In the late 1800s, American society began to burst with cultural activity. After the Civil War and Reconstruction, Americans were eager to return to their normal way of life. The period that followed, however, was very different from that to which the country was accustomed. During the war, many insisted that industry expand, which led to an explosive industrial revolution far beyond what people expected. American business and the economy were booming, and as the new century approached, many had a new outlook on life. They were eager to escape the boring regiments of the past Victorian era and the new urban lifestyle. This was easy for the upper and middle classes, both of which were growing due to the rapid growth of industry. This was great news for entrepreneurs and businessmen of the time, because there was money to be made in this desire for entertainment. Of course, that wasn't the whole story of the new Gilded Age, but it was certainly a time of growing leisure and the business that came with it. One of the most popular forms of entertainment during the Gilded Age was theater, particularly Vaudeville, which was a type of variety theater important in late 19th century America. Of course, similar types of variety shows existed much earlier, before the 1830s, but they flourished thanks to Benjamin Franklin Keith, "the father" of American vaudeville. He spent his early years working in traveling shows and circuses, before establishing his own museum of oddities in 1883. His success allowed him to finance the construction of his own theater and he became the subject of his own story “from rags to riches,” one of many that were so common in the Gilded Age. Keith was a savvy businessman who knew the benefits of this. The Gilded Age was of course not all fun and games, with corrupt political machines and robber barons, but the growing upper and middle classes yearned to break free from their urban confines. America wanted to have fun and was more than willing to pay to be entertained.Source ListBOOKSCook, David A. A History of Narrative Film. New York: WW Norton, 1990 Greenwood, Janette Thomas. The golden age. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000Scheffel, Richard L. Discovering America's Past. Reader's Digest, 1993URL'sBaseball Beginnings. The Library of CongressHudson, William. History of the bicycle. Jim LangleyThe origins of mass entertainment. San Francisco State UniversityP.T. Barnum and show management. The University of VirginiaVaudeville, a history. The University of Virginia