The writer of the Time article discussed in the “Video Killed the Radio Star…” post also mentions that recitation has not completely disappeared, and refers to Ruth Draper as an example of a “successful monologist.”

http://www.drapermonologues.com/intro.html contains a wealth of information on Draper (1884-1956), a fascinating woman. She made recordings of her monologues in 1954-5 at the end of her career, and these can be purchased via the website.

The website notes that Draper has been described as a monologist, recitalist, and diseuse (ooh — tres chic), but she preferred to be known as a character actress. Her performances were one-woman shows in which she would impersonate a series of characters. Draper is a good example of how one aspect of the practice of recitation overlapped with acting.

Henry James wrote a monologue for her! The mind boggles at a monologue composed in late Jamesian style. Edith Wharton tells an amusing story about Henry James asking for directions, and having to beg him to simply ask “where the King’s Road is,” Wharton being “utterly unable to sit through another parenthesis.” Perhaps not surprisingly, Ruth Draper never performed James’ monologue.