11,714 stories by "Trav S.D."
I'm pretty sure that I have never heard a better name for a performing little person than Dolleta Boykin (Dolly Dodd, 1881-1948). Not just Doll like the Doll Family, but "Dolletta", an even …
I'm not certain if I would otherwise have done a post on singer/actor Yves Montand (Ivo Levi, 1921-1991) before I learned of his early years. In America, we thought of him as one of a handfu…
There are fewer than two dozen film acting credits in the dossier of Jean Wallace (Jean Walaceck, 1923-1990). Yet hers is a story worth knowing for show biz buffs I think. Wallace was raised…
Buster Brodie (Max Broida, 1885-1948) billed himself as "The Hairless Man", but he had an additional distinguishing characteristic: he was only 4′ 9 1/2″ tall, making an almost l…
By happy coincidence, the natal day of Chief Caupolican (Emile Barrangon, 1876-1968) falls on Indigenous Peoples Day this year. Chief Caupolican was believed to have been a member of the Map…
We hope you will forgive the split nature of this portmanteau-post, which is intended to do double duty as a capsule biography of Madame Tussaud (Anna Maria Grosholtz, 1761-1850) and a revie…
Alastair Sim (1900-1976) rarely stirred from his "right little, tight little island", spent more time on stage than screen, and jealously guarded his private life. As a consquence, he is alm…
We are apt to think of Elmer Calvin "Hank" Patterson (1888-1975) as a rube comedian on account of his long standing role as Fred Ziffel, proprietor of Arnold the Sentient Pig on the Paul Hen…
Before the Floradora Girls, the Ziegfeld Girls, or the Goldwyn Girls, there were the Gaiety Girls. These were the creation of West End impresario George Edwardes (1855-1915). Edwardes had le…
In his day, Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916) was known as "America's Best Loved Poet". Today, I fear that most English departments regard his work as primitive kitsch and he has…
Every person who aspires to write film scores should know the name Louis F. Gottschalk (1863-1934). He was the first guy to do it, at least the first to compose complete scores; prior to him…
While Lyle Tuttle (1931-2019) could easily have exhibited himself in sideshows, he did not. He was a guy who made many sideshow artists possible. Tuttle himself sported a full tattoo "body s…
Three cheers today for hard-working character actor Jerome Cowan (1897-1972). Cowan appeared in over 200 films and TV productions; if you don't know the name, I hope you know that face from …
400 years ago this November " whatever you feel about it " there occurred the event that is traditionally known in America as the "First Thanksgiving." (1621, right? The Pilgrims had just go…
It has been 40 years now since the world lost Allen Ludden (1917-1981), so long that the weird cult of young Betty White fans that sprang up since her first 2010 Saturday Night Live appearan…
The Sword Swallowers Hall of Fame informs me that today is the birthday of sideshow performer and impresario Bobby Reynolds (b. 1931). I know this estimable personage (who billed himself as …
I have no idea how Scotty Beckett (1929-1968) has fallen through the Travalanche cracks. He is sure one of the Little Rascals I knew about first, but I've not mentioned him at all, despite h…
Luis Alberni (1886-1962) was a much beloved Hollywood character actor for decades. Though often cast as comical Italians, and his surname sure sounds Italian, he was actually Spanish. Albern…
Cliff Hall (1894-1972) has at least two major claims to fame as far as classic comedy fans are concerned: he was straight man to Jack Pearl (Baron Munchausen) on radio as well as some stage …
Once again it is Fire Prevention Week (October 3-9). Those who write about theatre history can't avoid the topic of conflagrations from time to time; they're a doleful part of the story. Con…
King Richard III (Richard Plantagenet, 1452-1485) was born this day, and while we do not precisely celebrate the fact, we thought it would be an appropriate time for a brief contemplation of…
Actor Henry Victor (1892-1945) is known for appearing in horror classics, such as Tod Browning's Freaks (1932), in which he played the boorish strong man Hercules, as well as The Mad Doctor …
An enthusiastic appreciation this morning for comely stage and screen star Rita La Roy (Ina La Roi Stuart, 1901-1993). Originally from the Gold Rush town of Bonner's Ferry, Idaho on the Cana…
Born 100 years ago this day, actor James Whitmore (1921-2009). I chose the photo above because his Whitmore's greatest role was probably his one man show about Will Rogers, which he performe…
Most film buffs, I imagine, know Everett Sloane (1909-1965) chiefly from his professional relationship with Orson Welles. He was with the Mercury Theatre in their radio productions and in th…
