11,754 stories by "Trav S.d."
Originally posted in 2009. Today is the birthday of Harry Ritz. Back in the 20s and 30s when someone used the word "madcap" to describe certain comedians it actually made some sense. thi…
Originally posted in 2009. One of the great actresses of the early twentieth century, Nazimova was also one of vaudeville's great sensationalists. She was born Mariam Edez Adelaida "Alla…
Between 2000 and 2010 I wrote 30 different pieces for the Village Voice, a few of which I’m quite proud of. More than that — I was beyond proud to be associated with that legenda…
The Hall of Hams is my series on some of my favorite actors who have brought the art of melodramatic acting into the modern era. Today is the birthday of Laurence Olivier (1907-1989). Often …
Herb Williams’ (Herbert Schussler Billerbeck, 1884-1936) whole act revolved around a trick piano that fell apart like Harry Langdon’s automobile, but also was the source of many …
Today is the birthday of Dennis Day (Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty, 1916-1988). Day came along too late for vaudeville; we celebrate him here today for his long, close professional association…
Originally posted in 2010. Best known as an incomparable jazz piano and organ player, a hilarious showman, and songwriter of such hits as “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, …
Today is the birthday of Richard Bennett (1870-1944). I quoted him in No Applause without really explaining who he was: a major New York stage star (and later film star) who sometimes deigne…
Today is the birthday of the original “human skeleton”, Isaac W. Sprague (1841-1887). His weight loss began at age twelve, although he wasn’t to join a sideshow until age 2…
Today is the birthday of Imro Fox (Isidore Fuchs, 1862-1910). Fox moved to the U.S. from his native Poland at age 17 and began his working life as a hotel chef. An amateur magician,…
Today is the birthday of Cher (Cherilyn Sarkasian, b. 1946). I wish it had occurred to me to write more about her in No Applause – she is absolutely the modern equivalent of a No…
Today is the birthday of brilliant Canadian comedian Dave Thomas (b.1949). While he has a long list of impressive credits, he is most notable for having been head writer and key cast member …
A good day for lady comedians! Today is also the birthday of Lyda Roberti (1906-1938). Born into a Warsaw circus family she began as a trapeze artist and singer in music halls, touring throu…
Today is the birthday of one of America’s first female comedy stars, Alice Howell (Alice Clark, 1886-1961). A New York City native, she appeared in vaudeville and musical comedies unti…
Today is the birthday of Mary and Margaret Gibb (1912-1967). Born in Mount Holyoke, Massachusetts, they generated publicity from the time they were born, having been one of the first pairs o…
Today is the birthday of Frank Capra (1897-1991). While the films of his peak years of the 1930s and 40s are almost universally known, many don’t know that he began his career in silen…
Today is the birthday of Big Joe Turner (1911-1985). His existence makes it hard to see what all the fuss about rock and roll was in the mid 50s. His brand of boogie-woogie and jump blues go…
Today is the birthday of Frank Crumit (1888-1943). University trained as an engineer he didn’t enter vaudeville until he was 25 years old, with a small time act that mixed songs and pa…
Today is the birthday of Franceso Lentini (1881-1966). He was born in Rosolini, Sicily, and technically he had MORE than three legs — his total inventory was three legs, PLUS a fourth …
Really loved the documentary shorts I saw last night in the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival. Into Noise was a lovely, elegaic and thought provoking short by Janna Kyllastinen who contra…
Filed under: BROOKLYN, Coney Island, Contemporary Variety, Dime Museum and Side Show, PLUGS, Variety Arts (Defined) Tagged: Adam RealMan, Coney Island Strong Man Spectacular
Today is the birthday of the great blues guitar player/ singer/ performer Taj Mahal (Henry Saint Clair Fredericks, Jr). What an interesting guy — he’s actually a college educated…
Filed under: Ballroom/ Big Band/ Swing, Contemporary Variety, Music, PLUGS, Singers, Vaudeville etc. Tagged: Rudy Vallee, Triad, Vagabond Lover, Ziegfeld Society
Today is the birthday of silent comedy actor and director Malcolm St. Clair (1898-1952). St. Clair was raised in a Laguna Beach artist colony founded by his father, a successful architect an…
Today is the birthday of James “Buster” Brown (1913-2002), to be confused with neither the soul singer nor the comic strip character. Brown was a tap dancer, and quite active up …
