11,745 stories by "Trav S.D."
 “Eva Taylor” was just one of many professional names used by this versatile performer, who could sing, dance, and cut up in musical comedy. At various times she was also kno…
Tonight at 8:30 at the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre, a double bill of two of Buster Keaton’s most surreal films: Sherlock, Jr. ( a fanciful dream that has projectionist Buster …
Tonight is the last performance of the current edition of Cirque Off, Triskelion Arts regular festival of circus (mostly clown) acts. They promise “amazing” acts in their flyer, …
On view January 20"September 2, 2012 International Center of Photography 1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street, NYC www.icp.org For an intense decade between 1935 and 1946, Weegee (1899…
and now the albertina rasch dancers perform the hades ballet from the 1930 film the march of time: To find out more about the history of vaudeville, consult No Applause, Just Throw Mo…
And now, here’s a classic routine by the great Hilary Chaplain, the next installment in ourVaudephone series. Hilary is on my very short list of favorite clowns, so I am pleased as pun…
 Brooklyn kid Danny Kaye (born David Daniel Kaminsky on this day in 1913) started out in small time vaudeville and Catskills resorts at the tender age of 13. After many summers working a…
Roy Benson (born this day in 1914) was a much admired comedy magician equally superlative at both aspects of his act. He is still revered for his close magic and is the originator of seve…
Ethel Merman (born Ethel Zimmerman this day in 1908) was a middle class kid from Astoria Queens who grew up studying the styles of the great singing comediennes who played the local vaudevil…
Someone whose opinion I hold very highly recommends this record release concert at the Living Room tonight. To find out more about singer Nancy Margarill go here. Official Record Release:…
The famed Art Nouveau dancer Loïe Fuller, one of the most famous women of the fin de siècle and early 20th century, had toiled in very different vineyards during her first couple of deca…
I made lots of experiments with silent comedy in the 1980s and 1990s. My intention to go much farther with the form got sidelined by the late 90s when I started my own theatre company and an…
For your delectation: My 2009 interview with writer/ performer Clay McCleod Chapman (plus an excellent sample of his work, his short story “Rest Area”)Â from the short-lived I…
Today is Sophie Tucker’s birthday. In honor of the day, you HAVE to watch this 1955 clip of her on “What’s My Line?” First because, listen to the rousing cheer she ge…
Today is the birthday of The Amazing Kreskin (born George Joseph Krsge in 1935). I undoubtedly first encountered him on The Tonight Show or some such similar venue years ago, but — iro…
Many of you may have enjoyed Shane Bertram Baker’s Vaudephones here a few days ago (see here and here). Yesterday his publicist sent me a press release that was so self-deprecatinglyÂ…
Born this day in 1904, Pine Top Smith is credited with popularizing the “boogie woogie” style of piano playing (at least under that name), by virtue of the 1928 record release of…
And now, here’s a classic routine by the great Zero Boy, the next installment in our Vaudephone series: Vaudephone is a co-production of Travalanche/ the American Vaudeville Theatre, a…
If you’re like me, at some time in the past you asked yourself the question, “How is it possible that the same guy directed Porky’s and A Christmas Story?” The answer…
Once the world’s highest paid entertainer, hailed the world over as the “king” and “emperor” of clowns, Grock performed primarily in European circuses but rates…
Bunny Lake’s not missing –Â she’s playing at the Brick Theater through this Saturday, January 14th! Or, rather the Brick Theater is where she IS missing, and I won’…
At last! It finally sees the light of day! My 2009 interview with puppeteer Kevin Augustine of Lone Wolf Tribe (along with a swell exhibition of his work) from the short-lived Indie T…
Today is the birthday of Soupy Sales (1926-2009). I already did a pretty in-depth tribute to him here a few months ago to which I have little to add except this: To learn more about vaudevil…
Fortuitous timing, since I’m elbow deep in work on my silent comedy book Chain of Fools. TCM is showing Chaplin films all night starting at 8pm and wrapping up at dawn tomorrow. I̵…
Carroll and Howe became better known for what they accomplished in the years following their period together as a vaudeville dance and comedy team. Jean Carroll (b. Celine Zeigman this day i…
