Applying \pause for each item in beamer?

Yes. Consider the option [<+->] for itemize, enumerate, and description:

\begin{itemize}[<+->]
\item first
\item second
\item third
\end{itemize}

See Section 12 of the Beamer manual for details.

put into the preamble:

\beamerdefaultoverlayspecification{<+->}