11,727 stories by "Trav S.D."
Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Mabel Normand feature Molly O (1921). It is her first feature with Mack Sennett following her return to him after three years with S…
Today is the birthday of François Alexandre Nicolas Chéri Delsarte (1811-1871), one of the most influential figures in the 19th century and early 20th century theatre, as well as e…
Thank God for the Mad Marchioness, who noticed recently that we have access to the Warner Archive through some thingamajig on what used to be called our television. And the Warner Archive tu…
Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Laurel and Hardy feature The Dancing Masters (1943), directed by Mal St. Clair. This film is generally considered by die-hard fans t…
Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Buster Keaton feature Our Hospitality (1923). Our Hospitality may be called Keaton's first true feature as director (with co-dire…
Tomorrow at the crack of dawn, Turner Classic Movies will show one of Laurel and Hardy’s worst features, followed by one of their best: Â 4:45am (EST): Air Raid Wardens Air Raid War…
Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Mae West comedy Go West, Young Man (1936). Unthinkably this movie is not a western, the title is literally just a pun on the star…
Filed under: Burlesk, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Ulm Uberbusen, Victrola Burlesque
Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Vitagraph comedy Frauds and Frenzies (1918), co-starring Larry Semon and Stan Laurel. There are many interesting things about Se…
 Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Eddie Cantor comedy The Kid from Spain (1932), written by Kalmar and Ruby, directed by Leo McCarey, featuring Lyda Roberti, and…
Today is the anniversary of the release of the Douglas Fairbanks comedy Reaching for the Moon (1917), written by Anita Loos and directed by John Emerson. It is not to be confused with …
Tonight (tomorrow, really) at 1:00am (E.S.T.) on Turner Classic Movies, Harold Lloyd in Dr. Jack (1922). Dr. Jack is easily my least favorite (and the weakest) of Lloyd's features. …
Today is the birthday of one of the greatest cartoon voice-over actors of all-time, Daws Butler (1916-1988). Butler got his start as a teenager in the last days of vaudeville (post-vau…
Today is the birthday of Jim Jordan (1896-1988). Together with his wife Marion Driscoll Jordan, he was creator and star of the groundbreaking radio sitcom Fibber McGee and Molly. Original…
Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Laurel and Hardy short The Hoose-gow (1929), directed by James Parrott. The pen! This is a familiar scenario for Laurel and Hardy, shar…
Today is the 100th anniversary of the release of the Keystone comedy Fatty’s Jonah Day a.k.a Fatty’s Hoodoo Day, directed by and starring Roscoe “Fatty” Arbu…
Filed under: Music, PLUGS, SOCIAL EVENTS Tagged: Rudy Vallee, Vagabond Lover, Ziegfeld Society
Filed under: LEGIT, EXPERIMENTAL & MUSICAL THEATRE, PLUGS Tagged: Engaged, Gary Upton Schwartz, W.S. Gilbert
Thanks Barry Mitchell, for alerting me to the fact that Richard Zoglin’s new book Hope: Entertainer of the Century includes a generous reference to, quote from, and shout-o…
Today is the 100th anniversary of the world premiere of the seminal all-star Mack Sennett comedy feature Tillie’s Punctured Romance, starring Marie Dressler, Charlie Chaplin, Mabel …
Today is the birthday of the great American actor Edwin Booth (1833-1893). Booth was perhaps the greatest of a great theatrical family, son of Junius Brutus Booth, and brother of Junius Brut…
Today is the birthday of Eddie Buzzell (1895-1985). Brooklyn-born Buzzell broke into vaudeville at the age of 13 in a Gus Edwards kiddie act, along with Eddie Cantor, George Jessell, et al. …
Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Charlie Chaplin movie Behind the Screen (1916). While made at the peak of Chaplin’s Mutual period, this comedy feels to me like a…
Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Stan Laurel comedy Mud and Sand (1922), produced by Broncho Billy Anderson. The film is Laurel's parody of Valentino's Blood and Sand,…
 Today is the birthday of Helen Mack, sometimes billed as Helen Macks (Helen McDougall, 1913-1986). Mack had extensive credits in nearly every branch of American show business: silent fil…
