11,729 stories by "Trav S.d."
Every person who aspires to write film scores should know the name Louis F. Gottschalk (1863-1934). He was the first guy to do it, at least the first to compose complete scores; prior to him…
While Lyle Tuttle (1931-2019) could easily have exhibited himself in sideshows, he did not. He was a guy who made many sideshow artists possible. Tuttle himself sported a full tattoo "body s…
Three cheers today for hard-working character actor Jerome Cowan (1897-1972). Cowan appeared in over 200 films and TV productions; if you don't know the name, I hope you know that face from …
400 years ago this November " whatever you feel about it " there occurred the event that is traditionally known in America as the "First Thanksgiving." (1621, right? The Pilgrims had just go…
It has been 40 years now since the world lost Allen Ludden (1917-1981), so long that the weird cult of young Betty White fans that sprang up since her first 2010 Saturday Night Live appearan…
The Sword Swallowers Hall of Fame informs me that today is the birthday of sideshow performer and impresario Bobby Reynolds (b. 1931). I know this estimable personage (who billed himself as …
I have no idea how Scotty Beckett (1929-1968) has fallen through the Travalanche cracks. He is sure one of the Little Rascals I knew about first, but I've not mentioned him at all, despite h…
Luis Alberni (1886-1962) was a much beloved Hollywood character actor for decades. Though often cast as comical Italians, and his surname sure sounds Italian, he was actually Spanish. Albern…
Cliff Hall (1894-1972) has at least two major claims to fame as far as classic comedy fans are concerned: he was straight man to Jack Pearl (Baron Munchausen) on radio as well as some stage …
Once again it is Fire Prevention Week (October 3-9). Those who write about theatre history can't avoid the topic of conflagrations from time to time; they're a doleful part of the story. Con…
King Richard III (Richard Plantagenet, 1452-1485) was born this day, and while we do not precisely celebrate the fact, we thought it would be an appropriate time for a brief contemplation of…
Actor Henry Victor (1892-1945) is known for appearing in horror classics, such as Tod Browning's Freaks (1932), in which he played the boorish strong man Hercules, as well as The Mad Doctor …
An enthusiastic appreciation this morning for comely stage and screen star Rita La Roy (Ina La Roi Stuart, 1901-1993). Originally from the Gold Rush town of Bonner's Ferry, Idaho on the Cana…
Born 100 years ago this day, actor James Whitmore (1921-2009). I chose the photo above because his Whitmore's greatest role was probably his one man show about Will Rogers, which he performe…
Most film buffs, I imagine, know Everett Sloane (1909-1965) chiefly from his professional relationship with Orson Welles. He was with the Mercury Theatre in their radio productions and in th…
Check it out! I never would have pegged swing drummer and bing band leader Buddy Rich (Bernard Rich, 1917-1987) for a vaudeville veteran, but there you go! He started out at the age of two i…
Apparently, September 30 is now International Podcast Day " because, Lord knows there's no podcast inundation every other day of the year! I hosted my first podcast show before it was fashio…
Had she lived just 13 more years, Deborah Kerr would be 100 today. The photo above is from one of my favorite performaces of hers, from what is perhaps the best screen adaptation of The Turn…
I learned the sad news of Tommy Kirk's passing yesterday, but was too much engaged with preparing my silent comedy talk to do a timely appreciation. Kirk's most classic film, I think most pe…
So honored and thrilled to be one of the guests in Noah Diamond's second virtual presentation for Fredonia Marxonia, entitled There's Nothing Like LIberty: The Marx Brothers and America. He'…
The briefest of nods to the dashing magician Paul Rosini (Paul Vucic, 1902-1948). Born in Trieste, this future master of close-up magic moved to Chicago with his parents at the age of ten. H…
We took the opportunity of the lock-down to binge watch old episodes of The Love Boat (in addition to about a hundred other shows). Its many pleasures include seeing late (often last) screen…
We have been remiss in not previously mentioning Kay Deslys (Kathleen Herbert, 1899-1974), key cast member of many a classic comedy. Born in London, Deslys had performed in music hall, vaude…
This coming Wednesday, September 29 will be National Silent Movie Day! As the author of Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickleodeons to Youtube, as well as about 500 post…
A good time was had by all at last night's Congress of Curious People at Coney Island USA. It was an unusual one, affected in innumerable ways by the ongoing pandemic ordeal. For the first t…
