From the earliest days our ancestors walked this earth they sought out activities during their leisure time to amuse themselves or else divert their attention from the rigors of life. These activities are today collectively called “entertainment”. Whether passive forms of entertainment, such as spectator sports or reading, or active forms, such as participatory sports and social dance, the underlying purpose was basically the same.

As human societies progressed, entertainment forms naturally became more sophisticated to match changing tastes. Theatre, opera and eventually cinema and television evolved from earlier, cruder forms of entertainment. As one might expect, different forms of entertainment were created to suit different tastes. Children, for example, might find a puppet show entertaining, but would probably have a more difficult time sitting through and enjoying a theatre production.