Title
A Sawdust Heart: My Vaudeville Life in Medicine and Tent Shows,Used
Sold by Ergodebooks, an authorized reseller.
Returns accepted within 30 days | support@ergodebooks.com
Shipping Information
- Free Standard Shipping — United States only
- Processing Time: 1–3 business days
- Estimated Delivery: 3–5 business days after dispatch
- Double-boxed, fully insured & discreetly packaged
- Tracking number sent via email once dispatched
- Orders over $250 require signature upon delivery. Taxes calculated at checkout.
Returns & Refund
Returns accepted within 30 days of delivery.
Damaged or Defective Item
Free return shipping + replacement or full refund
Wrong Item Received
Free return shipping + replacement or full refund
Change of Mind
Return shipping at customer's expense · 25% restocking fee applies
Payment Option
In the early twentieth century, before radio and motion pictures became widespread, rural Americans had few options for entertainment. While vaudeville theaters were prominent and popular in the cities, they were scarce in rural and smalltown America, which was hungry for both diversion and news from the rest of the world. It was here that the traveling show thrived.Leaving his hometown of Viroqua, Wisconsin, to travel with a medicine show, twelveyearold Henry Wood became hooked on show business. He joined a traveling theater troupe, and leading lady Clarabelle Fendell helped the boy become Jack, a gentleman and vaudeville performer, so transformed that he was barely recognized by his own mother when he returned home.Wood spent the years 19101941 in traveling medicine and tent shows that featured a variety of vaudeville acts, from skits to fulllength dramatic plays. Whether recalling his experiences skydiving from hotair balloons, serving in the air force, or being accosted by angry theatergoers unable to distinguish him from the villains he portrayed on stage, Woods story paints a lively and vivid picture.While most books on this period of American theater history focus on major names in vaudeville and the entertainment industry, A Sawdust Heart shows what it was like for the real showbusiness workers and the performers who never made it big but eked out a living doing what they loved on minor stages across America.Introduced by Woods grandsoninlaw Michael Fedo with a concise history of these traveling shows, A Sawdust Heart is an amusing read for anyone interested in earlytwentiethcentury rural America.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main theme of 'A Sawdust Heart'? A: The main theme of 'A Sawdust Heart' revolves around the life of Henry Wood, a young boy who became immersed in the world of traveling medicine and tent shows during the early twentieth century. The book highlights the experiences of lesser-known performers in vaudeville and their contributions to rural entertainment.
- Q: Who is the author of 'A Sawdust Heart'? A: The author of 'A Sawdust Heart' is Henry Wood, who recounts his personal experiences in the world of vaudeville and traveling shows.
- Q: What type of book is 'A Sawdust Heart'? A: 'A Sawdust Heart' is a historical memoir that focuses on the life of a traveling performer in the early twentieth century, detailing the challenges and adventures of life in medicine shows and vaudeville.
- Q: How many pages are in 'A Sawdust Heart'? A: 'A Sawdust Heart' contains 144 pages.
- Q: What is the condition of the book? A: 'A Sawdust Heart' is listed as a used book in good condition.
- Q: When was 'A Sawdust Heart' published? A: 'A Sawdust Heart' was published on April 21, 2011.
- Q: What is the binding type of 'A Sawdust Heart'? A: 'A Sawdust Heart' is available in paperback binding.
- Q: Is there an introduction in 'A Sawdust Heart'? A: Yes, 'A Sawdust Heart' includes an introduction by Michael Fedo, who provides a concise history of traveling shows.
- Q: What audience would enjoy 'A Sawdust Heart'? A: 'A Sawdust Heart' is suitable for readers interested in early twentieth-century American theater, vaudeville history, and the experiences of performers in rural settings.
- Q: Does 'A Sawdust Heart' focus on famous performers? A: No, 'A Sawdust Heart' primarily focuses on the experiences of ordinary show-business workers and performers who did not achieve fame but made a living through their craft.