Show business, sometimes shortened to
show biz or
showbiz (since 1945), is a
vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment, especially
light entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the
entertainment industry from the
business side (including managers, agents, producers, and distributors) to the creative element (including artists, performers, writers, musicians, and technicians). The term was in common usage throughout the 20th century, but the first known use in print dates from 1850. At that time and for several decades it always included an initial
the. By the latter part of the century, it had acquired a slightly arcane quality associated with the era of
variety, but the term is still in active use.
