Thursday, November 14, 2024

The Liltin’ Miss Martha Tilton by Trav S.D.

Martha Tilton (1915-2006) was a popular singer of the big band era who made her mark on record, radio, television, and film. Tilton was raised in Corpus Christi, Texas; Edna, Kansas; and fin…

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

From the West to the Western: Native American Representation in Classic Hollywood by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:02AM
Wednesday, November 13, 2024

The Legacy of Devil Bill Rockefeller by Trav S.D.

This is to be a post about the Rockefeller Family (and don’t worry, there are pop culture angles, which ought to be obvious.) It’s customary to pick up the narrative with John D. (1839-1…

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

For November 13: An Odd Couple Finding Aid by Trav S.D.

The narration from the opening credits in the first season of the sitcom The Odd Couple has provided the pretext for November 13 being an annual day to celebrate the show. The choice of date…

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

On the Intractability of Tribes by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:06AM
Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Neil Young: Old Man by Trav S.D.

I’ve taken to embracing round anniversaries, so I considered pushing this post on Neil Young (b. 1945) off ’til next year. But who knows if any of us will be here then? And it happens to…

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

John R. Neill: Illustrator of Oz by Trav S.D.

November 12 was the birthday of illustrator John R. Neill (1877-1943), primarily associated with L. Frank Baum’s Oz books. While W.W. Denslow had illustrated many of Baum’s earlier stori…

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

The Genocidal Writings of L. Frank Baum by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:42AM
Monday, November 11, 2024

The Geraldine Page Centennial Celebration at Torn Page by Trav S.D.

Starting tooday (November 12, 2024), Torn Page is marking the upcoming centennial birthday of the late, great stage and screen actress Geraldine Page (1924-1987). They’ll be screening Page…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:06AM

An Undelivered Speech to the Clowns on Opening Night of the Coney Island Clown Skool by Trav S.D.

I was honored to give the opening speech on opening night of Glen Heroy’s Coney Island Clown Skool at CIUSA last night. Congratulations to him and to all concerned for getting this wonderf…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:06AM

Fort Parker, “The Searchers” and the Downfall of the Comanche by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:02AM
Sunday, November 10, 2024

On Dryden’s “Indian” Plays by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:02AM

Sympathy for Sinbad by Trav S.D.

The title of our post has to do less with the fact that it’s been a good quarter century since the peak of Sinbad (David Adkins, b. 1956) than that the comedian suffered a stroke in 2020 f…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:02AM

The Russell Johnson Centennial, or The Education of a Professor by Trav S.D.

What do you do when you’re inconveniently far from home and have a couple of hours to kill between appointments? I know I’m a dying breed, but I often deal with that predicament by ducki…

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

Hosannas for Hogarth by Trav S.D.

An enthusiasm for 18th century painter, illustrator, and engraver William Hogarth (1697-1764) is one of the million ties that bind my wife and I together. Among other things, Hogarth was kno…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:42AM
Saturday, November 9, 2024

A Mabel Normand Finding Aid by Trav S.D.

How wonderful that Mabel Normand shares a birthday with Marie Dressler, Snub Pollard, and Ed Wynn! That’s an astrological club that kind of makes a little sense! Anyway, having done so man…

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

William Holland Thomas and the Eastern Band of Cherokee by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:02AM

A Century Ago: The Genesis of Joy Page by Trav S.D.

In 1924 a young man named Don Alvarado (José Ray Paige, 1904-1967) got his first minor role in the silent film Mademoiselle Midnight starring Mae Murray, married Ann Boyar, and became the …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:02AM

Reviving Captain Freedom by Trav S.D.

Today is World Freedom Day, he said with a hollow laugh. As of November 5, the prospects for genuine individual liberty anywhere in the world seem very dim indeed, and likely will be until l…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:02AM
Friday, November 8, 2024

Romanticism: From the “Noble Savage” to Buffalo Bill by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:31AM

A Proper Post on June Havoc by Trav S.D.

I’ve taken an unconscionably long time in generating a dedicated post on June Havoc ( Ellen Evangeline Hovick, 1912-2010). I’m sure it’s because she was mentioned in my post about her…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:31AM
Thursday, November 7, 2024

The Dutch, Deal-Making, and The Defeat of the Delaware, or What Became of New York’s Native Americans by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:54AM

Happy Birthday, Alice Bag by Trav S.D.

Man, am I grateful that today is the birthday of Alice Bag (Alicia “Alice” Armendariz, b. 1958). This is an especially good time to celebrate a radical Mexican punk woman, not that there…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:54AM
Wednesday, November 6, 2024

More on Jamestown and the Fate of the Powhatans by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

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

On the Well-Groomed Gordon Westcott by Trav S.D.

Thanks, Eve Golden, for making me aware of Gordon Westcott (Myrthus Hansen Hickman, 1903-1935) about a year ago. Oh, I’d seen plenty of his movies, but I’d not noted the name. Essentiall…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:42AM
Tuesday, November 5, 2024

For Election Day: On Some Problematic Presidents by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:24AM

R.I.P. Jonathan Haze by Trav S.D.

Thanks, Eve Golden, for passing along the intel about the passing of Jonathan Haze (Jack Schachter, 1929-2024). You may think there’s something kind of wrong about eulogizing him here toda…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:24AM
Monday, November 4, 2024

Of Walter Cronkite and Show Business by Trav S.D.

How perfect that Walter Cronkite (1916-2009) shared a birthday with Will Rogers, for they were both among the most trusted, beloved and admired Americans of their day. Cronkite was the ancho…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:36PM

A Will Rogers Finding Aid by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:48AM
Sunday, November 3, 2024

Poking Holes in “Pocohontas” by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people of this continent. I’…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:24AM
Saturday, November 2, 2024

A Brief But Painful Overview of the Indian Wars by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people of this continent. I’m …

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

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic