11,752 stories by "Trav S.d."
First posted in 2010. Nick Lucas (born Dominic Nicholas Anthony Lucanese on this day in 1897) was billed as “The Crooning Troubador” and is considered by some to be the “gr…
The passing of Elmore Leonard yesterday naturally foregrounded the writer’s most famous movies, which ended up being some of his more crimey-urban-mystery stuff like Get Shorty (…
Today is the birthday of Clarence Williams III (b. 1939), a.k.a Linc from The Mod Squad (1968-1973). When I was younger I thought that his name was a bit of an affectation. Back then it wasn…
Today is the birthday of William James “Count” Basie (1904-1984). I am thrilled to learn that the legendary bandleader had a background in both vaudeville and silent pictures. Wh…
Filed under: BROOKLYN, Coney Island, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Coney Island, Kyle Peterson, Loose Caboose, Scott Baker
“If I am not grotesque, than I am nothing” — Beardsley Today is the birthday of the great Art Nouveau illustrator Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898). A key member of the A…
Today is the 100th anniversary of The Firebugs, Keystone’s first two-reel release (after dozens of popular split reel and one reel releases). Directed by Mack Sennett, the film feat…
Filed under: BOOKS & AUTHORS, PLUGS, SOCIAL EVENTS Tagged: festival, H.P. Lovecraft, Necronimicon, Providence
Filed under: Burlesk, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: burlesque, Dixie Evans, Slipper Room
Today is the birthday of H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937). I discovered the pleasures of this author relatively late in life — it was probably in 1990, the centenary of his birth (I was 25).…
Today is the birthday of the great jazz trombonist and bandleader Jack Teagarden (1905-1964). Â A Texas native, he picked up the trombone at age seven and began his professional career by …
Barney Williams (born Bernard Flaherty, 1823-1876), was an Irish actor, comedian, singer, minstrel and magician. Born in Cork, Ireland he moved to New York with his family as a child. By …
Today marks the 38th anniversary of Penn Jilette’s first performance with Teller. Originally their act was a trio called the Asparagus Valley Cultural Society. That’s them above!…
Today is the birthday of one of the funniest comic poets ever, Ogden Nash (1902-1971). Here is one of my favorite poems of all time, let alone one of my favorite Nash poems: Tell me, O Octop…
 Today is the birthday of comedian Lloyd Hamilton (1891-1935). Hamilton is one of those ones whom, for months I’ve been going, “Wha-? I haven’t done a post on him yet? …
Today is the birthday of Marie Wilson (Katherine Elizabeth Wilson 1916-1972). Originally from Anaheim, California she broke into films in comedy shorts in the mid 30s and appeared as Mary, Q…
Today is the birthday of silent film actress Colleen Moore (Kathleen Morrison, 1899-1988). We bestow attention upon her today because she was so much associated with comedy. But we don’…
Today is the birthday of the stupendous, the colossal (quit it!) Shelley Winters (Shirley Schrift, 1920-2006). Her screen career has always held a lot of personal meaning for me, starring as…
Filed under: Burlesk, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Rawr Burlesque
Today is the birthday of Jeron Criswell Konig (later, Jeron Criswell King, 1907-1982), the first celebrity psychic. Â Raised in a family of morticians, after some early work in radio and n…
Originally posted in 2009 Not a vaudeville star himself per se, German-born Gus Edwards was more the father of a hundred stars. He was vaudeville’s premier producer of kiddie …
Originally posted in 2009. "To most people I am offstage what I am on, a deep-dyed hussy without a moral in the world…As a matter of fact I live quite a decent, quiet, moral life. I am a a…
Filed under: SOCIAL EVENTS Tagged: Governor's Island, Jazz Age Lawn Party
An office in the vicinity of Carnegie Hall, circa 1989.  The telephone rings. RECEPTIONIST (ME. early twenties. Answers, cheerful, singsong): Good morning, Tony Bennett’s offic…
Originally posted in 2010 Mae Clarke (born Violet Mark Klotz on this day in 1910 in Philadelphia) took dancing lessons as a kid. Discovered by a producer while dancing in Atlantic City’…
