"Casto investigates the social and architectural history of Kentucky theaters, paying special attention to the actors who performed in them and the audiences who saw it all. A captivating glimpse into a disappearing slice of American popular culture, her work examines what people considered entertaining, what they hoped to gain from theatergoing, and how they chose and experienced the theaters' architectural settings.

In the social and physical design of these theaters, Casto explores nearly two centuries of the state's and nation's cultural history."--BOOK JACKET.