Box house

For a house built with vertical boards, see American historic carpentry § Box houses.

A box house was a combination of low-class theater and brothel, found in western North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It offered light entertainment "such as magic acts, singing, dancing, minstrel shows," as well as sexual services.[1] Box houses were an antecedent of American vaudeville.[2]

  1. ^ Summary for 423 2nd Ave Extension / Parcel ID 5247800595, Department of Neighborhoods, City of Seattle. Accessed online 19 November 2007.
  2. ^ Frank Cullen & Florence Hackman, Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America, Routledge (2006). ISBN 0-415-93853-8. p. 85.