On August 29, 1921, Marcus Loew opened Loew's State the flagship of his vaudeville-and-flicker circuit, thought of as the top of the line small time, at 1540 Broadway in the heart of Times S…
I contemplated deferring this post on Goethe (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832) because I am still discovering this amazing person, but then I realized that was silly " one will always …
George Montgomery (George Montgomery Letz, 1916-2000) has sort of fallen through the cracks, perhaps partially because of the similarity of his name to, oh, Robert Montgomery on the one hand…
As I mentioned in my recent post on Booth Tarkington, a century ago the midwest had a strong, distinctive regional literary voice. Within it, you can even identify sub-groups, to wit, Indian…
The screen career of Ruby Blaine (1903-1976) was minimal, to put it baldly: just 16 silent films over a four year period. Our main point of interest is that her last four were Hal Roach come…
A toss of the sombrero today for the great western star, stunt woman, rodeo rider, and vaudeville performer Helen Gibson (Rose August Wegner, 1892-1977). Her screen name is the result of two…
A perfect storm of fabulousness unleashes on BroadwayHD today when the platform makes available a streaming version of last year's all-star revival of the Tom Eyen's 1975 camp prison picture…
This is a really local story, but an important one nonetheless. We are sad to report that one of Brooklyn's favorite sons, Bob Diamond has passed away at the age of 62. Diamond was known for…
Born 100 years ago today: Monte Halparin, a.k.a. Monty Hall. Hall is best known and loved as the longtime host and producer of the TV game show Let's Make a Deal, which ran from 1963-1977, w…
We are so sad to have to move Charlie Watts to the top of our queue of planned Rolling Stones posts. He passed away today at age 80. I can't think of any rock and roll figure who was more ge…
The Fall season approaches, with lots of great calendar tie-ins for special online events exclusively for the Travalanche Patreon gang. Here's some of what's planned: Sunday, August 29: How …
Not sure how I only noticed it now, but I did! The Irish Rep is presenting a special online version of Chip Deffaa's show George M. Cohan Tonight. It's playing through the Sunday August 29. …
Kate Claxton (Kate Elizabeth Cone, 1848-1924) is best remembered today as the star who was onstage during the Brooklyn Theatre Fire in 1876 (much as Eddie Foy is associated with the conflagr…
None more deserving of celebration today that the late British little person actor/entertainer Kenny Baker (1934-2016). He is not to be confused with the eponymous radio crooner, though the …
The few who remember the name Eleanor Boardman (1898-1991) today know her chiefly for being King Vidor's second wife and for starring in his 1928 masterpiece The Crowd. Boardman's screen car…
We are gratified to learn of the existence of Dave Mallen, not to be confused with Dave Madden or Dave Chasen. We don't know tons, but what we know, we share. Mallen started out in burlesque…
Shampoo (1975) is a movie with so much to commend it that I'll watch it anytime it's available. It's so rich in thematic elements and details that you take away different things every time y…
An overdue salute today to Waldo Leo "Jack" Teagarden (1905-1964), a.k.a. Mr. T or The Big T. I think I might have been introduced to this jazz legend back in the day by the late Rich Conaty…
August 20 is National Radio Day and here's your handy broadcast reminder that Travalanche has over 360 articles related to old time radio stars and programs, from comedians like Fred Allen, …
Grover George (1877-1958) was one of those many magicians known to us chiefly by way of the mountains of adertising ephemera he left behind. Legend has it that he was essentially run out of …
Today we pay homage for one of the biggest stage stars of hers or any time, Julia Marlowe (Sarah Frances Frost, 1865-1950). Marlowe was born in Cumberland, England. The legend is that her fa…
Lois Nettleton (1927-2008) was something of an anomaly in show business; beautiful enough to be a leading lady, but normally cast in character parts. She did possess a quirky intelligence an…
As is invariably the case, my interest in Lori Nelson (1933-2020) stems from her appearances in classic comedies and B movies, though her brief career was more wide ranging. Broadly speaking…
A brief memoriam to movie and tv actress Brenda Benet (Brenda Benet Nelson, 1945-1982). Benet wasn't even 20 when her dance skills and dark beauty got her a tidal wave of roles, usually in y…
We don't endorse the depiction above; it was the costume of John Lester Johnson (1893-1968) in the Our Gang short The Kid from Borneo (1933). Prior to this (1912-29), Johnson had been a pro …