11,729 stories by "Trav S.d."
I don't want to imply that Howard Keel (1919-2004) was interesting, but he did occupy an interesting niche. He specialized in two genres, each at the opposite of the gender normative scale: …
Variety and other sources have just posted the very sad news that Gilbert Gottfried (b. 1955) has passed away at the age of 67 following a long illness. What the hell is going on, lately? No…
In the old-time automobile world, an "antique" is older than 45, a "classic" dates from 20 to 45 years ago. It's been in that spirit that in recent years I've been adding more material to Tr…
We use the occasion of today's tribute to Lily Pons (1898-1976) to inaugurate the new opera section of Travalanche (having done nearly 3 dozens posts about opera singers, composers and impre…
Ah Eastertide! A time of rebirth! And so we are delighted to spread the word about Undercrank's new release of the restored Beverly of Graustark (1926). Yes, Beverly of Graustark. I'll confe…
I can't help it but the name Marshall Neilan (1891-1958) sounds like a department store to me. Guess I'm mashing up of Marshall's and Neiman Marcus. At any rate, as it happens, Neilan himsel…
Today we add yet another Indiana scribe to a chronicle that already includes Booth Tarkington, Theodore Dreiser, George Ade, James Whitcomb Riley, Kurt Vonnegut, and Robert John Wildha…
Today would have been the 80th birthday of that evergreen exemplar of youth personified, Brandon de Wilde (Andre Brandon de Wilde, 1942-72). I have an unfortunate tendency to think of de Wil…
Born 125 years ago today: Joseph "Jo" Swerling (1897-1964). Musicals fans know Swerling best as the co-author (with Abe Burrows) of the book to Guys and Dolls; like most Marx Brothers fans I…
Just a few of the known fragments on actor John C. Rice (John C. Hillburg, 1857-1915), who, in addition to being a stage star, is one of history's first identifiable screen actors. A child o…
April 6 is the birthday of Tin Pan Alley lyricist Leo Robin (1900-1984), best known for his collaborations with tunesmith Ralph Grainger. He is chiefly remembered today for having written th…
When I was in the kid in the late 1970s there was a regular feature/program on PBS called Lowell Thomas Remembers. Ironies abounded, then and now, in the heart of that title, for the time qu…
Not to be confused with the hip hop/ martial arts movie director of the same name, Charles "Charlie" Ahearn (1886-1940) was a trick-riding comedy bicyclist in vaudeville " only the second on…
Today we tell of the vaudeville, radio and movie team of Ed East (1894-1952) and Ralph Dumke (1899-1964) as well as their later individual solo careers. We now have yet a couple of new entri…
I began performing in comedy shows with Scott Stiffler just about a quarter of a century ago, from the bowels of the Bowery to Caroline's on Broadway. About half that span ago, our relations…
Just a few fragments I've been able to gather on the act known as the Rossow Midgets. Originally from Vienna, they were sideshow triple threats: "twin" strongmen little people. The twins are…
I first became aware of the team of Henshaw and Ten Broeck when I saw their names amongst the acts that had played the Smith Opera House in western New York. John E. Henshaw (ca. 1853-1939) …
Given the dominant stereotype of Eastern Slavs as a morose, nihilistic people, you may be surprised to learn that the one place in the world where April Fool's Day is an official holiday? Is…
Who among us has been slapped across the face? I have, quite a lot, by both parents. I've always remembered one particular incident, minor in the scheme of things, but it always stuck out fo…
Were he still among the land of the living, Richard Kiley (1922-1999) would be 100 years old today. I mentioned Kiley to a very smart friend recently, who responded, "Who?" though like many …
This year there are two major anniversaries for comedian Paul Reiser (b. 1956): 40 years since his cinematic debut in Barry Levinson's Diner (1982) and 30 years since the launch of his popul…
Fans of American pop culture have long admired two famous Raphaelsons (or Rafelsons), from two generations, who left very different legacies. We've had occasion to mention them both several …
Here's something I seldom stumble across. A MAJOR popular comedy franchise of stage, film, radio, comics, and television of the 1930s, '40s and '50s that even I knew nothing about. And about…
On this day 100 years ago in Sydney, Australia was born the performer known as Fakir Magician Aly (Sometimes "Ali") Kabah (Gerald Holmes (1922-2009). Aly Kabah's act combined elements of mag…
A few words today about a place that was a New York amusement institution for nearly a half century, and whose "story" overlaps somewhat with that of vaudeville: The Eden Musée, Located on …
