Varieté: Portland's Newest Variety Show
The origins of the variety show—featuring a mixture of song, spectacle, dance, comedy, and other acts—can be traced back to the vaudeville theaters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Gaining popularity in the U.S. and Europe, these shows were often performed in theaters, nightclubs, and cabarets.
In the 1940s and 1950s, radio variety shows rose to popularity, featuring comedians, musicians, and other performers. Many of these shows, such as "The Jack Benny Program" and "The Ed Sullivan Show," eventually made the transition to television in the 1950s and 1960s. Brand-sponsored showcases like the “Colgate Comedy Hour” followed suit and the format exploded during the 1960s and 1970s. By the 1980s and 1990s, the popularity of variety shows began to wane, as audiences became more fragmented and interested in niche programming.
Today, variety shows are still produced, but they are less common than they were in their heyday. Modern variety shows, such as "Saturday Night Live," have adapted to changing audience tastes and incorporate elements of social media and digital technology. But now, more than ever, variety shows are a critical to offer a wide range of entertainment, showcase new talent, and provide platform to experience collective joy. It was this sentiment that gave birth to Varieté.
In the 1940s and 1950s, radio variety shows rose to popularity, featuring comedians, musicians, and other performers. Many of these shows, such as "The Jack Benny Program" and "The Ed Sullivan Show," eventually made the transition to television in the 1950s and 1960s. Brand-sponsored showcases like the “Colgate Comedy Hour” followed suit and the format exploded during the 1960s and 1970s. By the 1980s and 1990s, the popularity of variety shows began to wane, as audiences became more fragmented and interested in niche programming.
Today, variety shows are still produced, but they are less common than they were in their heyday. Modern variety shows, such as "Saturday Night Live," have adapted to changing audience tastes and incorporate elements of social media and digital technology. But now, more than ever, variety shows are a critical to offer a wide range of entertainment, showcase new talent, and provide platform to experience collective joy. It was this sentiment that gave birth to Varieté.
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