Why do we say "Let's get the show on the road"?

Meaning:

Let's get moving (with an undertone of stop wasting time)

Background:

The Random House Dictionary of America's Popular Proverbs and Sayings says this expression originated in the world of traveling theater productions and was in common use by the 1930s, having originated around 1910.

Some internet sites cite an example found earlier in 1889 where it was quoted as "an expression of the day." However, none of these sites, as far as we can find, provide an actual reference to this late 19th century source, so it is possible that it exists but equally possible that one person posted an inaccurate reference and others simply copied.

The earliest citation found is from James Jones' 1951 debut novel From Here to Eternity which is loosely based on his pre-World War II experience in the infantry: "Come on, come on." Prew said, "What's holding things up? Let's get this show on the road."

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