Tab show

A "tab show" typically refers to a live entertainment performance, historically often burlesque-style, presented within a more limited timeframe or format than a full-length production. The term "tab" is a shortened version of "tableaux," referring to a series of static scenes or vignettes, and by extension, a smaller, more compact theatrical piece. These shows were frequently performed in smaller venues, such as nightclubs, cabarets, or smaller theaters. They were particularly prevalent during the vaudeville and burlesque eras. A tab show often featured a variety of acts, including singing, dancing, comedy, and sometimes striptease or suggestive performances. The emphasis was usually on quick, visually appealing, and entertaining acts designed to captivate the audience in a shorter period.