All stories by Trav S.D. on BroadwayStars

Sunday, April 26, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for April 26, 2026 by Trav S.D.

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

Charles K. Feldman: From the Canteen to the Casino by Trav S.D.

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
Saturday, April 25, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for April 25, 2026 by Trav S.D.

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

R.I.P. Lynn Hamilton by Trav S.D.

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

True Facts About Paula Trueman by Trav S.D.

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

R.I.P. Randy Bourscheidt by Trav S.D.

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
Friday, April 24, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for April 24, 2026 by Trav S.D.

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

de Kooning at The World’s Fair by Trav S.D.

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

The Hanging of Lord Haw-Haw by Trav S.D.

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

Michel Fokine, in Brief by Trav S.D.

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

The Gary Belkin Centennial by Trav S.D.

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
Thursday, April 23, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for April 23, 2026 by Trav S.D.

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

Lucy Worsley Investigates: The American Revolution by Trav S.D.

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
Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Happy 80th Birthday, John Waters by Trav S.D.

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

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for April 22, 2026 by Trav S.D.

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
Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for April 21, 2026 by Trav S.D.

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

R.I.P. Desmond Morris by Trav S.D.

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

50 Years of Jessica Lange by Trav S.D.

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

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for April 20, 2026 by Trav S.D.

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

The Estelle Liebling Legacy by Trav S.D.

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
Sunday, April 19, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for April 19, 2026 by Trav S.D.

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 Th…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:54PM

The Journey of the Turtles (R.I.P. Phlorescent Leech) by Trav S.D.

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

On Eliot Ness and “The Untouchables” by Trav S.D.

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
Saturday, April 18, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for April 18, 2026 by Trav S.D.

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 Travalanc…

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

Harry Owens and the Royal Hawaiians by Trav S.D.

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 

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

Another Jack White by Trav S.D.

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
Friday, April 17, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for April 17, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for April 17, 2026 are about silent screen actor Otto Lederer and a new TV show about Scott Joplin. Also, some good news: the live episode of the Marx Br…

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

Tonight on PBS: Everyone Loves Joplin by Trav S.D.

I don’t usually plug old-fashioned live TV airings anymore apart from particularly exiting showings of old movies on TCM, Criterion, and such like, but I wanted to let you know about …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:48AM

The Art of Otto Lederer by Trav S.D.

Today we celebrate the career of character actor Otto Lederer (1886-1965), whom I know intrepid viewers have seen in prominent parts in some major films even if the name doesn’t immed…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:36AM
Thursday, April 16, 2026

The Road to Dusty Springfield by Trav S.D.

I’ve had occasion to mention Dusty Springfield (1939-1999) perhaps ten times on Travalanche, she’s at least that significant in 20th century pop culture. But prior to doing my …

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

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for April 16, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for April 16, 2026 are about Dusty Springfield, Johnny Silver, and Christy Cabanne. Earlier Travalanche posts for April 16 (in no particular order) inclu…

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

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