Laurel and Finlayson in "Short Kilts" by Trav S.d.

Today is the anniversary of the Hal Roach comedy Short Kilts (1924) starring Stan Laurel and Jimmy Finlayson, starring George Jeske.  As a member of the Stewart clan I am more susce…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 8:25am on August 3, 2014☆⚑

W.C. Fields in "Sally of the Sawdust" by Trav S.d.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of W.C. Fields’ first silent feature Sally of the Sawdust (1925).  The film was based on Fields’ hit Broadway stage musical …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 8:33am on August 2, 2014☆⚑

Wheeler and Woolsey in "Dixiana" by Trav S.d.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of Wheeler and Woolsey’s third film Dixiana (1930). W & W are the comedians in this standard period musical, set in ante-bellum N…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 7:40am on August 1, 2014☆⚑

Century of Slapstick #43: The Property Man by Trav S.d.

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the release date of the Charlie Chaplin comedy The Property Man. Something feels original about this film in contrast with most of Chaplin’s ear…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 6:58am on August 1, 2014☆⚑

Christmas in July at Coney Tonight! by Trav S.d.

Filed under: BROOKLYN, Burlesk, Coney Island, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS, Variety Arts (Defined) Tagged: burlesque, Christmas in July, Coney Island, Lefty Lucy

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:36am on July 31, 2014☆⚑

Irwin Corey Turns 100! by Trav S.d.

Today is the 100th birthday of Professor Irwin Corey! Corey’s is essentially a vaudeville act, although he introduced it two decades too late for vaudeville. (He launched his act in th…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 8:23am on July 29, 2014☆⚑

Hall of Hams #79: Maria Ouspenskaya by Trav S.d.

Today is the birthday of the great Russian actress Maria Ouspenskaya (1876-1949). Film buffs know her well as the mysterious Gypsy fortune teller in The Wolf Man (1941) and Frank…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 7:48am on July 29, 2014☆⚑

100 Years Ago Today: WWI Begins (and Its Impact on Vaudeville) by Trav S.d.

Today is the 100th anniversary of the day Austria-Hungray declared war on Serbia, thus triggering World War One. We who have not felt the sting of a proper World War in over six decades year…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:54am on July 28, 2014☆⚑

Tonight: The Show and Show Show by Trav S.d.

Filed under: BROOKLYN, Clown, Comedy, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Cloud City, Show and Show Show, Williamsburg

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:24am on July 26, 2014☆⚑

Fatty's Tintype Tangle by Trav S.d.

Today’s the anniversary of the release date of the Roscoe Arbuckle comedy Fatty’s Tintype Tangle (1915). Fatty’s photograph (tin type) is accidentally taken with a wo…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 5:52am on July 26, 2014☆⚑

Of Charlot and His Revues by Trav S.d.

  Today is the birthday of the great impresario André Charlot (1882-1956), whose great career radiated across the great show business capitals along with the march of history, w…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 5:31am on July 26, 2014☆⚑

Today on TCM: 3 Slapstick WWI Comedies by Trav S.d.

There’s something chilling? ironic? depressing? that this World War One centenary year is taking place at the very same time that World War Three, 3.5 or Four (depending on how you cou…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:42am on July 25, 2014☆⚑

My Sixth Fringe Show " But Who's Counting? by Trav S.d.

The happy news that I’ll Say She Is  will be in this summer's New York International Fringe Festival provides a nice opening for this update re-blog the topic of the Fringe…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:02am on July 23, 2014☆⚑

Stars of Vaudeville #758: Gus Elen by Trav S.d.

Originally posted in 2013.  Today is the birthday of Gus Elen (Ernest Augustus Elen, 1862-1940), one of the first of the so-called “coster comedians” of the English music hall…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 8:23am on July 22, 2014☆⚑

Buster Keaton in "The Blacksmith" by Trav S.d.

  Today is the anniversary of the release date of the  Buster Keaton short The Blacksmith (1922). An extremely Keatonesque opening shot (Buster standing next to the tallest tree …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:04pm on July 21, 2014☆⚑

Laurel and Hardy in "Them Thar Hills" by Trav S.d.

Tonight is the anniversary of the release date of the hilarious Laurel and Hardy comedy Them Thar Hills (1934). In this Hal Roach production, the boys go camping in a trailer as a trea…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 7:52am on July 21, 2014☆⚑

Tonight on TCM: Silent Comedians by Trav S.d.

Tonight on TCM, a cornucopia of silent comedies; quite a diverse selection. It’ll be interesting to see the rationale they give for putting this particular batch on a bill together.…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 9:03am on July 20, 2014☆⚑

Florence Foster Jenkins: The Worst Opera Singer in the World by Trav S.d.

Today is the birthday of Florence Foster Jenkins (1868-1944). Jenkins is a notorious in show business annals as the worst professional opera singer in history. A 1909 inheritance allow…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 3:40pm on July 19, 2014☆⚑

Excelsior Burlesque's Wonderland by Trav S.d.

Filed under: Burlesk, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Burlesque Bliz, Excelsior Burlesque, Horse Trade, Wonderland

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 8:19am on July 19, 2014☆⚑

Stripper/ Carny/ Cowboy at the Kraine Tonight by Trav S.d.

Filed under: Burlesk, Contemporary Variety, Dime Museum and Side Show, Indie Theatre, PLUGS Tagged: Bunny Buxom, Chris McDaniel, Donny Vomit, Frankie Sin, Gal Friday, Jonny Porkpie, Kraine T…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:59pm on July 18, 2014☆⚑

The Treasure Chest Circus Cabaret by Trav S.d.

Filed under: BROOKLYN, Circus, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Big Sky Works, Circus Cabaret, The Treasure Chest

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 9:23am on July 18, 2014☆⚑

All My Friends in Fringe! by Trav S.d.

  As we mentioned just now, tickets for our Fringe show I’ll Say She Is are available today.  But we would be remiss in not mentioning the fact that some of our closest f…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 6:46am on July 18, 2014☆⚑

Tickets for "I'll Say She Is" Go On Sale Today! by Trav S.d.

Filed under: Comedy, Comedy Teams, Indie Theatre, ME, My Shows, PLUGS Tagged: I'll Say She Is, Marx Brothers, New York International Fringe Festival, Noah Diamond, Trav s.d.

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 6:40am on July 18, 2014☆⚑

Charley Chase in "Mighty Like a Moose" by Trav S.d.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Charley Chase comedy Mighty Like a Moose (1926), directed by Leo McCarey. Some fans consider this short Chase’s best. For my t…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 3:42am on July 18, 2014☆⚑

Burlesque at the Beach: Spectacle by Trav S.d.

Filed under: BROOKLYN, Burlesk, Coney Island, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Burlesque at the Beach, Cherry Delight, Coney Island, Lefty Lucy, Spectacle

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 8:33am on July 17, 2014☆⚑