All stories by Trav S.D. on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

The D.A. Pennebaker Centennial by Trav S.D.

Born 100 years ago today, documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker (Donn Alan Pennebaker, 1925-2019). Like most moderately well-educated Americans of my age, I have seen most of Pennebaker’s …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:06AM

The Tragedy of Bud Ernst by Trav S.D.

The death of Hugh “Bud” Ernst (1910-1950) is often told, for it made all the papers, but we’ll add as much about his life as we can, for it was also interesting. Ernst was an aviator, …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:06AM

All Deference Due to Duke Moore by Trav S.D.

Since we have written about so many other members of the Ed Wood stock company, we thought it only fitting to do something on James “Duke” Moore (1913-1976), whose only credits were in W…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:03AM
Monday, July 14, 2025

Leigh French Turns 80 by Trav S.D.

Born this day in 1945 comic actress Leigh French. Born in Kentucky, a former member of The Committee (based in San Francisco and L.A.), French specialized in three types of characters: hillb…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:36PM

Gerald Ford’s Fifteen Minutes by Trav S.D.

I originally intended this post for last year, it being the 50th anniversary of the ascension of Gerald R. Ford (Leslie Lynch King, 1913-2006) to the U.S. Presidency. But I didn’t get to i…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:32PM

The Ken Murray Show by Trav S.D.

Never would I have dreamt, once upon a time, that Travalanche would grow to such an extent that a second post on comedian Ken Murray (1903-1988) would be warranted. But at the moment I happe…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:18AM

For World Orca Day: On Orcas in the Show Business by Trav S.D.

July 14 is…yes, Bastille Day and World Chimpanzee Day, I know, but it is also World Orca Day. We used to call them “killer whales” but people objected to the false, negative impression…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:06AM
Sunday, July 13, 2025

The Life and Death of Danny Lockin by Trav S.D.

Of course, all life stories have a downer ending, insomuch as they, well, end. We regret that this is our third tale in one day with a premature finish however. In addition to Danitra Vance …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:42PM

Seth Allen: From LaMaMa to Lisbon Traviata by Trav S.D.

By a happy accident I find myself about my second LaMaMa alum of the day, actor, playwright, and director Seth Allen (1971-1986). (The accident is that he and and Danitra Vance share a July …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:32PM

Danitra Vance: Thwarted Pioneer by Trav S.D.

To my mind, the history of Saturday Night Live is largely a chronicle of mismanaged talent and squandered opportunities. The list of comedy geniuses the show has hired, then didn’t know wh…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:18AM
Saturday, July 12, 2025

The Three Stooges in Queens! by Trav S.D.

Time was when a Saturday showing of Three Stooges shorts was just Life on Earth. Nowaday it’s sumpn I gotta tell ya about! Here are some good reasons to catch That Slapstick Show at QED to…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:42AM

Laurels for John Lahr by Trav S.D.

It may be a rash boast, but I feel there must be few readers as constitutionally capable of appreciating the life and career of author/critic John Lahr (b. 1941) as this correspondent. My co…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:32AM

The Joe Higgins Centennial by Trav S.D.

Actor Joe Higgins (1925-1998) was born 100 years ago today. Higgins was a bit player best known for playing sheriffs in commercials, PSAs, and television shows, frequently with the tag line,…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:18AM
Friday, July 11, 2025

Stuart Little Turns 80 by Trav S.D.

1945 was the year of publication of one of my favorite children’s books Stuart Little. This children’s classic was only about 25 years old when I discovered it. It just so happens that m…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:18PM

Johnny Marvin, The Ukulele Ace by Trav S.D.

Johnny Marvin (1897-1944) was one of the great ukulele playing vaudeville stars of the ’20s and early ’30s. His name has fallen by the wayside in comparison with some others, so it is ou…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:02AM
Thursday, July 10, 2025

R.I.P. Judi by Trav S.D.

Teacher Appreciation Day was two months ago, and I came this close to doing a long-planned piece on my Freshman English teacher, Judi Scott. For whatever reason I ducked it, not for the firs…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:18PM

Props for Ivie Anderson by Trav S.D.

I first became aware of the great singer Ivie Anderson (1905-1949) — of course — from her turn in the Marx Brothers’ movie A Day at the Races (1937). She’s the lady who sings “All …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:54AM
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Conor McPherson and “The Weir” at the Irish Rep (Opens Tonight) by Trav S.D.

Irish playwright Conor McPherson is always having a moment — he’s been having a moment for the last 30+ years. But 2025, which is only half over, has been extraordinary with FOUR shows h…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:32AM

Seriously, Jester Hairston by Trav S.D.

Jester Hairston (1901-2000) had two strong careers in two entirely different but overlapping cultural disciplines. Arguably his contributions to music were of greater significance, but we’…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:24AM
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Happy Cow Appreciation Day by Trav S.D.

The second Tuesday in July is Cow Appreciation Day. Remember to tip your cows! (Just kidding, cow tipping is cruel). As we have done with many another critter, we observe the day with a litt…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:18AM

A Thing on Steve and Eydie by Trav S.D.

Vaudeville makes strange bedfellows, and one of the unlooked for outcomes of the publication of my book No Applause 20 years ago, was encountering all sorts of people who assumed (on the bas…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:06AM
Monday, July 7, 2025

Come See Coney Island Vaudeville on August 1 by Trav S.D.

Now that the Fourth of July holiday (along with the political trauma that preceded it) are out of the way, I am pleased to announce a project designed to ease your worried mind! Friday, Augu…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:02PM

Cecil Lean and His Two Wives by Trav S.D.

Cecil Lean (1878-1935) and his two wives (in succession, of course) were major stars of their day, headliners in vaudeville and musical comedy stars of Broadway and nationwide tours, yet one…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:36AM
Sunday, July 6, 2025

Family Fourth: The Return of Lizzie West by Trav S.D.

So…I love the ones who stay in the fray. I was delighted a couple of days ago when my old friend Lizzie West dropped a new track with a Fourth of July theme, for I’ve missed her, and she…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:42PM

June Kenney: From Child Star to Scream Queen by Trav S.D.

Sure, we know July 6 is the birthday of Annette Kellerman, Bill Haley, Pat Paulsen, Merv Griffin, Sebastian Cabot, William Schallert, Janet Leigh, Sylvester Stallone, Vince McMahon, Joe Keat…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:24AM
Saturday, July 5, 2025

On the Musical “Barnum” (1980) by Trav S.D.

P.T. Barnum’s birthday is always a big day for me, a kind of semi-holiday riding on the coat-tails of the Glorious Fourth, the day before. To a considerable extent, Barnum invented modern …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:36AM
Friday, July 4, 2025

What I Saw at the Bicentennial by Trav S.D.

This is taken from a book project I’ve been working on for a number of years. I’ve tailored this section for the present moment and the 50th anniversary of the events described. Be warne…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:06PM

A George M. Cohan Finding Aid by Trav S.D.

On this, the morning after the passage of legislation that may well end the nation founded 249 years ago today, I definitely have some better warranted remarks waiting in the wings. But I am…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:36PM

Two Rare George M. Cohan Newsreels by Trav S.D.

I seldom share media clips on Travalanche any more, both because I got frustrated with the links dying (I don’t have the bandwidth for that kind of maintenance, this is a very large websit…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:32AM
Thursday, July 3, 2025

Jaws Goes to Paris by Trav S.D.

There’s a logic, if a tortured one, for my scheduling this post for today. Jaws turned 50 this year, and of course that movie has a big Fourth of July weekend scene. But I’ve already wri…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:48PM

A Look at Leonard Landy by Trav S.D.

July 2 was the birthday of Leonard Landy (1933-2017), one of the later and lesser Little Rascals. Landy appeared in 21 Our Gang shorts between 1938 and 1941, starting at the age of five and …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:32AM