Twenty-Minute Actor (vaudevillian)
Vaudeville was popular in America from the 1880s to the 1930s. Vaudeville acts were short, and a vaudeville actor in the theater was called a "twenty-minute actor." "Twenty-minute…
Two Dow Shay (two show day)
"Two dow shay" is a spoonerism for "two show day." Two shows a day is a business day in the theater, and the joke is that it's so exhausting that even the term can't…
Two Left Feet (clumsy at dancing)
A person who has "two left left" is clumsy and can't do various things, such as dance, play soccer, or march. The "two left feet" expression was popularized by…
Uncle Tom’s Cabin or Black Tin Pan Alley (Gaiety Building)
Entry in progress -- BP Wikipedia: Gaiety Theatre (New York City)The Gaiety Theatre was a Broadway theatre at 1547 Broadway in New York City from 1909 until 1982, when it was torn down. The office…
Wandelprobe (walking rehearsal)
Entry in progress -- BP Theatrecrafts.com -- Glossary WANDELPROBE(German for change rehearsal).Similar to SITZPROBE, the Wandelprobe is a rehearsal with full orchestra, and minor blocking (but not…
Whammy Bar (vibrato for guitar)
American singer and guitarist Lonnie Mack (1941-2016) had a 1963 hit song titled "Wham." Mack became known for the use of a vibrato bar on his guitar., which would soon be known as a…
World’s Greatest Ballroom or World’s Most Famous Ballroom (Roseland Ballroom)
The Roseland Ballroom was originally located at Broadway and 51st Street when it opened in 1919; in 1956, Roseland moved to its current location at West 53rd Street, just off Broadway. Roseland has…
World’s Longest Stage (Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade)
New York City's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 and has a 2.5 mile route. It has been called the "world's greatest stage" and the "world's longest…