11,696 stories by "Trav S.D."
Here's a somewhat major if unsung figure in American comedy I stumbled upon surprisingly recently. Bob Sweeney (1918-1992) was successful in live performance, radio, films, and television. I…
Louis John Bartels (1895-1931) was a man comedy fans at least would have likely known a lot better if he'd lived a few more years. As it is, he did make quite a significant mark, but his han…
Well, today we bid a sad farewell to a sideshow Renaissance man. I had the honor of working with Scott Baker (1948-2025) eleven years ago in Dick Zigun's play Dead End Dummy at Coney Island …
Today's new Travalanche post for October 18, 2025 is about the passing of the late Scott Baker. Earlier Travalanche posts for October 18 (in no particular order) include ones on: BBC Formed …
Today's new Travalanche posts for October 17, 2025 are about Captain Midnight, the late George Wendt, and a new play about Saturday Night Live. Earlier Travalanche posts for October 17 (in n…
I truly wanted to like Not Ready For Time, a new play about the first five seasons of Saturday Night Live (1975-80) which is now playing at the very-complicated to say Newman Mills Theater a…
Universally beloved character actor George Wendt (1948-2025) passed away in May of this year, from a number of conditions related to his enormous girth (over 450 pounds at the max, although …
October 17, 1938 marked the debut of the radio adventure series Captain Midnight. Like The Shadow, The Green Hornet, and others, Captain Midnight is an interesting for being what is essentia…
October 16 was the birthday of Alice Pearce (1917-1966) most widely known as the first Mrs. Kravitz on Bewitched. In light of which fact, there is a temptation to use a photo from the show, …
Today's new Travalanche posts for October 16, 2025 are about Noah Webster, creator of the American dictionary; and Alice Pearce, who played Mrs. Kravitz on Bewitched. And there you have the …
200 years ago Noah Webster (1758-1843) finished the first edition of what we now call, many editions later, the Meriam-Webster Dictionary. The 70,000 word original, known as the American Dic…
Today's new Travalanche posts for October 15, 2025 are about Virginia Leith (The Brain That Wouldn't Die); radio star Ransom Sherman; B movie star Judd Holdren; a screening of the mystery cl…
Yesterday was the publication date for our friend Pam Grossman's latest book Magic Maker: The Enchanted Path of Creativity, and we were delightd to be there last night for the launch party a…
Apologies for the late notice, but better late than never. If you happen to be in NYC, my friends at the Silent Clowns Film Series are screening Undercrank's restored version of Roland West'…
October 15 was the birthday of B movie star Judd Holdren (1915-1974). Holdren had a hot couple of years as a star of serials like Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (1951), Zombies of…
Sultry actress/model Virginia Leith (1925-2019) was born 100 years ago this day. Having trouble placing her? She was the lead head in The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962) " and it's just the r…
A few quick lines about a popular personality who was well known in America for at least three decades, now completely forgotten, Ranson Sherman (1898-1985). As is not uncommon, Sherman's di…
Today's new Travalanche post for October 14, 2025 observes the 30th anniversary of the debut of Mad TV. Earlier Travalanche posts for October 14 (in no particular order) include ones on: Har…
I wasn't that old when Mad TV (1995-2009) first went on the air 30 years ago. Still, I'm going to assume that it will be generations younger than mine who would regard it as a "classic". Cla…
Today's new Travalanche post for October 13, 2025 observes the 250th anniversary of the American Navy. Earlier Travalanche posts for October 13 (in no particular order) include ones on: Bust…
250 years ago today (October 13, 1775) marked the official foundation of the Continental Navy, the iteration of the American Naval forces that fought in the Revolutionary War. The Continenta…
I've long planned a post on movie director Susan Seidelman here, as well as something more extensive on the No Wave directors in general, as that what was still going on when I arrived in Ne…
Today's new Travalanche posts for October 12, 2025 are about Aleister Crowley (born 150 years ago today), professional giant Lock Martin, and the 40th anniversary of Desperately Seeking Susa…
No, no, not Doc Martin " LOCK Martin (Joseph Lockard Martin Jr (1916-1959). Said to stand a full seven feet seven inches in adulthood, Martin had a twin brother who died in childbirth. The f…
Born 150 years ago this day, Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), prophet, poet, scholar, and all around English decadent. We've posted twice before on this influential figure, once merely as a sor…
