11,758 stories by "Trav S.d."
Today is the birthday of the great fan dancer Sally Rand. For a bit on her life story go here. For a glimpse of her at work go here: To find out more about the history of vaudeville, …
I was lucky enough to get into Charles Busch’s latest workshop at Theater for the New City yesterday, a take-off on D.W. Griffith’s early epic Judith of Bethulia. This is the sec…
Today is the birthday of the first of the great carny “strong men”: Eugene Sandow (for full bio go here). Check out this actual footage of him in action circa 1894, courtesy an E…
Today is the birthday of William Ellsworth Robinson, a.k.a Chung Ling Soo. To read about his life and his rivalry with Ching Ling Foo, go here. And here’s a swell little mini-doc about…
Today is Buddy Ebsen’s birthday. See here for my article on him and his sister Vilma, one of vaudeville’s great dance teams. I am crazy about Buddy’s work on The Beverly Hi…
Today! 12-6pm at the City Reliquary 370 Metropolitan Avenue FREE FOR ALL! City Reliquary’s 10th Anniversary Celebration Today they promise to unveil… An all new GIFT SHOP featuring l…
Today is the birthday of the great blues singer Alberta Hunter (1895-1984). A Memphis native, she ran away from a bleak life to pursue a music career in Chicago. Starting in the seediest pos…
Wit's End and the Dorothy Parker Society invite you to celebrate the social life of the Jazz Age at the Bootlegger Social with the Red Hook Ramblers! Saturday, March 31st, 7pm-Midnight Alway…
Today is the birthday of Eddie Quillan (1907-1990). Quillian was a man with many show biz lives. 1) He started out with his parents and siblings in the family vaudeville act “The Risin…
Viva Patshiva is the infectious Romany-inspired musical by old pal Mr. David Jenness. Its virtues are many…from the traditional Hungarian folk melodies you’ll never get out of yo…
My old pal the public historian Kathleen Hulser is giving this fascinating-sounding free talk at the New School on Tuesday (April 3). Highly recommended! : Heroic Mythology in the Napoleonic…
Today is the birthday of Hollywood character actor Joseph Cawthorn (1868-1949). His film career ran from 1927 through 1942, and he had prominent roles in such films as the Fairbanks-Pickford…
Opens for previews today. Looks promising…music by the Gershwins, book “inspired by material by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse“, Mathew Broderick and Estelle Parsons in the …
Today is the birthday of Paul “Pops” Whiteman. (see here for full article on him). How awesome is this 1930 clip in 2 strip Technicolor! It really brings out the BLUE in the RHAP…
Coney Island boardwalk tee shirt entrepreneur and roller rink impresario Lola Star will be speaking at the Brooklyn Historical Society at 7pm tonight about recent changes and the past 7 year…
I stopped into the Urban Folk Art Gallery yesterday on my way home from work to see Portraits and Pigeons, the new exhibition by Chris Arnade. It’s extremely powerful stuff. ArnadeR…
And now here’s the 20th installment in our Vaudephone series, Jason Trachtenburg of the Pendulum Swings once again. He’s so nice, we show him twice! This time, performing…
This is one of a series of posts honoring Women’s History Month. We are pleased to have as our guest blogger today, Ivy Marvel of the Brooklyn Public Library. More about her and the ex…
Funny Man Bob Greenberg is producing and hosting a benefit for the historic Actor’s Temple tonight. (Historic? The stars above were all members!) Joining him on the bill tonight: D…
Starting today through April 15, the American Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens will be running regular screenings of classic Three Stooges shorts. For the full schedule go here.…
Today is the birthday of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle (for my full bio on him go here). In tribute, we share the following clip, which proves that Rosco invented the celebrated “…
Today is the great Houdini’s birthday! For my full biographical essay on him go here. And see him do his rope escape below: To learn more about the roots of variety entertainment, c…
An Off-Broadway show for the whole family! HONESTLY ABE Produced and directed by M. Stefan Strozier SPECIAL OFFER! TICKETS ONLY $12.00 (reg. $35.00) Actors Temple Theatre 339 West 47th Stree…
Today is the birthday of the great Milbourne Christopher (1914-1984). During his nearly 60 years as a magician, he racked up many accomplishments: President of the Society of American…
