All stories by Trav S.D. on BroadwayStars

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 12, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for February 12, 2026 are about Joseph Kearns (Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace); French ventriloquist Robert Lamouret; little person actor Nabil Shaban; the…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:54AM

Noah Diamond’s “Pintele” Launches Today! by Trav S.D.

Well, the day has finally arrived! I’ve been waiting for friend and frequent collaborator Noah Diamond’s podcast series Pintele for months, literally, now and here it is, episode one. I …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:48AM

R.I.P. Nabil Shaban by Trav S.D.

Today would have been the 73rd birthday of Nabil Shaban (1953-2025); the actor passed away back in October. Shaban was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. The Jordani…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:36AM

The Drunkard, or The Fallen Saved by Trav S.D.

February 12, 1844 marked the premiere of the temperance melodrama The Drunkard, or The Fallen Saved. We’ve previously written about this play in our review of The Metropolitan Playhouse’…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:32AM

Joseph Kearns: The Original Mr. Wilson by Trav S.D.

Tribute today to radio, tv, film, and cartoon voice-over actor Joseph Kearns (1907-1962). Kearns was of Salt Lake City Mormon stock. He first went into show business in a vaudeville kiddie a…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:32AM

Robert Lamouret and Dudule by Trav S.D.

February 12 was the birthday of French singer, comedian, and ventriloquist Robert Lamouret (1912-1959). Lamouret’s “partner” was a talking duck in a sailor suit named “Dudule”. Jus…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:24AM
Wednesday, February 11, 2026

R.I.P. Bud Cort by Trav S.D.

Saddened to learn from Eve Golden that Bud Cort passed away today. Harold and Maude are reunited. Fly and be free, Brewster McCloud! My 2023 tribute to the actor is here.

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:36PM

“Dirty Talk”, A New Series About the Heyday of Trash TV by Trav S.D.

For multiple legit reasons, I held my nose the last couple of nights and endured the new 3 part “documentary series”, Dirty Talk: When Daytime Talk Shows Ruled TV (2026). (For reasons I …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:36PM

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 11, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for February 11, 2026 are about the late French clown guru Philippe Gaulier and a new docu-seeries about Trash TV. Also, we lost Bud Cort today. My 2023 tribu…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:36PM

R.I.P. Philippe Gaulier by Trav S.D.

I am a little late with this tribute to the late clown teacher and theorist Philippe Gaulier (1943-2026) for the best possible reason. When all the obits began to hit yesterday, I was at the…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:12AM
Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Giving Roberta Flack by Trav S.D.

February 10 was the birthday of Roberta Flack (1937-2025). She passed away nearly a year ago. I found the recent tribute to her at the Grammys unexpectedly moving, so this seemed to be the y…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:01AM

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 10, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for February 10, 2026 are about the late Roberta Flack, vaudeville singer Sid Gary, and pin-up/ starlet Valerie Allen. Earlier Travalanche posts for February …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:01AM

The Vitals of Valerie Allen by Trav S.D.

Valerie Allen (1936-2013) would have been 90 years old today. Allen was second generation show business, and came awfully close to stardom, but she shifted gears after a dozen years before t…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:54AM

Sid Gary: The Original Singing Garfunkel by Trav S.D.

A few fragments on vaudeville vet Sid Gary (Sidney Garfunkel, 1901-1973). Was he related to Art Garfunkel? I dunno, but I mean, come on, how many Garfunkels could there be? What I do know is…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:54AM
Monday, February 9, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 9, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for February 9, 2026 is about the political revolutionary Thomas Paine. Earlier Travalanche posts for February 9 (in no particular order) include ones on: The …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:24PM

To Breathe the Air Around Tom Paine by Trav S.D.

This year we celebrate the birthday of Thomas Paine (1737-1809) at a time when his ideas are once again in dire need of dissemination, absorption, and implementation. The cultural forces he …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:18AM
Sunday, February 8, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 8, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for February 8, 2026 are about music producer (and Doris Day son) Terry Melcher; and early movie actors Hallam Cooley and Doris McMahon. It’s also National …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:42PM

Hallam Cooley and Doris McMahon by Trav S.D.

February 8 was the birthday of early screen star Hallam “Hal” Cooley (Hallam Burr, 1895-1971). Cooley claimed to have been a relative of Aaron Burr’s, hence, I surmise, the name change…

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

The Days and Nights of Terry Melcher by Trav S.D.

Today we treat of show business legend Terry Melcher (Terrence Paul Jorden, 1942-2004). Melcher’s legacy has had the misfortune of being overshadowed by two larger personalities who intere…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:24PM

Happy 70th Birthday, Emo Phillips by Trav S.D.

Today we celebrate the birth of New Vaudeville comedian Emo Philips (Philip Soltanec, b. 1956). To those too young to process the designation — we do not mean that Philips sports a hat and…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:06AM
Saturday, February 7, 2026

The Bigger Ann Little by Trav S.D.

February 7 was the birthday of silent film star Ann Little (Mary Hankins Brooks, 1891-1984). We call her the “bigger” Ann Little because she was a more consequential star than another pe…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:24PM

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 7, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for February 7, 2026 is about the silent western star Ann Little. It’s also National Ballet Day! Check out the ballet section of Travalanche posts here. Othe…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:24PM
Friday, February 6, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 6, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for February 6, 2026 is about Disney’s new Muppet Show special. Earlier Travalanche posts for February 6 (in no particular order) include ones on: Charlie Ch…

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

The Muppet Show Revival by Trav S.D.

I had only just gushed online about how much I enjoyed the Feb 1 Grammy awards ceremony, with its mix of old and new performers, diverse artists and styles, and stunning, clever production n…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:18AM
Thursday, February 5, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 5, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for February 5, 2026 is about Aleen Leslie, creator of A Date at Judy; and a new exhibition about The Battle of Brooklyn. Earlier Travalanche posts for Februar…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:06PM

Aleen Leslie: One Girl Chorus by Trav S.D.

Born of a February 5, writer Aleen Leslie (née Wetstein, 1908-2010), best known as the creator of the multi-platform franchise A Date with Judy, and for being the oldest member of the WGA W…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:48PM

“The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered” at the BPL by Trav S.D.

The 250th anniversary of The Battle of Brooklyn (a.k.a. The Battle of Long Island) is coming up in August. Readers who give a hoot about such things know that I’m an enthusiast on this top…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:31AM
Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 4, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for February 4, 2026 is about David Ketchum (Get Smart). Earlier Travalanche posts for February 4 (in no particular order) include ones on: David Brenner Jerry…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:48AM

R.I.P. David Ketchum by Trav S.D.

Character actor, comedian, and scriptwriter David Ketchum (1928-2025) passed away back in August. Not to be confused with Hank Ketcham, creator of Dennis the Menace! Ketchum was nearly ubiqu…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:36AM
Tuesday, February 3, 2026

National Take a Cruise Day: On “The Good Ship Murder” and “Doctor Odyssey” by Trav S.D.

February 3 is National Take a Cruise Day but some of us aren’t so lucky; we just watch television shows about luxury! Having already posted about The Love Boat (twice actually, here and he…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:54PM

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 3, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for February 3, 2026 are about Blythe Danner, and two recent tv shows set on cruise ships for National Take a Cruise Day (Good Ship Murder and Doctor Odyssey)…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:54PM

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off