282 stories by "Trav S. D."
Today is the birthday of the fabulous Dolly Sisters (they were twins). For their full bio go here. In honor of the day we post a clip of the preposterous, ahistorical bio-pic made of their l…
Today is the birthday of little person Billy Barty, who got his start in vaudeville (see his bio here). Here he is in one of his less obvious roles, the title character in Sid & Marty Kr…
Gilda Gray may or not have invented the Shimmy, but she is the performer most closely identified with that craze of the 1920s, and certainly the one who exploited it the most. Born Marianna …
Born Abraham Laski this day in 1859, this Polish native changed his name to Herbert Albini and first began performing magic in England performing moving to the USA in 1891. His act first foc…
May 22, 1992 was the night of my bachelor party. It also happened to be the night of Johnny Carson’s last appearance on The Tonight Show. The television was on in the bar adjacent the …
Annie Yeamans (1835-1912) was a second generation circus clown, born Anni Griffiths on the Isle of Man. When she was ten the family moved to Australia, which is where she first jumped into t…
Today is the birthday of the Divine Sarah (see bio here). Here is a clip from her 1912 film Queen Elizabeth. She was 68 years old at the time: To find out more about these variety artists an…
James A. Bland (born this day in 1854) was “The Prince of Negro Songwriters” and “The World’s Greatest Minstrel Man”, author of some 700 songs, including “…
Child star Mitzi Green (born today in 1920) got her start performing in a vaudeville act with her parents, Keno and Green. Before long, the parents dropped out! The talented kid could do imp…
Today is the birthday of Broadway comedian Raymond Hitchcock, most famous for his Hitchykoo series of revues (see full bio here). Here he is singing “In the Days of Old”, from th…
I saw a terrific student production of The Bacchae up at Ithaca College this past weekend. It’s my favorite play, which should only surprise you if you haven’t read my book No Ap…
My friends at Public Works Project want you to know that they are presenting a free site-specific theatrical tribute to the “Mama” of off-off-Broadway tomorrow on the L.E.S. tomo…
I’ll be performing tomorrow night in Art Wallace’s “Brown Clown” in the Brick’s Tiny Theatre Festival, but when the show’s over I’ll strongly co…
Please come see me tonight (and tomorrow) in Art Wallace’s play Brown Clown in the Brick Theatre’s Tiny Theatre Festival! Details all below: Think Inside of the Box… (By wh…
Will Cressy (born this day in 1863) was one of vaudeville’s premier “rube” comedians and also one of its top sketch writers. Raised on a New Hampshire farm (and later emplo…
For eight nights only, Madame Tussauds After Dark awakens Times Square's restless souls for THE HAUNTING. 8 nights only! THURSDAY – SUNDAY OCTOBER 20 – 23rd & OCTOBER 27th " …
Classy, elegant African American chanteuse Adelaide Hall (born this day in 1901) did play sporadic dates in America vaudeville (like when she played the Palace in 1930), but she is best know…
Today is the birthday of funny man Charley Chase (see bio here). Here’s just a small sample of why people still revere him 71 years after his death, with music by our old pal Ben M…
Today is the birthday of Fayard Nicholas of the legendary Nicholas Brothers (see bio here).  See the gravity-defying duo in what Fred Astaire called “the greatest dance number e…
Uncle Floyd and his partner Oogie Today is the birthday of “Uncle” Floyd Vivino (b. 1951). One of my most cherished features of his famous tv show was the moment when he read the…
Tomorrow night’s the big fund raising gala for the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, CT. They sustained heavy damage in a tornado a number of months backs and they’re seeking vital re…
Tonight at Dixon Place at 9pm, the latest edition of Fear Mongers, the series of panel discussions about horror films organized by Clay McCleod Chapman. This evening is being moderated by th…
Mary Testa stars in this new musical by the Transport Group, about the first woman who (at age 63) went over Niagra Falls in a barrel! Information and tickets here.
NYC’s longest running all-clown variety show is back for its 5th Season! As seen in American Theater,The Village Voice Choice, New York Times, The Villager, Spectacle Magazine, Variety…
Daphne Pollard (born Daphne Trott today in 1892) is best known as a recognizable (if tiny) figure from the Hal Roach stock company, including several Laurel and Hardy films (as Mrs. Hardy). …
