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20th Century History High School History Parties Homeschooling

Host Your Own Vaudeville Show to Study History the Fun Way

August 24, 2022
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Vaudeville was popular at the turn-of-the-20th-century and we were just starting HIS Story of the 20th Century at the beginning our homeschool year.

We decided to have our own Vaudeville show! It would be fun! Everyone would do at least one act and we would all dress up from the time period.

“Can we do a duet?” two girls in the 20th Century History Co-op asked. We were planning our own Vaudeville Show in our homeschool co-op. 

“Is the song from the Turn-of-the-Century?” I replied. 

Before they could answer, Jimmy interjected, “Can I do card tricks?” 

“Yes, but maybe you want to do an animal act,” I giggled. 

“Like lion training,” Josh teased. 

We had as much fun planning our acts as we did on the day of the actual performance.

4 years later, our children had graduated, but Laura and I were still leading a homeschool co-op. Again we were studying 20th Century history with the HIS Story of the 20th Century series.

We decided to have another Vaudeville Show. This time we would serve popcorn and invite the whole church.

​Would you like to put on your own Vaudeville Show?

Here’s how we did it! We included our family and friends in this festive occasion. Everyone, individually or with one or two others put on an act: sang a song, danced, did card tricks performed an illusion, performed a comedy routine or slap-stick comedy routine, played an instrument, acted out an inspiration skit, or did an animal act. Think variety show like Carol Burnett or Bob Hope (does anyone remember those shows?).

We set a time limit of each act 3-5 minutes—very short acts!

Everyone had to dress from the Turn of the Century. We researched fashions from that time period and tried to dress authentically. 

To get our creative juices flowing, we watched Vaudeville acts on YouTube and old movies. 

Here’s what you will need to put on your own show: 

  • A Stage with a Curtain if possible
  • An Emcee to keep the Show Flowing
  • A Description from each Person of their Acts
  • Put the Acts in a Logical and Enjoyable Order (you could make a program)
  • An Audience
The textbook, HIS Story of the 20th Century covers world history decade by decade opening each chapter with a fictional snapshot to grab the student’s attention to give a feel for the decade and timeline info at the beginning of each decade section. The are fun history labs at the end of every chapter. We have suggestions for movies and living books for each decade. The textbook is written in a conversational style–perfect for reading aloud to all ages or fun to read alone. ​There are two workbooks, one for high school (HIS Story of the 20th Century High School Workbook) and one for middle school (HIS Story of the 20th Century Middle School Workbook), containing end-of-chapter questions, hands-on-activities, timelines with timeline figures, that go with the textbook. ​Oh, and don’t forget the cookbook (HIS Story of the 20th Century Cookbook). History is always more fun with food! You will find mouth-watering recipes from all over the world popular in the 20th Century.  

Here are some ideas for your students:

  • Poetry reading
  • Card tricks
  • Illusion act
  • Song: singing
  • Song: playing an instrument
  • Tap Dance
  • Ballet Dance
  • Tumbling
  • Comedy routine
  • Dog doing tricks
  • Inspirational skit
  • Funny skit

 Don’t forget to do a Walk-Through Before the Actual Show—so that everyone knows how to get on and off the stage. 

We needed the following people to plan beforehand and oversee the night of the show:

  • Set up & tear down person (stage, curtain, seats, snack area)
  • Snack person (purchase, collect money, serve snacks)
  • Advertizing & Tickets (sell tickets, posters, program)
  • Emcee (introduce each act, be fun during any delays)
  • Act Coordinator (list all acts, put them in order for the show in a logical & aesthetically pleasing way)
HIS Story of the 20th Century
HIS Story of the 20th Century, a Living Book Textbook, each chapter starts with a fictional snapshot to give you a taste of life in that decade. You will not only discover people, events, inventions, and breakthroughs of the 20th Century, you will be inspired in your faith because the Lord was moving in the 20th Century, just as he still is today.
If you want to go beyond the facts, to discover the stories and people, this is the course for you! You will learn the what, where, when, why, and how of major and minor events in the 20th Century.

Wow! Having your own Vaudeville Show is a fun way to learn about the 20th Century and is actually a history lab that is part of ​a one-credit high school world history course,  HIS Story of the 20 Century. You can purchase HIS Story of the 20th Century in print on Amazon and the E-book at PayHip, TeachersPayTeachers, and right here on this site. Check out the whole series here.

​I hope I have whet your appetite to learn more about the 20th Century the fun way! It is an exciting time in history to delve into!

​Until next time, Happy Homeschooling!
​Meredith Curtis


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