11,791 stories by "Trav S.D."
Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 22, 2026 includes ones on the Foy Sisters and some upcoming Bowery events. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September 22 incl…
Here’s an unprecedented development that delights me to end. David Mulkins of the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors wrote me yesterday with a missive that all at once stitched together two them…
In this particular case we refer not to Mary and Madeline Foy of vaudeville’s famous Foy Family, but the two women who inspired their dad Eddie Foy to take that surname in the first place …
“September 21 is World Peace Day aka International Day of Peace,” he said with a hollow laugh. I contemplated sharing this post during my recent spate of 25th anniversary 9/11 pieces, bu…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 21, 2026 are about The Great New York Fire of 1776, a new biography of lady magician Adelaide Herrmann, and — oh yeah — a plea for world pea…
Today is the publication date of a terrific sounding new biographical resource, Queen of Magic: The Wondrous, Unstoppable Adelaide Herrmann. I wrote a bit about the illustrious Hermann Famil…
This has been a year of solemn anniversaries: 250 years of American Independence and 25 years since the September 11th terrorist attacks. Today we mark yet another that thematically links bo…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 20, 2026 are about Elliott Nugent and the late Rudy Cheeks. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September 20 include ones on: Ha…
Over the past couple of days or so we have lost Duncan Sheik and Gerrit Graham, and I was tempted to eulogize both of them — but there are plenty of others to pick up that gauntlet. Instea…
Elliott Nugent (1896–1980) was one of the rare individuals who did everything: wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the theatre; and wrote, directed, and starred in movies. Unusually,…
Today’s new Travalanche post for September 19, 2026 is about actor Mel Stewart. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September 19 include ones on: (For Talk Like a Pirate Da…
Mel Stewart (1929–2002) was a regular, sometimes a co-star, of numerous TV shows, including Turn On (1969), Roll Out (1973-74), On the Rocks (1975-76), The Bewitched spin off Tabitha (1977…
Today’s new Travalanche post for September 18, 2026 is about voice-over actor June Foray. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September 18 include ones on: Eddie ”Rochest…
What a looker, eh? Surely this gorgeous glamour-puss provided eye candy in many a noir barn burner! A femme fatale in gritty b&w B movie masterpieces? A torch singer in minor musicals? N…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 17, 2026 are about Ken Kesey, vaudeville author Douglas Gilbert, and the McKinney’s Cotton Pickers. In no particular order, other Travalanche …
I have a sort of standing rule at Travalanche; if I can find a pic of my subject in a vaudeville style derby or top hat, I use it for my blogpost, especially if the person is of more recent …
A few lines here on drummer and bandleader Bill McKinney (1895–1969), motive force behind McKinney’s Cotton Pickers. Before you have a conniption about the name, know that this was by n…
As one does (or doesn’t), your correspondent tends to be cautious in recommending books that are in competition with his own, even when the differences are considerable. But from time to t…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 16, 2026 are about jazz fiddler Joe Venuti, sideshow performer Pasqual Piñón, and the late Lissa Moira. September 16 is a great day for show b…
I have had about a dozen occasions to mention Giuseppi “Joe” Venuti (1903-1978), so I thought I would afford him a quick natal day tribute of his own. The latter phrase is with reference…
We were so sorry to learn this morning that long-time downtown pillar of the arts Lissa Moira has passed on. I associate Lissa primarily with Theater for the New City, although she also pres…
Today is Mexican Independence Day! Having already done a post on La Carpa, the traditional Mexican tent show, we select a topic that may be deemed less respectful and dignified, but actually…
I’d seen George Rowe (1894–1975) in dozens of silent comedies but didn’t put a name to his distinctive puss until Steve Massa devoted an entire chapter to him in his 2013 book Lame Bra…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 15, 2026 are about silent comedian George Rowe and Columbia House record club. Also Happy Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15). Check out th…
Today has been announced as the last day that Columbia House will accept new orders. When I first heard the news from Eve Golden I had the inevitable thoughts: 1) That still exists??? and 2)…
