11,744 stories by "Trav S.D."
Coney Island boardwalk tee shirt entrepreneur and roller rink impresario Lola Star will be speaking at the Brooklyn Historical Society at 7pm tonight about recent changes and the past 7 year…
I stopped into the Urban Folk Art Gallery yesterday on my way home from work to see Portraits and Pigeons, the new exhibition by Chris Arnade. It’s extremely powerful stuff. ArnadeR…
And now here’s the 20th installment in our Vaudephone series, Jason Trachtenburg of the Pendulum Swings once again. He’s so nice, we show him twice! This time, performing…
This is one of a series of posts honoring Women’s History Month. We are pleased to have as our guest blogger today, Ivy Marvel of the Brooklyn Public Library. More about her and the ex…
Funny Man Bob Greenberg is producing and hosting a benefit for the historic Actor’s Temple tonight. (Historic? The stars above were all members!) Joining him on the bill tonight: D…
Starting today through April 15, the American Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens will be running regular screenings of classic Three Stooges shorts. For the full schedule go here.…
Today is the birthday of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle (for my full bio on him go here). In tribute, we share the following clip, which proves that Rosco invented the celebrated “…
Today is the great Houdini’s birthday! For my full biographical essay on him go here. And see him do his rope escape below: To learn more about the roots of variety entertainment, c…
An Off-Broadway show for the whole family! HONESTLY ABE Produced and directed by M. Stefan Strozier SPECIAL OFFER! TICKETS ONLY $12.00 (reg. $35.00) Actors Temple Theatre 339 West 47th Stree…
Today is the birthday of the great Milbourne Christopher (1914-1984). During his nearly 60 years as a magician, he racked up many accomplishments: President of the Society of American…
What’s the connection between vaudeville and horror, you may ask? Believe it or not, there are many, and I’m all too eager to tell you about them, so please come see me and the i…
Today is the birthday of English music hall “coster singer” Albert Chevalier. (See his full bio here). Here he is performing the touching “My Old Dutch”. (Dutch is sh…
It’s Flo Ziegfeld’s birthday. For my full run-down on him, please go here. In honor of the day, we share this AMAZING clip. It’s a 1929 filmed version of Ziegfeld’s M…
And now here’s the 19th installment in our Vaudephone series, none other than the amazing human jewel Jason Trachtenburg, lately of the Pendulum Swings. Needless to say, I am extremely…
The great Jules Feiffer (see my extensive rave about him and his recent autobiography here) is the guest programmer on TCM tonight. His choice of films is a typical mix of light and dark, an…
Tin Pan Alley is a musical revue of popular standards from 1890 " 1935. The song list includes such numbers as "Daisy"," Alexander's Ragtime Band", "When Johny Comes Marching Home Again" and…
I’m chained to my desk these days to finish a book and ain’t makin’ it out to nothin’. So I’m particularly bummed to be missing the Downtown Clown Revue at Dixo…
Today is the birthday of the great comedy pioneer Moms Mabley (for the full bio go here.) And here’s one of her classic routines, recorded live at the Apollo Theatre: To learn more abo…
Tonight The Ukuladies! Live at THE RODEO BAR! 375 3rd Ave at 27th st, NYC 9pm 2 Sets. Totally and completely FREE! Join the “ladies” in a fun-filled evening sure to delight even …
Today is the birthday of beloved character actor Everett Edward Horton. To mark the day, here he is being gulled by Fred Astaire into believing he’s seasick in Shall We Dance?: To lear…
Since their birthdays are unknown, I’ve saved this post for St. Patrick’s Day. The Russell Brothers, John (1856-1925) and James (1859-1914), were a pair of Irish-American brother…
I first heard about Bill’s Gay Nineties from the man-who-knows-all-things Todd Robbins, who spoke of it in the most glowing terms. An actual former speakeasy from the 1920s, the three …
Tonight at 8pm at Dixon Place Lounge, Jim Moore & Katy Einerson will present: A Quiet Night at the Movies: Lon Chaney and Todd Browning’s The Unholy Three. Tickets are FREE!
