All stories by Trav S.D. on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 30, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 30, 2025 include ones on director Lewis Milestone, chorus girl Blanche Satchel, actor Frank Lawton (in stereo), and my recommendations for Inter…

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

My Recommendations for International Podcast Day by Trav S.D.

This International Podcast Day finds me chagrined to report that I have nothing new of my own to share or announce, apart from general intention to create new stuff for The Year of Vaudevill…

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

Frank Lawton, Father and Son by Trav S.D.

There were two generations of thespian Frank Lawtons, their combined careers spanning nearly a century. The family name was originally spelled “Laughton”. If there is any connection to B…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:12AM

The Brief on Blanche Satchel by Trav S.D.

“Blanche Satchel” (1906-2004) is one of the most unappealing stage names that I’ve ever heard; it evokes a leather saddle bag that has been boiled until it turns as white as a dead fis…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:06AM
Monday, September 29, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 29, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 29, 2025 include ones on B movie star Anne Nagel, songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, and a special post for Silent Movie Day! If you’d li…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:54PM

Things to Look at on Silent Movie Day by Trav S.D.

“What silent movies should I watch?” someone asked the other day, and it’s a perfectly valid question. It’s much preferable to the indifference (and worse, scorn) most people evince …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:54PM

The Agony and Ecstasy of Anne Nagel by Trav S.D.

Good and bad breaks were the portion of actress Anne Nagel (Anna Marie Dolan, 1915-1966), a star of B movies, and something less than a star in major features. An Irish Catholic girl from Ma…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:36AM

R.I.P. Boyce and Hart by Trav S.D.

September 29 was the birthday of Tommy Boyce (Sidney Thomas Boyce, 1939-1994); and we lost Bobby Hart (Robert Harshman, 1939-2025) about three weeks ago, so I thought this would be a good ti…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:24AM
Sunday, September 28, 2025

Your Daily Digest for September 28, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 28, 2025 include ones on Peck’s Bad Boy and a Vaudeville Call to Arms. It also happens to be Drink Beer Day. In no particular order, other Tra…

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

Coming Soon: The Year of American Vaudeville by Trav S.D.

September 28 was the birthday of both Ed Sullivan and his boss, CBS founder and President William S. Paley. I wonder who got the bigger cake? Anyway, It seemed like a good time to catch you …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:54PM

On George W. Peck and the “Peck’s Bad Boy” Phenomenon by Trav S.D.

We’ve had numerous occasions on which to mention the pop culture phenomenon of Peck’s Bad Boy, which was vital roughly from 1880 to 1940, in newspaper columns, books, stage plays, films,…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:36AM
Saturday, September 27, 2025

One of Your Top Epes Sargents by Trav S.D.

In researching the Variety critic Chicot a few months ago, I stumbled across a detail that sent me down a rabbit hole. The Variety writer’s real name was Epes Sargent, and it turns out the…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:02PM

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 27, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 27, 2025 include ones on three pretty obscure guys: 19th century writer Epes Sargent, Broadway songwriter Joseph McCarthy (right?), and sit-com …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:02PM

A Sou for Cy Howard by Trav S.D.

September 27 was the birthday of comedy creator Cy Howard (Seymour Horowitz, 1915-1993), apparently no relation to the Howards from the Three Stooges, who were also born Horowitz. This Howar…

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

The Other Joseph McCarthy by Trav S.D.

Have no fear! The title of this post doesn’t refer to some imagined “good side” of the Red-Baiting Senator from Wisconsin. That man was all bad. But as it happens there was another guy…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:54AM
Friday, September 26, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 26, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 26, 2025 include ones on The Rocky Horror Picture Show, fitness guru Jack LaLanne, and artists Thomas Nast and Charles Bird King. In no particul…

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

The Jack LaLanne Show by Trav S.D.

September 26 was the birthday of fitness pioneer and health guru Jack LaLanne (1914-2011). LaLanne’s significance lies at the very pivot point between old school physical culture of the ma…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:24PM

Thomas Nast: Father of the American Cartoon by Trav S.D.

Okay, the title of this post is hyperbole. Whenever you think you’ve I.D.’d the first anything, you’re sure to be foiled. And of course everyone CLAIMS primacy. That’s just p.r. 101.…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:24PM

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Turns 50 by Trav S.D.

September 26, 1975 was the date of the American release of that singular cinematic specimen, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Is Rocky Horror the hub of the universe? For a theatre-maker of my…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:12PM

Portrait of Charles Bird King by Trav S.D.

Just a few words of acknowledgment about 19th century painter Charles Bird King (1785-1862). I first became aware of the artist through repeated visits to the Redwood Library and Athenaeum i…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:48AM
Thursday, September 25, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 25, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 25, 2025 include ones on Mercy Otis Warren, and the Beatles animated cartoon show. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:06PM

60 Years Ago: The Beatles Cartoon by Trav S.D.

60 years ago today, September 25, 1965 saw the television premiere of the animated children’s television show The Beatles. The show aired 39 new episodes over the following two years, and …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:02AM

Mercy Otis Warren: Poet, Patriot, Pamphleteer, Propagandist, and Playwright by Trav S.D.

September 25 was the birthday of pioneering American literary figure Mercy Otis Warren (1728-1814). Daughter of Massachusetts lawyer James Otis, Mercy received the benefit of the same educat…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:48AM
Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 24, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 24, 2025 includes ones on Jim Henson, silent movie director Barry O’Neill, and movie actress Julia Faye. In no particular order, other Travala…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:18PM

Julia Faye: The Legs of the Lasky Lot by Trav S.D.

September 24 was the birthday of actress Julia Faye (Julia Faye Maloney, 1892-1966). Faye was a faye-vorite of Cecil B. DeMille, in more ways than one, and had over 100 screen credits to her…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:18PM

Your Jim Henson and the Muppets Finding Aid by Trav S.D.

It’s Jim Henson’s birthday again! Having already posted a good deal about him and his Muppet creations, I thought this year I would observe the occasion by adding this little finding aid…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:02PM

A Bio of Barry O’Neil by Trav S.D.

September 24 was the birthday of pioneering silent film director Barry O’Neil (Thomas J. McCarthy, 1865-1918). O’Neil was the son of Irish immigrants residing in New York City. His name …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:48AM
Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 23, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 23, 2025 includes ones on Ken Burns’ The Civil War, and Seinfeld‘s Jason Alexander. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for Sept…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:18PM

Of Jason Alexander vs. George by Trav S.D.

The order in which I have posted about the primary cast members and creators of Seinfeld speaks volumes: Jerry Seinfeld (2020), Larry David (2021), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2024), Heidi Swedberg…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:18PM

The Civil War by Trav S.D.

Today marks 35 years since the opening shot of Ken Burns’ The Civil War (1990) went hurtling toward Fort Sumter. Arriving at the height of the Culture Wars, this nine part, ten hour docume…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:12PM
Monday, September 22, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 22, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 22, 2025 includes ones on Narragansett Indian track champion Tarzan Brown, and a thing on rhinoceros movies. In no particular order, other Trava…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:18PM

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