Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Mystery and Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City by Trav S.D.

Today is Houdini’s birthday. He’s the only magician who has his own section here on Travalanche. I’ve something big planned for later this year, since 2026 marks the 100th anniversary …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:42AM

The Matilda Joslyn Gage Bicentennial by Trav S.D.

Here’s a thing of significance known well to most hard-core Oz fans, but not the general public: the mother-in-law of Oz creator L. Frank Baum, Matilda Joslyn Gage (1826-1898) was an impor…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:36AM

Joy for Joel Barlow by Trav S.D.

Today, a tribute to a minor player in the American Revolutionary and Early Federal Periods, as well as an early figure in American Arts and Letters: Joel Barlow (1754-1812). I first learned …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:24AM
Monday, March 23, 2026

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

Today’s new Travalanche posts for March 23, 2026 are about Kenneth Tobey (Airplane!) and the upcoming Coney Island Book Fair. It also happens to be the day in 1960 on which Algonquin Roun…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:18PM

Save the Date for the Return of the Coney Island Book Fair! by Trav S.D.

Great news! Last year’s inaugural Coney Island Book Fair was such a smasheroo that it is returning to Coney Island USA on May 17. I know we’re nearly still two months out, but I wanted t…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:12AM

Context for Kenneth Tobey by Trav S.D.

When folks rave about the clever stunt casting in the 1980 ZAZ comedy Airplane! the names that are usually brought up are Leslie Nielsen (of course), Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Robert Stac…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:02AM
Sunday, March 22, 2026

Straight Outta Compton (Henry Compton, That Is): The Compton Dynasty of Showfolk by Trav S.D.

We love theatrical dynasties! And par usual we were made aware of this one by some of the more recent representatives of the line, which seems to end (from a show business perspective) aroun…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:18PM

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

Today’s new Travalanche post for March 22, 2026 is about the Compton dynasty (which includes such luminaries as Fay Compton, Compton Mackenzie, and Tracy Reed, the girl with George C. Sco…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:18PM
Saturday, March 21, 2026

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

Today’s new Travalanche post for March 21, 2026 is about the poet Phyllis Wheatley, in observance of World Poetry Day. If that ain’t vaudeville enough for yer, earlier Travalanche posts …

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

Teach Phyllis Wheatley by Trav S.D.

Today being World Poetry Day, one that falls during the 250th anniversary year of American Independence, it seemed the ideal moment to acknowledge one of America’s first significant poets,…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:12PM
Friday, March 20, 2026

A New Spring, For Some, A New Year by Trav S.D.

The first day of Spring used to be the first day of the year on European calendars (it’s slightly complicated but that’s why April Fool’s Day is April 1. It was originally part of New …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:06PM

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

Today’s new Travalanche posts for March 20, 2026 are about Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, and the First Day of Spring. Earlier Travalanche posts for March 20 (in no particular order) include on…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:06PM

Deconstructing Mr. Rogers by Trav S.D.

I have a damning admission to make, one that risks alienating some readers. I found the revival of interest in Fred Rogers (1928-2003) several years ago, surrounding the release of the films…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:48AM
Thursday, March 19, 2026

Some Very Cool Exhibitions at Poster House by Trav S.D.

Knowest Thou of Poster House? Apparently it opened in 2019, a year when I was out of town a lot, and then came Covid and the lock-down, and that went on for a couple of years at least. Plus …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:48PM

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

Today’s new Travalanche posts for March 19, 2026 are about Tod Slaughter, the late John Bengtson, and some great recent exhibitions at Poster House. Earlier Travalanche posts for March 19…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:48PM

The Aptly Named Tod Slaughter by Trav S.D.

What a happy, happy discovery we have made in the person of British stage and screen star Tod Slaughter (Norman Carter Slaughter, 1885-1956). Where has he been my whole life??? Most American…

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

R.I.P. John Bengtson: Silent Comedy Archaeologist by Trav S.D.

We were sorry to learn from Eve Golden of the passing away of silent comedy film historian and author John Bengtson (1957-2026) a couple of days ago. Bengtson died on January 29, though it t…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:06AM
Wednesday, March 18, 2026

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

Today’s new Travalanche posts for March 18, 2026 are about Susan Tyrrell, Charley Pride, and the launch of issue #2 of Slips Slips. Earlier Travalanche posts for March 18 (in no particular…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:02PM

My Review of “Ulster American” with Matthew Broderick at the Irish Rep by Trav S.D.

Saturday Night I celebrated St. Patty’s early with a show at the Irish Rep, and a couple of pints of stout with one of me lads. TWO pints, mind you, which one customarily doesn’t feel. I…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:48PM

The Return of “Slips Slips” by Trav S.D.

Thank you Jeff Lewonczyk for sharing this Becca Rothfeld quote (below) as part of your rollout of Issue #2 of Slips Slips. You remember Slips Slips, don’t you? We announced its advent with…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:42PM

Cheers for Charley Pride by Trav S.D.

I maintain a running list of significant people who were taken by Covid-19 during the pandemic: black country singer Charley Pride (1934-2020) was one of them. There is, or was, an unfortuna…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:36PM

Susan Tyrrell: Behind the Bitter Operetta by Trav S.D.

March 18 was the birthday of the rare exotic bird Susan Tyrrell (Susan Creamer, 1945-2012). I’d certainly seen many of Tyrrell’s screen performances over the years, but only recently did…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:06AM
Tuesday, March 17, 2026

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

Today’s new Travalanche post for March 17, 2026 is about the late Patty Mahoney. Happy St. Patrick’s Day for those who celebrate. We invite you to look at our brief post on the Irish in …

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

On Another St. Patty: Patty Maloney! by Trav S.D.

How thoughtful for a lady named Patricia “Patty” Maloney (1936-2025) to be born on St. Patrick’s Day. Maloney died less than a year ago, but it seemed (forgive me) magically delicious …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:12AM
Monday, March 16, 2026

Address to the People of France on Jerry Lewis’s 100th Birthday! by Trav S.D.

Citoyens Français, écoutez mon appel ! Je vous crie dessus depuis un pays barbare, une nation sans culture, une terre sans goût ni discernement. Cette terre, ce sont les États-Unis d’A…

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

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

Today’s new Travalanche posts for March 16, 2026 are about the Jerry Lewis Centennial, the Charles Halton Sesquicentennial, National Panda Day, and silent star Conrad Nagel. Earlier Traval…

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

The Pandas of Travalanche by Trav S.D.

March 16 is National Panda Day, so I thought I’d add to my store of animal representation features on Travalanche with this brief tribute. Pictured above are Ling-Ling (1969-1992) and Hsin…

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

Dressed as Conrad Nagel by Trav S.D.

The title of this post references a quip in an episode of M*A*S*H, surely the first place I ever heard uttered the name of Conrad Nagel (1897-1970). March 16 was Nagel’s birthday, but toda…

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

The Charles Halton Sesquicentennial by Trav S.D.

Born 150 years ago today, Hollywood character actor Charles Halton (Charles Herzberg, 1876-1959). With his pinched features, wire spectacles, and wispy thin comb-over, Halton was prized for …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:48AM
Sunday, March 15, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for March 15, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for March 15, 2026 is about about Andrew Jackson and our recent trip to The Hermitage. Also, it’s the Ides of March — so here’s a post on Julius Caesar i…

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

A Glance at Andrew Jackson and The Hermitage by Trav S.D.

The Ides of March happens to be the birthday of that American Caesar, Andrew Jackson (1767-1845). This is not a U.S. history blog per se, but there are numerous places of overlap here with o…

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

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