11,754 stories by "Trav S.d."
Today is the birthday of the phenomenon of nature knowwn as Ann-Margaret (b. 1941). I had the thrill of seeing her live once at Radio City Music Hall. Even then, when she was about 50 years …
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 Lionel Barrymore (1878-1954). One of…
Today is the birthday of Jay Leno (b. 1950). As long time readers of this blog know, on some occasions celebrity birthdays become opportunities for disparagement on Travalanche. I already po…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DUKE TIMES TWO! Sunday April 28th at the Ellington statue, 110th St and Fifth Ave. 1-3 pm rain or shine (scroll down for more information) Monday April 29th at Dance TImes Sq…
Today is the birthday of Joseph Dunninger (1892-1975), one of the great professional mind readers of the twentieth century. Born and raised on New York’s Lower East Side, as a child he…
Today is the birthday of Judy Carne (b . Joyce Botterill, 1939). A native of Northampton, England, she had been acting on television in the U.S. a few years when the British Invasion hit in …
Filed under: Broadway, Indie Theatre, PLUGS, Tin Pan Alley Tagged: David Caudle, Fine and Dandy, George Gershwin, Here Today, Hunter College, Katharine Weber, Kay Swift, Paul James, The Memo…
Today is the birthday of Anita Loos (1889-1981), best known today as the author of Gentleman Prefer Blondes. We write about her today (and in our recent book Chain of Fools) because…
Today is also the birthday of Bobby Rydell (Robert Ridarelli, b. 1942). The Philly native started out as a child performer — he appeared on Paul Whiteman’s television program as …
Today is the birthday of Duane Eddy (b.1938), whom along with producer Lee Hazelwood, was progenitor of the “twangy” sound, heard on such hits as “Rebel Rouser” and &…
Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville #319: Ma Rainey (for my full article on this important performer go here). Here she is in a 1925 recording of that old blues standard “See S…
Hollywood comedy character actor Edgar Kennedy (born this day in 1890) is most famous for his so-called “slow burn” reaction, although for the life of me, I can’t see what&…
Today is the birthday of the great magician Charles Bertram (b. James Bassett, 1855-1907). He was originally a hotel keeper. When his establishment went belly up in 1882, he turned to magic.…
Today is the birthday of Percilla Roman Bejano (1911-2001). Born covered head to toe in fur, and possessing two rows of teeth, she was billed as The Monkey Girl and exhibited alongside chimp…
Still scratching out the occasional squib for the Villager and her sister papers. Please check out three pieces I did on this year’s Tribeca Film Festival: * A wrap-up of all the docum…
Today is the birthday of the late Jerry Lieber (1933-2011), one half of one of the great songwriting teams of all time, Lieber and Stoller, I got to speak to Jerry once on the phone b…
Today is the birthday of Albert King (1923-1992), a major influence on Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, among others. He is often referred to as one of the Three Kings of t…
Born in 1859 in upstate Copenhagen, New York James Morris possessed the unique gift of being able to stretch his skin out like taffy, sometimes as far out as 18 inches. He could pull his…
Today is the birthday of Will Rock (William George Rakauskas, 1907-1995). Born in Lithuania, he moved the U.S. at age five. At age 13 he started studying magic, becoming a professional in 19…
Today is the birthday of George Lashwood (Edward George Wright, 1863-1942). Known as the “Beau Brummel of the music halls” the comedian/ singer was a star of London’s…
Today is the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Woolworth Building, which from 1913 through 1930 was the tallest building in the world. Yes, but is there a vaudeville angle? Dear friend…
Today is the 100th anniversary of the release of The Bangville Police, the comedy short containing what is considered by many to be the first appearance of The Keystone Kops (others consider…
Ruth Berry (born circa 1910)was born with the condition called phocomelia which resulted in stunted limbs with fused digits, resembling flippers. Short and stout with a waddling gait she beg…
Over years of repeated exposure what seems impossible when you're young finally comes to pass " you gradually come to "know" Shakespeare. Actually, on an intuitive level, I felt I knew him r…
Today is the birthday of Roy Orbison (1936-1988). I’ll never forget how shocked I was when my friend told me Orbison had just died; I can even remember right where I was standing. I re…
