Alabama novelist Harper Lee (Nelle Harper Lee, 1926-2016) was born 100 years ago today. A relative of Robert E. Lee (though not a descendent), the author was born, raised, and died in the sm…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:10AM[SHARE]Most educated people know but one thing about Samuel F.B. Morse (1791-1872); today we aim to fill the portrait out with some additional intel which amplify the signal of his greatness (see w…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:45PM[SHARE]Today’s new Travalanche posts for April 27, 2026 are about Samuel F.B. Morse, pin-up artist George Petty, playwright/screenwriter and Don Mullally. Earlier Travalanche posts for April 27 (…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:45PM[SHARE]April 27 was the birthday of pin-up artist George Brown Petty IV (1894–1975). This year (2026) marks a century since Petty opened his successful painting studio. You may have some vague i…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:20AM[SHARE]I first learned about screenwriter Don Mullally (1886-1933, sometimes spelled Mullaly) because he co-wrote Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) with the similarly ill-fated Carl Erickson. He is …
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:15AM[SHARE]Today’s new Travalanche post for April 26, 2026 is about agent and producer Charles K. Feldman. Also it’s World Burlesque Day. The Finding Aid to Burlesque on Travalanche is here. Earlie…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:10PM[SHARE]There are many paths to a creative career in the film business. Some are less conventional than others. Charles K. Feldman (1905-1968) started out as an attorney for talent agencies, then be…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:50AM[SHARE]Today’s new Travalanche posts for April 25, 2026 are about the late Randy Bourscheidt, the late Lynn Hamilton, and the still later Paula Trueman. Also check out this post for World Penguin…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:25PM[SHARE]Actress Lynn Hamilton (1930-2025) passed away back in June; as I often do, I decided to push what amounts to an obit back to the decedent’s next birthday. She is not to be confused with Li…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:15PM[SHARE]Those who know the work of Paula Trueman (1897-1994) at all likely know her as one of those ubiquitous professional old ladies of the ’70s and ’80s, along with the likes of Ruth Gordon, …
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:15PM[SHARE]Thanks, James Monroe, of Monroe and Company, for conveying the sad news that our mutual mentor Randall “Randy” Boursheidt (1944-2026) passed away about a week ago. I had the pleasure of …
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:05AM[SHARE]Today’s new Travalanche posts for April 24, 2026 are about Willem de Kooning, Lord Haw Haw, and comedy writer Gary Belkin. Earlier Travalanche posts for April 24 (in no particular order) i…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:25PM[SHARE]April 24 was the birthday of abstract-expressionist painter Willem de Kooning (1904-1997). This year (2026) marks a century since the Dutch kid hopped a ship in Rotterdam and stowed away, ar…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:40PM[SHARE]Today marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of William Joyce (1906-1946); we’re also in the 80th year since his execution for treason. Let his story stand as a cautionary tale to broadc…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:25AM[SHARE]I have had numerous occasions to mention Michel Fokine (Mikhail Mikhaylovich Fokin, 1880-1942) on Travalanche, for he was an important figure in the history of ballet, and many of his cohort…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:50AM[SHARE]Today is the centennial birthday, according to the New York Times, of comedy writer Gary Belkin (1926-2005). Contrary to a popular misconception, not everybody in the writers room of Sid Cae…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:15AM[SHARE]Today’s new Travalanche posts for April 23, 2026 are about Lucy Worsley’s new show on the American Revolution, and a little acknowledgment of World Book Day. And also Happy St. George’…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:50AM[SHARE]Somewhere in space there is another dimension where I’m still the p.r. director at the New-York Historical Society, and got to assist Lucy Worsley and her crew in displaying the broken pie…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:50AM[SHARE]Today marks the 80th birthday of that Great American Cultural Treasure John Waters (b. 1946). I’ve mentioned Waters upwards of 80 times on Travalanche, but have not yet created a single de…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:35PM[SHARE]Today’s new Travalanche post for April 22, 2026 is an 80th birthday tribute to John Waters. And for Earth Day: On The Green Man Several Environmental Horror Films of the 1970s Earlier Trav…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:35PM[SHARE]Today’s new Travalanche posts for April 21, 2026 are about opera singer Estelle Liebling, and the passing of scientist and Surrealist Desmond Morris. Earlier Travalanche posts for April 21…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:20PM[SHARE]I heard the news about the passing of Desmond Morris (1928-2026) too late in the day yesterday to post at that time, but we thought it worth sharing today. (Thanks, Eve Golden, for the intel…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:05PM[SHARE]April 20 is the birthday of Jessica Lange (b. 1949), whose career as a screen star reaches the half century mark this December. Who can say how conscious it is, but I can’t think of any ot…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:02PM[SHARE]Today’s new Travalanche post for April 20, 2026 is about Jessica Lange. Also Happy 420 Day! Go here for my Hall of High Comedians. Earlier Travalanche posts for April 20 (in no particular …
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:02PM[SHARE]April 21 was the birthday of opera singer and vocal instructor Estelle Liebling (1880-1970). Liebling was from a very musical German-Jewish family from Silesia (a Duchy that was annexed by P…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:01PM[SHARE]Today's new Travalanche posts for April 18, 2026 are about The Untouchables and The Turtles. Also Travalanche helps you celebrate: National Banana Day Dutch-American Friendship Day The Launc…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:54PM[SHARE]Mark Volman (1947-2025) passed away back in September. He and his musical partner Howard Kaylan (b. 1947) were the two core members of the popular sixties band The Turtles. When the band bro…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:54PM[SHARE]April 19 was the birthday of Federal law enforcement officer Eliot Ness (1903-1957). Ness was famous for spearheading the effort to bring down mob boss Al Capone during the Prohibition Era. …
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:32AM[SHARE]Today's new Travalanche posts for April 18, 2026 are about nightclub comedian Jack White and Harry Owens and His Royal Hawaiians. Also, it's World Circus Day. Earlier Travalanche posts for A…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:54PM[SHARE]No, not GARY Owens. HARRY Owens (1902-86). Owens was not a native Hawaiian, in fact he was about the farthest thing from it, a product of America's Great Plains. He was born on O'Neil, Nebra…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:48PM[SHARE]By way of explanation, there are at least four show biz Jack Whites to concern ourselves with (or not): 1) the contemporary one, i.e., the guy from The White Stripes; 2) the one classic come…
SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:32AM[SHARE]
