Hokum [altered < HOCUS(-POCUS)] [Slang] 1 trite or mawkish sentiment, crude humor, etc. used to get a quick emotional response from an audience 2 nonsense; humbug; claptrap
[Webster's New World, 4th ed.]

Slapstick is typical of the first; the aforementioned snake oil; medicine show and charlatan are the second type.

“...a seller of medicines who might advertise his presence with music and an outdoor stage show. The best known of the Parisian charlatans was Tabarin, who set up a stage in the Place Dauphine, Paris in 1618, and whose commedia dell'arte inspired skits and farces inspired Molière.” [charlatan wiki]

“Patent medicines that claimed to be a cure-all panacea were extremely common from the 18th until the 20th century, particularly among vendors masking addictive drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine, alcohol and opium-based concoctions and/or elixirs, to be sold as medication and/or products promoting health at medicine shows.” [snake oil wiki]

Hokum and Jasbo were stock minstrel/vaudeville character types. The original definition of “jazz” (up tempo) is very likely drawn from circus minstrel – medicine show hokum. (see following.)