In the late 1800s, American society began to explode 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 what the country was used to. During the war, many pushed hard for the growth of industry, leading to an explosive industrial revolution far beyond what people expected. American business and the American 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 both the bygone Victorian era and the new urban lifestyle. This was easy for the middle and upper classes, both of which were growing thanks to the rapid development of industry. It was excellent news for the entrepreneurs and businessmen of the time, because there was something to be gained from this desire for fun. Of course, this wasn't the whole story of the new Golden Age, but it was certainly an era 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 prominent in late 19th-century America. Of course, similar types of variety shows existed much earlier, before 1830, but they experienced growth thanks to Benjamin Franklin Keith, "the father" of American vaudeville. He spent his early years working in traveling shows and circuses, before founding his own museum of oddities in 1883. His success allowed him to finance the construction of his own theater, and it became the subject of his "rags to riches" story, one of many that were so common in the Golden Age. Keith was a savvy businessman who knew... the medium of paper... and took advantage of it. The Gilded Age wasn't all fun and games, of course, with corrupt political machines and robber barons, but the growing middle and upper classes longed to break free from their urban confines. America wanted to have fun and was more than willing to pay for a little entertainment. List of Sources BOOKS Cuoco, David A. A History of Narrative Film. New York: W. W. Norton, 1990 Greenwood, Janette Thomas. The golden age. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000 Scheffel, Richard L. Discovering America's Past. Reader's Digest, 1993URL'sBaseball Beginnings. The Library of Congress Hudson, William. History of the bicycle. Jim LangleyThe origins of mass entertainment. San Francisco State UniversityP.T. Barnum and entertainment management. The University of VirginiaVaudeville, a history. The University of Virginia