11,585 stories by "Trav S.D."
Today’s new Travalanche posts for July 10, 2026 are about songwriter Jimmy McHugh and slapstick movie comedian Sammy Brooks. And, man oh man, what a great day for show biz birthdays and an…
Jimmy McHugh (1894-1969), one of the great Tin Pan Alley songwriters, was born on July 10th. Of Boston Irish stock, McHugh got his start playing piano in the dime museums, dance halls, and v…
July 10th was the birthday of slapstick screen comedian Sammy Brooks (Samuel Rockenberg, 1891-1951). Brooks was a key member of the Hal Roach ensemble appearing in over 250 comedies for t…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for July 9, 2026 are about cowboy star Eddie Dean, an an upcoming Laurel and Hardy festival. Also RIP R.G. Davis of the San Francisco Mime Troupe who passed a…
Very exciting news, New Yorkers! Commencing tomorrow (July 10th, 2026), the Film Forum will be screening over 50 Laurel and Hardy comedies, running through July 23rd. Their blurb says that �…
July 9th was the birthday of cowboy star Eddie Dean (Edgar Dean Glosup (1907-1999). There’s hyperbole in the title to this post of course, but it’s true within narrow limits on two count…
Stage and screen character actress Marcia Rodd (1938-2025) — definitely one of those occasions when a photograph told me what the name didn’t. Rodd was in two episodes of All in the Fami…
Today’s new Travalanche post for July 8, 2026 is about character actress Marcia Rodd. Also RIP, Louise Lasser, who passed away yesterday. Earlier Travalanche posts for July 8 (in no partic…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for July 7, 2026 are about silent movie star Ben F. Wilson plus the late Carter de Haven III. Earlier Travalanche posts for July 7 (in no particular order) in…
Thanks once again Eve Golden for timely intel about the passing of someone with deep roots in American show business, in this case Carter de Haven III (1932-2026). The decedent was not only …
Today marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of silent era actor, director, and producer Ben F. Wilson (Benjamin Franklin Wilson, 1876-1930). Originally from Corning, Iowa, Wilson began hi…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for July 6, 2026 are about naval warrior John Paul Jones & the late historian Mike Wallace. Earlier Travalanche posts for July 6 (in no particular order) …
I don’t mean to seem flip; this is to clarify that we are not referring to the better known I don’t mean to seem flip; this is to clarify that we are not referring to the better known CB…
Oh, don’t worry, not the bassist from Led Zeppelin. THAT John Paul Jones has been married to his wife for 60 years, surely an indication of what kind of guy he is. No, I am referring to th…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for July 5, 2026 are about Diana Lynn (My Friend Irma) and Tommy Cook (Rollercoaster). Earlier Travalanche posts for July 5 (in no particular order) include o…
Tommy Cook (b. 1930) has reinvented himself many times and may do so yet again — for the 95-year-old Hollywood professional is still among us! Cook began his career as a child actor on rad…
Born 100 years ago today: actress, child star, and concert pianist Diana Lynn (Dolores Loehr, 1926-1971). Classic comedy fans are apt to know Lynn from three movies with Dean Martin and Jerr…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for July 4, 2026 is about…July 4, 1776. Happy 250th, birthday, America! For lots of relevant reading, see: My Finding Aid to Posts Related to the American R…
Well today is the big day. I last experienced something similar 50 years ago at the Bicentennial, a tortured time no less than our own which I wrote about here. I’ll be watching the Tall S…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for July 3, 2026 is about the 1996 film Independence Day. Earlier Travalanche posts for July 3 (in no particular order) include ones on: Castle Garden Leon Er…
Continuing our theme from yesterday…. Released nationwide 30 years ago today (July 3, 1996), Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day. How fortuitously timed, right there in the perineum betwi…
I seldom venture into first-run cinemas any more these days, but this one was my Father’s Day present, which I very much appreciated! I was especially keen to see the film on account of my…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for July 2, 2026 are reviews of Larry David’s new history-themed sketch comedy series, and Steven Spielberg’s latest movie Disclosure Day. Earlier Travala…
Sorry to do this to you on your birthday, Larry David, but this new show just dropped, and episode two premieres tomorrow, plus the show is advertised as being linked to the 250th birthday o…
Today’s new Travalanche posts for July 1, 2026 are about kids of Edie Adams, and playwright Susan-Glaspell. Also, July is International Zine Month. July 1 is Canada Day. For which this pos…
