The forerunners of the variety show were folk singers who traveled from café to café in the 1850s and were granted permission to perform farces starting in 1865. The orpheums, which replaced the musical cafés, also featured varied programs. In the year of the millennium, the first home of Hungarian variety theater, the Olympia, opened in City Park. The two most prestigious variety theaters were the Moulin Rouge at 17 Nagymező Street and the Arizona at 20 Nagymező Street. Between 1945 and 1950, the Népvarieté, the Vidám Varieté, the Fővárosi Varieté, the Kisvarieté, the Budapesti Varieté, and the Royal Revü Varieté operated as variety cabarets with mixed programs.
What is vaudeville?
Variety shows—featuring music, dance, and entertainment—are an integral part of life in big cities. They bridge the gap between the circus and cabaret. The acts are extremely diverse, as the name “variety” itself suggests.
The regular performers of the variety show
- the magicians,
- the acrobats,
- the dancers and
- the singers.
In variety theaters with large stages, singers and dancers often perform so-called revue numbers accompanied by a large dance troupe.
Famous Hungarian variety theaters
Budapest Varieté
(1954–1959): It operated from March 1954 to February 1959 in the renovated premises of the Józsefváros Theater at 6 Kálvária Square. Under the management of the National Circus Company, it presented spectacular cabaret and variety shows. Much of its success was due to Iván Szenes, head of the National Circus Company, and director Béla Karádi. The cream of the cabaret performers appeared in the Budapest Varieté’s shows.
Arizona Variety Show
(1932–1944): A nightclub opened on December 16, 1932, at 20 Nagymező Street, which presented only revue performances. The owner was composer and conductor Sándor Rozsnyai; he and his wife, the dancer Miss Arizona (Mariska Senger, also known as Mici Sugár), had traveled the world for years until they had saved enough capital to purchase the small venue. The decor was lavish. Colorful wallpaper on the walls changed hues with lighting effects. In the center was a revolving dance floor, and the boxes surrounding the floor rose or lowered at the push of a button. The hidden marvels of the basement were the machine room, the kitchen staffed by 15 people, and the dressing room furnished with every comfort. They worked with incredible diligence and expertise, sometimes rehearsing a show for as long as six weeks. Mrs. Rozsnyai designed the costumes, Eric Vogel designed the sets, and Rozsnyai was an inventive technician and director. Tibor Benedek and Gerard Laboch made their debut as singers at the Arizona. They had a show that ran for a whole year. The Pipacs Salon, where Béla Berkes and his band performed, was part of the nightclub. The cabaret’s final performance took place on December 16, 1944. The Rozsnyais fell victim to fascism. – Ir. Rátonyi R.: Cabaret on Nagymező Street (1987); Gundel I.–Harmath J.: Memories of Hospitality (1979).
Kamara Variety Show
(1939–1951; 1954–1978). It was founded in 1939 on the site of the former Terézkörúti Színpad under the leadership of György Sallay, who headed the institution until 1949, when it was nationalized. At that time, Béla Karádi became the theater’s director. In 1951, it continued its operations under the name Artista Varieté. In 1954, it regained its original name. It retained its cabaret-varieté character, based on Artista performances, until 1977. From 1978 onward, its space was occupied by the Játékszín.
Maxim Variety Show
The Maxim Varieté opened in 1972 and closed its doors in 1994. It did not fit into the political, social, and economic climate of the time, yet it managed to operate, much to the delight of the few privileged individuals who were part of it. It was the only variety theater behind the Iron Curtain that entertained with revue shows, radiating wealth, elegance, luxury, and joie de vivre. The successes of that era were marked by the names of internationally renowned performers, celebrated artists, singers, dancers, choreographers, costume designers, caterers, and, last but not least, technical experts—all extraordinary participants in this brief yet extraordinary era. It is no secret that the “spirit of the place” also captivated the artistic, political, underworld, and law enforcement elites of the time.
Every day, 200 guests watched internationally acclaimed variety shows from comfortable armchairs in the Maxim Varieté’s amphitheater-style auditorium. Lighting equipment imported from London, West German sound technology, and a Hungarian-made revolving stage provided the technical infrastructure. Travel agencies ensured that tourists visiting Hungary from all over the world could experience Budapest’s nightlife through the Maxim Varieté.
The French stronghold of vaudeville: the Moulin Rouge
Who hasn’t at least heard of Paris’s famous nightclub, the Moulin Rouge? We can discover all the trappings of the classic world of vaudeville just by glancing at a few photos of the Moulin Rouge.
The stage set of the variety show
The variety show’s stage design conjures up a world of glitz, lights, and color for the audience. The visual elements are grand, vibrant, and innovative. The sets and costumes exude grandeur, glamour, and high society.
Variety Show Posters
Here is the famous French variety show poster from 1970:
Variety Shows and Costumes
The world of glamour is defined by breathtaking stage costumes. How does a design come to life? Here are the variety show costumes, first conceived on paper, brought to life:
Hard work behind the scenes
Variety show performers practice hard to create the perfect performance. The same goes for the dancers at the Moulin Rouge. Rehearsals in Melbourne:
Variety Shows and Gastronomy
The Moulin Rouge dancers and the chef have a great relationship—because the connection between the arts and gastronomy is paramount in the world of variety shows!
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