11,729 stories by "Trav S.D."
Today is the birthday of Pola Negri (Apolonia ChaÅ‚upiec, 1897-1987). Polish born, she originally trained as a dancer until illness compelled her to focus instead on the dramatic arts. Su…
Today is the birthday of Giovanni Bartolomeo Bosco (1793-1863). Bosco was a magician so popular and influential that many others later appropriated his name. He is mostly commonly mentioned …
Today is the birthday, according to some sources, of Jane Barnell, known professionally as Lady Olga Roderick. (Two different birth dates are given for her, depending on the source: January …
Today is the birthday of Joseph L. Greenstein, a.k.a The Mighty Atom (1893-1977). Greenstein was not only one of the premier circus strongmen of the 20th century, but, because he continued t…
Happy New Year! Now that we’re done tooting horns  in celebration of the arrival of 2014, today we toot our own horn about the year just past. It’s been an eventful twelvem…
Today is the birthday of Lillian Lorraine (Mary Ann Brennan, 1892-1955). A native of San Francisco, she went onstage at age 14 and was spotted by Flo Ziegfeld in 1907 when she appeared in th…
We’re ringing out the old year with a slew of old timey New Year’s episodes…and this is the last of ‘em! Here are two New Year’s Eve episodes from the Jack Benn…
We’re ringing out the old year with a slew of old timey New Year’s episodes: Here’s Abbott and Costello’s New Year’s themed radio show from 1943 going into 1…
Today is the birthday of Sir Anthony Hopkins (b. 1937). I can’t believe I didn’t get it together to do a post on him today for my Hall of Hams — but it’s on the calen…
We’re ringing out the old year with a slew of old timey New Year’s episodes: Radio comedian Harold “Hal” Peary (1908-1985) created his popular radio character Throckm…
We’re ringing out the old year with a slew of old timey New Year’s episodes: You never know what you’ve got til it’s gone! Big band leader Guy Lombardo began doing…
We’re ringing out the old year with a slew of old timey New Year’s episodes: Here to ring in the New Year 1947, Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians (for Johnson’s Wax —…
Here’s something to make you jolly this New Year’s Eve. This is one of Chaplin’s handful of most famous “pathos” scenes, from his masterpiece The Gold RushÂ…
Today is the birthday of Tim Considine (b. 1940). Why is HE here today? My friends, people like him are the very reason this blog exists! I discovered a serendipitous synchronicity when I st…
We’re ringing out the old year with a slew of old timey New Year’s episodes; Unusual in broadcasting annals, Wild Bill Hickok launched simultaneously on radio and television i…
Today is the birthday of producer/songwriter/ performer Jeff Lynne (b. 1947) best known for his project Electric Light Orchestra (1970-1986), and for producing chart-topping records by Georg…
Today is the birthday of the late Davy Jones (1945-2012). Having already written posts about Messers Nesmith, Tork, and Dolenz, and the Monkees overall, I guess it is time to bite the bullet…
Today is the birthday of Skeeter Davis (Mary Frances Penick, 1931-2004). Her unflattering nickname (short for mosquito) came from her grandfather; “Davis” comes from the fact tha…
Today is the birthday of Martin Milner (b. 1931). Milner is second generation show biz: his mom was a dancer and his father a film distributor. Both encouraged him in his acting ambitions, a…
Today is the birthday of Betty “Stella the Bearded Lady” MacGregor (1902-1977). A native of Battle Creek, Michigan she initially spent many years pursuing more traditional career…
Today is the birthday of Cliff Arquette (1905-1974). Arquette’s popular character Charley Weaver was very much a presence on tv when I was a kid, most prominently on Hollywood Squar…
Today is the birthday of Al Mardo (1894-?). Mardo got his show business start around 1910 dancing on the street for coins and amateur boxing in Providence, Rhode Island .He began to compe…
Today is December 26, known variously abroad as Boxing Day, St. Stephens Day, and Second Christmas Day. Apparently the U.S. is the only western country that hasn’t figured out what to …
Eat your heart out Megyn Kelly! Here’s proof that you’re wrong. Amos and Andy did “Andy Plays Santa” episodes twice, one for radio in 1946: And one for tv in 19…
Originally posted in 2009 This gal's fame was similar to that enjoyed by such wonderful recent “entertainers” as Lorena Bobbit, Monica Lewinsky, and O.J. Simpson. Nesbit was an o…
