{"product_id":"mermaids-of-vaudeville-women-aquatic-entertainers-of-the-1870s-through-1920s-9781476658476","title":"Mermaids of Vaudeville: Women Aquatic Entertainers of the 1870s Through 1920s","description":"\u003cp\u003e Swimming entertainment captured the imagination of visitors at dime museums, variety and vaudeville theatres, local fairs, industrial exhibitions, and other venues in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After beginning with \"menfish\"--male tank swimmers--these performances were highlighed by Boston's Sallie Swift, the first US water queen, and other women. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e This history profiles a series of women aquatic entertainers through the 1920s. Most, such as Canada's Clara Beckwith and Australia's Annette Kellerman, came from working-class backgrounds and chose a \"sport-like amusement\" as an alternative working environment, seeing an opportunity to earn a more glamorous living far away from the drudgery of waitressing, laundering, sewing, or domestic servitude. They helped lay the groundwork for today's sport of artistic (aka synchronized) swimming.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e M. Ann Hall\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e McFarland \u0026amp; Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/27\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 201\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.26d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781476658476","brand":"McFarland \u0026 Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48738263400585,"sku":"9781476658476","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_984891a1-5c9e-4862-8bec-26eb4dcc92ff.jpg?v=1792524138","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/mermaids-of-vaudeville-women-aquatic-entertainers-of-the-1870s-through-1920s-9781476658476","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}