Variety entertainment or variety shows are a type of theatrical entertainment that includes a series of acts. There are different kinds of variety shows including vaudeville, minstrel, music halls, and cabarets. Vaudeville began in France during the late 19th century as a comedy act with poetry, songs, ballets, or dramatic composition. This evolved when vaudeville came to the United States in the early 1880s; a more diverse number of acts were included in the shows such as musicians, dancers, comedians, trained animals, strong men, impersonators, one-act plays, minstrels, and movies. Minstrel shows began in the early 19th century. These shows were performed mostly by white people in blackface doing skits, dancing, or musical performances. Music halls are a type of British theatrical entertainment that began around the mid-19th century. Music hall entertainment includes a variety of songs, comedy, and specialty acts that were originally performed in saloons, then in specific music hall theaters. These theaters were built so that people could eat and drink while watching the performance. A cabaret is a type of variety entertainment that includes music, song, dance, recitation, and drama. It is different from other forms of variety entertainment because of the venue where the performance occurs. Typically performances are in pubs, casinos, hotels, restaurants, or nightclubs.