11,744 stories by "Trav S.D."
Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville #71: Fanny Brice (for her whole story go here). Known best as a comedienne, ironically the song she was most associated with is a tear-jerker. Her…
The elder Dick Henderson (1891-1958) was a British music hall comedian who first came over to play American vaudeville in 1924 and also made several Vitaphone shorts. He is remembered as …
Edward Franklin Sharpless (1872-1937), a native of Marion OH, changed his named to Ed Reynard, a.k.a. The Great Reynard, and became in the words of Joe Laurie Jr. a “pioneer” vau…
Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville #69, Jack Pearl, a.k.a Baron Munchausen (for more on him go here). Here’s a clip from his hilarious 1933 film Meet the Baron: To find out mo…
Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville #70, Walter C. Kelly, “The Virginia Judge” (for more biographical details go here). Now for your delectation, a sampling of one of …
After the last iteration of P.T. Barnum’s American Museum burned to the ground in 1868, the showman did the unthinkable; he retired. In actuality he was just temporarily down. Whil…
This is one in a series of posts we are producing in connection with our new book Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube, available from Bear Manor Media…
Edward V. Darling (1891-1951) was one of the most powerful men in big time vaudeville. He began working for Edward Albee as secretary in 1905; within four years he was chief booker for the e…
Today is the birthday of Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), my favorite poet when I was about 20. This is far from his best poem, but I like the contrary spirit of it, and I note that it was on…
Today is the birthday of John Cleese (b. 1939). I made up for a great defficiency in my education a few months ago by watching Fawlty Towers in its entirety. I won’t be adding anything…
Just heard that Candy Johnson passed away. The Countess and I first became aware of her when we were paying attention to beach party movies for our reading of Beach Blanket Bluebeard. She…
I can’t think of a better place on earth to watch these horror classics than the atmospheric old Loew’s Jersey, in Journal Square (Jersey City). for full details go to www.loewsj…
Somehow he went from being the most beautiful child in the world, to this man. Did he spit in the face of a witch? Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville #380: Jackie Coogan (see …
Alright…this is the second time WordPress has eaten part of one of my reviews somewhere in the draft stage. I am attempting to recreate my brilliant post of 5am this morning from memor…
Baby Peggy (Peggy-Jean Montgomery, born this day in 1918) began her career as a child star in silent movies at the age of three (her father had been a stunt man and stand-in for Tom Mix). Sh…
If done properly the Scottish Play already is a gorefest. The Crook Theatre Company promises to dial that aspect up a notch in this “horror-inspired” production…and to do s…
Today is the birthday of Margaret Wycherly (1881-1956). Born in London, she began her stage career in 1898. She made her vaudeveville debut in 1906 in a Protean act called “In Self …
I’d like to go out on a limb and say that life without Minnie Pearl is not worth living, but I’m 16 years too late. But you know what I mean. I miss the world of human beings, wh…
Today is the birthday of Stars of Vaudeville #67: The Dolly Sisters (for full article go here). Here is a clip from the preposterous, ahistorical film George Jessell made about their live…
Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville #251: Billy Barty (for a complete squib on him go here). Â In honor of the day (and in honor of the Halloween season) we present a clip f…
I only alert you to this now because it starts at dawn tomorrow. In honor of Jackie Coogan’s birthday (tomorrow) TCM is showing a bunch of his earliest pictures. The line up is: 6:00am…
Menotti’s THE MEDIUM starring Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman October 25 – November 11 The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater 10 West 64th Street New York, NY Presented by P…
If you look through the circus sub-category on this blog you will find much kveching over the years about the art of modern circus, and some praise for Coles Bros.’ and Ringling Bros.&…
And…just like that, after months and months of waiting The Slipper Room is open again. Â Very sly, very sly. It’s a couple of levels high now, to accommodate sight lines and ae…
