Cynthia S. Gillard Releases New Book, WHEN VAUDEVILLE CAME TO JOPLIN

Cynthia S. Gillard's idea for "When Vaudeville Came to Joplin" (ISBN 1468119281) came from a 100-year-old scrapbook that her grandfather created. An actor in Vaudeville and various theatrical touring groups, he left Cynthia with an intimate look at a lesser-known part of America's history.

Gillard's grandfather was a member of several Vaudeville and United States theatrical touring companies at the turn of the 20th century, and to celebrate his life, she shares the scrapbook and the love story it tells in this novel. Her grandfather was an immigrant from England, and her grandmother was the daughter of a bartender in Joplin, Mo., prior to Prohibition. They came together by chance, and fell in love during a time of turmoil and change in America brought about by the Industrial Revolution.

Live entertainment during the turn of the 20th century is a very important factor throughout the novel. Gillard states it is what brought people together, and made them laugh and temporarily forget about the troubles they and the entire country faced during this time of great change on the eve of World War I.

Gillard believes that, as America's theatres were converted to moving picture houses, the motion picture industry usurped the role of these live theatrical troupes that traveled from town to town performing melodramas and comedies for their loyal fans. "It is a time and profession that I do not want to be forgotten because these performers brought live entertainment to people at a time without radios, cell phones, televisions or DVDs," Gillard says. "There is a lot written about the motion picture industry and the people who made a living in that industry in the early years, but there is very little written about the traveling touring companies."

She hopes her novel will tempt readers to research more on the topic of touring companies throughout the U.S., and see the impact they had on the towns and cities they visited. Gillard doesn't want this to be a forgotten time in America's history, and believes that sharing her family's history will create a personal feel for a time and an American theatrical experience nearly forgotten.

The author states that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to help the tornado relief effort in Joplin, Mo.

"When Vaudeville Came to Joplin" is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

Cynthia S. Gillard has degrees from Kalamazoo College and Notre Dame Law School. Gillard was trained in ballet and performed in several theatrical performances during her youth and in college. She is married with children, and currently is a partner in the law firm of Warrick and Boyn, LLP in Elkhart, Ind.

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