Bio-vaudeville

A Bio-vaudeville house was a venue utilised for the showing of bioscope films and for vaudeville performances. Specifically built in the early 20th century to present both films and variety acts within the same programme Examples include the custom-built Criterion in Durban (opened 1912), and Palladium, Johannesburg (opened 1913).

A Bio-vaudeville programme usually consisted of live entertainment preceding the film.

Late examples of bio-vaudeville include Basil Rubin's Pinewood Cinema where Pieter Toerien became involved in offering Bio-vaudeville programmes from 1963 onwards.

Sources

Percy Tucker, 1997.

For more information

See Music hall and Bioscope

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