“An illustrated history of good old-fashioned entertainment from names like Tessie O’Shea, George Formby, and the early days of Bruce Forsyth.” —Yours As one of the richest sources of diversion for the people of Britain between the end of the First World War and the 1960s, the variety theater emerged from the embers of music hall, a vulgar and rambunctious entertainment that had held the working classes in thrall since the 1840s. Music hall bosses decided they would do better business if a man going to theaters on his own could take his wife and children with him, knowing they would see or hear nothing that would scandalize them. So variety, a gentler, less red-blooded entertainment was gradually established. At the top of the profession were Gracie Fields, a peerless singer and comedienne, and Max Miller, a comic who was renowned for being risqué, but who, in fact, never cracked a dirty joke. They were supported by acts that matched the word variety: ventriloquists, drag artists, animal acts, acrobats, jugglers, magicians and many more. But the variety theater was constantly under threat, first from revue, then radio, the cinema, girlie shows, the birth of rock ’n’ roll and finally television. By the end of the 1950s, the variety business seemed to have given up, but the recent and extraordinary popularity of talent shows on television has proved the public appetite is still there. Variety could be about to start all over again. “A priceless record of the people who entertained several generations between the wars and, for a brief time, after WWII . . . thoroughly entertaining.” —Books Monthly

An illuminating view of the world as seen through the tinted lens of Hollywood’s most important chronicler of entertainment news and show business. Variety is not only a fascinating look at the history of entertainment as reported by the world’s most highly regarded commentator of show business news, it is also a history of American popular culture and a record of the influence and confluence of art, life, and Hollywood. Illustrated with hundreds of front pages, its articles chronicle everything from Debbie Reynolds’s opinions of 1960s youth to how Steven Spielberg and Jaws transformed the movie business. With new and archival photographs spanning Variety’s more-than-century-old archives, the book includes exclusive essays by a host of well-regarded artists about what Variety means to them, how Variety has impacted the entertainment industry, and what they felt like the first time they saw their names in Variety’s pages. Variety is a decade-by-decade documentation of such pivotal moments as the audience’s move from vaudeville houses to movie theaters, censorship, how Lucy and Desi changed the face of television, Walter Cronkite’s shaping of America’s view of the Vietnam War, the birth of the summer blockbuster, the game-changing technology of Jurassic Park and Avatar, and how the movies, television, and theater reflect society’s ever-changing social values and mores. The perfect gift for anyone who loves Hollywood, Variety is also a never-before-available look at the premier source of entertainment reporting.

A compendium of tips, recipes, and recommendations for everyday living, collected by the editors of the popular New England periodical, covers a wide range of topics, from baking bread using traditional methods and simplifying household chores to celebrating the holidays and caring for a garden. 15,000 first printing.

Parents who play Grammy winner Lil Nas X's 12-times platinum single Old Town Road on repeat will want to take their kids and ride on over to this New York Times bestselling ABC picture book from the music mega-star! A is for adventure. Every day is a brand-new start! B is for boots—whether they're big or small, short or tall. And C is for country. Join superstar Lil Nas X—who boasts the longest-running #1 song in history—and Panini the pony on a joyous journey through the alphabet from sunup to sundown. Experience wide-open pastures, farm animals, guitar music, cowboy hats, and all things country in this debut picture book that's perfect for music lovers learning their ABCs and for anyone who loves Nas's signature genre-blending style. Featuring bold, bright art from Theodore Taylor III, with plenty of hidden surprises for Nas's biggest fans, C Is for Country is a celebration of song and the power inside us all.