11,499 stories by "Trav S.D."
The Encyclopedia Britannica gives February 18 as the birthday of André Breton (1896-1966), though other sources seem less sure. We've already done a post on his role in the birth of surreal…
I swear we have no intention of turning this into an obituary blog, but people keep dying and bumping my planned posts from the day's docket! We just learned that actor Tom Noonan (1951-2026…
Jesse Jackson (1941-2026) was the first Presidential candidate I ever cared about as a voter. My political coming of age was in 1984. In the months prior to the Democratic party's nomination…
Today's new Travalanche post for February 17, 2026 is a tribute to the late Robert Duvall. Also it's Mardi Gras! My earlier post on the holiday (and related stuff) is here. And my multi-part…
I had to take a day to cogitate on what I wanted to say in praise of the late Robert Duvall (1931-2026). He was one of those quietly great Method actors, usually cast in second leads or char…
Today's new Travalanche post for February 16, 2026 is about John Schlesinger and three of his films (Midnight Cowboy, Day of the Locust, and Honky Tonk Freeway). And it's President's Day. I …
Film director John Schlesinger (1926-2003) would be 100 years ago today. I've seen about half of his movies, and could certainly whip up enthusiasm for a few more of them than I treat of her…
Today's new Travalanche posts for February 15, 2026 are about a new Tura Satana documentary, and theatre columnist and sketch writer S. Jay Kaufman. Earlier Travalanche posts for February 15…
We'd long known a documentary about film goddess Tura Satana was in the works, but hadn't heard much about it since the crowdfunding campaign many years ago. So we were beyond excited to see…
I became aware of S. Jay Kaufman (1886-1957) because there is a portrait of him by James Montgomery Flagg hanging at the Lambs. And I was immediately amused by the fact that his name is what…
Today's new Travalanche posts for February 14, 2026 are about The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, the sit-com Valentine's Day, and the show biz professionals Fanne Foxe, Al Brodax, Jessica Dra…
 A post now on Lena Horne's Valentine, born of a Valentine's Day, Leonard "Lennie" Hayton (1908-1971). Hayton was was Jewish kid, raised in New York in a family of classical music lovers …
Well, this is TECHNICALLY a Valentine's Day post, but as the title should tip you off, it's more about violence than about sex. But it DOES have a Jazz Age/ Prohibition Era theme that may ap…
Happy Valentine's Day! Seemed a good time for a post on a long-forgotten one-season sitcom created by Hal Kanter, best known for his long-time association with Bob Hope. Valentine's Day (196…
Born too of a Valentine's Day was actress Frances Dade (1907-1968), notable for playing the screen's first Lucy in Dracula (1931) and for being named a WAMPAS Baby Star " and for having one …
How wonderful that Fanne Foxe (Annabel Edith Villagra, 1936-2021) was born not just on Valentine's Day, but on the very same day that the subject of our last post, Joan O'Brien. It was just …
Today we sing the praises of radio singer Jessica Dragonette (Jessica Valentina Dragonetti, 1900-1980). As her given name indicates, Dragonette was born on Valentine's Day to Italian-America…
Singer and actress Joan O'Brien (1936-2025) passed away back in May, but we decided to save a tribute for her natal day, Valentine's Day. O'Brien was still in high school when she began sing…
Born 100 years ago today: television producer Albert "Al" Brodax (1926-2016). Brodax grew up in Washington Heights and Brooklyn, the son of a coat manufacturer. He served bravely in combat i…
When Jerry Springer (1944-2023) passed away three years ago, I posted some nasty online comments, which I can't seem to find now. I may have deleted them . delete half the things I post on s…
Today's new Travalanche posts for February 13, 2026 are about Jerry Springer and Sidney Smith, creator of The Gumps. Earlier Travalanche posts for February 13 (in no particular order) includ…
Knowest Thou of The Gumps? I'm pretty sure I'm unaware of any other pop culture franchise that was as major as this that has vanished so completely. Its last gasp was in 1959 and it was neve…
Today's new Travalanche posts for February 12, 2026 are about Joseph Kearns (Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace); French ventriloquist Robert Lamouret; little person actor Nabil Shaban; the o…
Well, the day has finally arrived! I've been waiting for friend and frequent collaborator Noah Diamond's podcast series Pintele for months, literally, now and here it is, episode one. I have…
Today would have been the 73rd birthday of Nabil Shaban (1953-2025); the actor passed away back in October. Shaban was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. The Jordani…
