11,506 stories by "Trav S.D."
September 28 was the birthday of both Ed Sullivan and his boss, CBS founder and President William S. Paley. I wonder who got the bigger cake? Anyway, It seemed like a good time to catch you …
We've had numerous occasions on which to mention the pop culture phenomenon of Peck's Bad Boy, which was vital roughly from 1880 to 1940, in newspaper columns, books, stage plays, films, com…
In researching the Variety critic Chicot a few months ago, I stumbled across a detail that sent me down a rabbit hole. The Variety writer's real name was Epes Sargent, and it turns out there…
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 27, 2025 include ones on three pretty obscure guys: 19th century writer Epes Sargent, Broadway songwriter Joseph McCarthy (right?), and sit-com ma…
September 27 was the birthday of comedy creator Cy Howard (Seymour Horowitz, 1915-1993), apparently no relation to the Howards from the Three Stooges, who were also born Horowitz. This Howar…
Have no fear! The title of this post doesn't refer to some imagined "good side" of the Red-Baiting Senator from Wisconsin. That man was all bad. But as it happens there was another guy with …
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 26, 2025 include ones on The Rocky Horror Picture Show, fitness guru Jack LaLanne, and artists Thomas Nast and Charles Bird King. In no particular…
September 26 was the birthday of fitness pioneer and health guru Jack LaLanne (1914-2011). LaLanne's significance lies at the very pivot point between old school physical culture of the mail…
Okay, the title of this post is hyperbole. Whenever you think you've I.D.'d the first anything, you're sure to be foiled. And of course everyone CLAIMS primacy. That's just p.r. 101. But Tho…
September 26, 1975 was the date of the American release of that singular cinematic specimen, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Is Rocky Horror the hub of the universe? For a theatre-maker of my…
Just a few words of acknowledgment about 19th century painter Charles Bird King (1785-1862). I first became aware of the artist through repeated visits to the Redwood Library and Athenaeum i…
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 25, 2025 include ones on Mercy Otis Warren, and the Beatles animated cartoon show. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September 2…
60 years ago today, September 25, 1965 saw the television premiere of the animated children's television show The Beatles. The show aired 39 new episodes over the following two years, and ai…
September 25 was the birthday of pioneering American literary figure Mercy Otis Warren (1728-1814). Daughter of Massachusetts lawyer James Otis, Mercy received the benefit of the same educat…
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 24, 2025 includes ones on Jim Henson, silent movie director Barry O'Neill, and movie actress Julia Faye. In no particular order, other Travalanche…
September 24 was the birthday of actress Julia Faye (Julia Faye Maloney, 1892-1966). Faye was a faye-vorite of Cecil B. DeMille, in more ways than one, and had over 100 screen credits to her…
It's Jim Henson's birthday again! Having already posted a good deal about him and his Muppet creations, I thought this year I would observe the occasion by adding this little finding aid to …
September 24 was the birthday of pioneering silent film director Barry O'Neil (Thomas J. McCarthy, 1865-1918). O'Neil was the son of Irish immigrants residing in New York City. His name chan…
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 23, 2025 includes ones on Ken Burns' The Civil War, and Seinfeld's Jason Alexander. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September …
The order in which I have posted about the primary cast members and creators of Seinfeld speaks volumes: Jerry Seinfeld (2020), Larry David (2021), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2024), Heidi Swedberg…
Today marks 35 years since the opening shot of Ken Burns' The Civil War (1990) went hurtling toward Fort Sumter. Arriving at the height of the Culture Wars, this nine part, ten hour document…
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 22, 2025 includes ones on Narragansett Indian track champion Tarzan Brown, and a thing on rhinoceros movies. In no particular order, other Travala…
September 22 is Elephant Appreciation Day, but I have already done numerous elephant themed posts. Fortunately, it's also World Rhinoceros Day so I thought I would do a small post on these e…
Born of a September 22, track star Ellison "Tarzan" Brown (1913-1975). My recent trip back to the city of birth, Westerly, Rhode Island, reconnected me with memories of Brown, a more famous …
Today's new Travalanche post for September 21, 2025 is about actress/author/entertainer Fannie Flagg. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September 21 include ones on: Silent…
