Show Time: A Chronology of Broadway and the Theatre from Its Beginnings to the Present [Paperback]

Gene Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1998

Show Time is a comprehensive, entertaining, detailed chronology of the history of the Broadway stage, from the earliest days of vaudeville to today's ever-increasing interest in theater and its stars. Following in the tradition of Movie Time, it traces the rise and development of the Broadway stage year by year from the 19th century through 1997. Anecdotes about legendary show business personalities, productions, and incidents, combined with quotes, famous firsts, awards, stage trivia, and more make this a unique compendium that every theater-goer will want to own.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Show Time takes a fresh tack on tracing the oft-told history of Broadway. For nearly every year since the early 19th century, you'll find a production history, what was making headlines and gossip among theater personalities, and major news events that shaped the times, in a terrific timeline format. From the Marx brothers to Mary Martin, this useful and unique book is one to which anyone seeking the bigger picture on New York theater will consistently refer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan General Reference (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028620720
• ISBN-13: 978-0028620725
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,441,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unparalleled theatre reference book., August 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Show Time: A Chronology of Broadway and the Theatre from Its Beginnings to the Present (Paperback)

Show Time is, quite simply, the most exhaustive repository of New York theatre information I have ever seen compiled in one volume. It contains facts great and small, well-known and forgotten. It's not a book to simply read, but rather to always keep nearby so you can pull it out and look up the answer to whatever Broadway question might just pop into your head. Shows, actors, directors, politics, scandals... It's all here. The one thing that isn't there, though, much to the book's credit, is a point of view. Show Time merely presents a timeline of major theatrical events, but does not comment on them. This book is a must-have for any theatre enthusiast's library.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You won't be able to put this one down!, January 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Show Time: A Chronology of Broadway and the Theatre from Its Beginnings to the Present (Paperback)

"Show Time" is a theatre trivia fan's maddest dream come true! Where else can you find--all in one place--the amount of dry ice used in one performance of "Phantom of the Opera"; Al Jolson's salary in 1932; the name of the Broadway producer (and Boston Red Sox owner) who sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees; and some musings from Frank Rich on the legendary flop "Moose Murders"?

"Show Time"'s vast sea of fascinating show-biz facts, figures, faces, and foibles is invitingly laid out and blessedly easy to navigate (maybe too easy: it kept me up till 2 a.m.!). The book is arranged as a season-by-season chronology: Each season opens with a "Yearly Overview," followed by parallel sections devoted to "Personalities"; "Plays and Musicals"; "Business and Society"; and "Births, Deaths, and Marriages." For those who feel they need it, there's an excellent section up front on "How to Use This Book"; there's also a truly comprehensive index at the back. (Sarah Jessica Parker? Andrew Lloyd Webber? Minnie Maddern Fiske? Roddy Maude-Roxby? They're all there!)

I predict that "Show Time" is going to wind up being a permanent fixture on a lot of theatre lovers' coffee tables and nightstands, not just because it's a good-looking book (it is), but because it will quickly become as indispensible as (but a heck of a lot more fun than!) the phone book it's bound to displace.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, November 7, 2001

By 

Thomas P. Carlsson (Gainesville, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Show Time: A Chronology of Broadway and the Theatre from Its Beginnings to the Present (Paperback)

I enjoy what I have read of this book so far. It seem to a very thought history of Broadway. It has great information that I did not know about many show that I have heard about. I have not read anything that would consider boring so far. I found the book very well written and well reseached by Mr. Brown. I was surprised that it when back all the way to 1826. I was a little disappointed that they was more about shows opening. I consider this book a bargin and well worth what I paid for it. The book was in excellent condition and arrive sooner then I expected to be here.