Ransom Center Magazine

Theatre + Performing Arts

Vaudeville Film Series runs throughout May

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During the month of May, the Ransom Center hosts the free Vaudeville Film Series in conjunction with its exhibition Vaudeville!, which is on display through July 15. For more than a century, vaudeville was the most popular form of American entertainment and one of the country’s largest cultural exports. [Read more…] about Vaudeville Film Series runs throughout May

Theatre critic Mel Gussow’s legendary interviews available online

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by Ellen Cunningham-Kruppa and Eric Colleary

British and American theatre history preserved in candid recordings

Mel Gussow was the lead cultural critic for the New York Times for more than 40 years. Throughout his career, he recorded interviews with stars and unknowns of the American and British theatre. [Read more…] about Theatre critic Mel Gussow’s legendary interviews available online

Grappling with the past: On exhibiting minstrelsy materials

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The decision to include collection material depicting blackface minstrelsy in our exhibition on vaudeville is a decision we do not take lightly. Minstrelsy is part of the history of American performance and vaudeville. We have a responsibility not to hide this troubling history, but also to display it in such a way that it is clear that we are not celebrating it.  [Read more…] about Grappling with the past: On exhibiting minstrelsy materials