It's hard to imagine a day passing without most people enjoying some form of entertainment, whether it's going to a football match, watching television, or listening to the radio. At the start of the twentieth century, however, the only form of public entertainment was live theatre. With the advent of radio, television, and later the internet, entertainment entered the home. As society changed and the economy grew over the 20th century, the entertainment industry evolved from vaudeville theatre to big screen movies to DVDs playing in the living room. This book focuses on popular American entertainment that both appeals to and is accessible to everyone. Six forms of entertainment are covered in this book: vaudeville, recorded sound, radio, movies, television, and spectator sports. Some forms of entertainment have changed considerably throughout the years, while others have disappeared altogether as technology allowed new ones to take their place, but the desire of people to be entertained has not waned. Concepts, organisations, and individuals such as the jukebox, the Screen Actors Guild, Ted Turner, satellite television, free agents, Charlie Chaplin, made-for-TV movies, iPod, Superbowl commercials, vaudeville circuits, Columbia, Hollywood, Amos and Andy, MTV, and the Palace Theater, among many others, are discussed. This book is ideal for students and general readers interested in the development and history of one of the largest and most lucrative industries today. Biographies of notable individuals in the entertainment industry and suggestions for further reading are included.