and the performing arts professions.
List of contents
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1. Family Heritage
2. Circus Days
3. "444"
4. "Greatest Comic Singer of the Age"
5. Tony Pastor's Opera House
6. The Elks, John Poole and Touring Success
7. Variety's Triumph
8. New Talent and Crowded Houses
9. The Emergence of Vaudeville
10. The 14th Street Theater
11. "The Most Popular Theater in Town"
12. Business Challenges and Changing Audiences
13. Continuous Vaudeville and Shrinking Profits
14. Tony Retires from the Stage
15. Struggling to Stay Open
16. The Venerable Showman's Decline
Epilogue Chapter Notes Bibliography Index
About the author
The late Armond Fields was a social historian specializing in American popular theater. The author of numerous books about vaudeville and other early theater figures, he lived in Culver City, California.
