Comments on: Jesus on vaudeville: did it ever happen?

Question: Jesus on vaudeville: did it ever happen?

bingo — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:46:36 -0800

Was Jesus ever depicted in a vaudeville production? Looking for solid, reasonably non-speculative evidence.

By: Sidhedevil

Sidhedevil — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:52:04 -0800

Say more about what you mean by "vaudeville" and by "depicted".

Several silent films about the life of Jesus were run in vaudeville houses between live acts, including one that purported to be a film of the Oberammergau Passion Play but was actually filmed in Astoria, Queens (this one was accompanied by a lecture about the Oberammergau tradition).

Do you mean "was there ever a live vaudeville sketch depicting Jesus as a character?"

By: bingo

bingo — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:58:03 -0800

Do you mean "was there ever a live vaudeville sketch depicting Jesus as a character?"

Yes.

By: bingo

bingo — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:03:04 -0800

Although the thing about the intermission films is interesting.

By: Sidhedevil

Sidhedevil — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:05:55 -0800

Nativity playlets were not unusual in vaudeville Christmas shows. But again, I'm guessing that's probably not what you mean, either?

Are you wondering if there is a vaudeville precedent for this kind of thing?

By: bingo

bingo — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:19:47 -0800

Actually, no, I'm looking for evidence that the character of Jesus was portrayed on a vaudeville stage, period. Evidence of the nativity thing would be great.

By: Sidhedevil

Sidhedevil — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:32:40 -0800

OK! Well, the Cherry Sisters were famous for their "Clinging to the Cross" tableau (which was not intentionally funny); this is very widely documented.

By: Dr. Zira

Dr. Zira — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:34:46 -0800

According to the Wikipedia entry on the Cherry Sisters, their act included morality plays, one of which included a scene reenacting the crucifixion.

By: small_ruminant

small_ruminant — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:36:12 -0800

There are lots of Celebrity Roasts for Jesus. Does that count?

By: Sidhedevil

Sidhedevil — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:39:21 -0800

And as for Nativity play documentation, Radio City Music Hall was one of the many "class houses" in vaudeville that offered a Nativity segment as part of their Christmas extravaganza.

In Spanish-language vaudeville in the US, shortened versions of a popular folk nativity play ("Los Pastores") were very commonly offered in the Christmas season, but someone else will have to track down a solid citation for you on that.

By: bubukaba

bubukaba — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:52:57 -0800

You also might be interested in reading up on Aimee Semple McPherson, a popular evangelist of the 1920s whose stage productions/sermons bordered on vaudevillian. (Also of possible interest: the 1931 Frank Capra film The Miracle Woman, which was loosely based on her life). Here's a picture.