11,807 stories by "Trav S.D."
I first became aware of Billy Sullivan (William Arthur Sullivan, 1891-1946) through my investigation of boxing movies in this post. His association with the genre, and the fact that he was f…
Happy National Tattoo Day! We thought this a suitable day to share a finding aid to our little tattoo section of Travalanche, for we do indeed have one, with about 15 posts. None precisely t…
I contemplated writing about a much more famous Canadian actor this morning, one who'd certainly attract more clicks, but that's not how we roll on Travalanche. Mission first, clicks second.…
My reasons for ssssssselecting Sssssss (1973) to write about today are ssssssseveral: Sssssss is also one of those movies that, when I talk to people of about my own age, most of them seem t…
Unlike nearly everyone else of my acquaintance, I've been mum on the topic of the writers' (and now actors') strike for a variety of reasons. One is that, given my long-standing and certainl…
We just word on the passing a couple of days ago of ventriloquist, voice-over artist, announcer, children's host, and actor Jimmy Weldon (1923-2023), just two months shy of his centennial bi…
How lucky was French actress Annabella (Suzanne Georgette Charpentier, 1907-1996) to be born on Bastille Day? It's kind of like George M. Cohan being born on the 4th of July. And that's not …
Born today, the much-missed ice cream entrepreneur Tom Carvel (Athanasios Karvelas, 1906-1990). Those of a certain age RELISHED (and I mean ALL of us) Carvel's voice-overs in his own TV and …
July 14 isn't only Bastille Day, it's now also Non-Binary Peoples Day, and so today we use the occasion to celebrate Tre'vell Anderson, founder of Slayzhon, podcaster, former Editor-At-Large…
Few people in show business have enjoyed such a huge impact in the daily lives of millions of Americans and then vanished from the public consciousness so utterly Dave Garroway (1913-1982). …
I find myself awestruck by that it is possible to have directed so many well-known Hollywood movies, many regarded as "classics" or semi-classics, while remaining as anonymous as Alfred E. G…
It wasn't that long ago, but still I can't recall what in particular it was that motivated me to take note of Tony Hendra (1941-2021) with the purpose of writing a post on him. It may have b…
July 10, 2023 would have been the centennial birthday of Betty Brian (1923-2015), who, with her sibs Doris (1926-2018) and Gwen (1928-1990) was one third of the juvenile sister act trio The …
Oh, don't worry, I'm not going to be mean to the Ames Brothers " I just like a bit of sonic wordplay in my headlines. But if I'd written this post back in the '70s when I was a kid, I likely…
An overdue salute today to early television pioneer Faye Emerson (1917-83). Emerson was a stunning Broadway, radio, and Hollywood movie actress who just happened to be married to Elliott Roo…
I just got the memo that today is the birthday of the STILL-LIVING Carl "Doc" Severinsen (b. 1927). Severinsen was a transitional figure of a very rare sort when I was a kid. Rock and roll h…
Here's a historical cul-de-sac! Hank (1965-66) was the first sit-com created by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson, before Happy Days, before The Odd Couple, and before even Hey Landlord. It wa…
Della Reese (Delloreese Early, 1931-2017) wound up with that curse of the successful television star, public over-identification with a role on account her decade-long run on Touched By An A…
Thanks Killy Dwyer for letting me know that Travalanche got a real nice mention on the popular podcast Stuff You Should Know on July 4. The episode topic was long-haul trucking industry of a…
It gives me great pride and pleasure to announce the next thing on the horizon, something that…just kinda made sense. I have a new monthly show at the Queens-based comedy club QED, 27-16 2…
"Stop da music, stop da music!" as Jimmy Durante used to shout, for we have some absolute News You Can Use regarding a matter of timely importance. TCM is showing the rare and strange cinema…
In my never ending search for a Grand Unified Field Theory of Show Business, I have been harping an awful lot the last several months on the topic of the ancient Pagan holidays that were abs…
Mysteries abound about the great snake charmer Nala Damajanti (1861-?). Like Little Egypt and many famous 20th century advertising mascots, "Nala Damajanti" may have been played by more than…
What a delight it's been learning about minor movie star Winifred "Wynne" Gibson (1898-1987), whose name is an evocative mash-up of associations of folks from her own era; Wini Shaw, Bessie …
A brief remembrance of musical hall performer Harry Fragson (Léon Philippe Pot, 1869-1913). Fragson's a slippery character " both French and English, and yet not to be confused with Frakson…
