11,439 stories by "Trav S.D."
Some years we manage to lean into Black History Month (February) more than others, and this'll be one of those years. As it happens this, is the centennial of there being some kind of nation…
February 1 was the birthday of musician and songwriter James P. Johnson (1894-1955). I am surprised, though perhaps I oughtn't to be, to learn that he was no relation to J. Rosamond Johnson …
Downtown theatre giant Woodie King Jr. (1939-2026) passed away on January 29. I thought it appropriate to hold my tribute a couple of days for Black History Month. Mr. King was the founder a…
Today's new Travalanche posts for January 31, 2026 are about KC and the Sunshine Band, and Alexandre Patty, the Upside Down Man. We also continue to mourn the loss of the great comic actress…
Today we will likely blow the minds of our regular readers (and I'm blowing my own mind even as I do it) by expressing deep love and respect for KC and the Sunshine Band. KC (Henry Wayne Cas…
January 31 is celebrated in some quarters as National Backwards Day (or as some perversely put it, Backward Day). It seems to me that every day for the past ten years answers both of those d…
Today, January 30, 2026 is…A GENERAL STRIKE DAY, in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis, and the agenda of either abolishing ICE or returning it to its traditional function, bounded …
Today's new Travalanche post for January 29, 2026 is about Paul Fusco and ALF. Other earlier Travalanche posts for January 29 (in no particular order) include ones on: W.C. Fields Kansas (th…
The puppet-centered sit-com ALF premiered on NBC 40 years ago; January 29 is the birthday of its creator Paul Fusco (b. 1953). Is he any relation to the MAGNUM photojournalist of the same na…
Today's new Travalanche post for January 28, 2026 concerns a new book about tattoo pioneer Captain Constentenus. Other earlier Travalanche posts for January 28 (in no particular order) inclu…
Every book by Modern Vaudeville Press is exciting but we are particularly jazzed about their latest literary production. Little is known (or knowable) about pioneering illustrated man Captai…
Today's new Travalanche post for January 27, 2026 is about Ruby Lynn Reyner. Other earlier Travalanche posts for January 27 (in no particular order) include ones on: Holocaust Remembrance Da…
Downtown stage star Ruby Lynn Reyner (1948-2024) died nearly two years ago, but that seems recent enough that we can merge this birthday tribute with the idea of a memoriam. I had the thrill…
Today's new Travalanche post for January 26, 2026 is about songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen. Other earlier Travalanche posts for January 26 (in no particular order) include ones on: For National …
This seemed the best photo to use for songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen (Chester Babcock, 1913-1940). Most of the pix of him are like most pix of composers " he may as well be an accountant. This …
Coincidentally we watched a couple of Apatow movies over the last couple of days, but what's new about that? The same could be said of almost any week over the past 30 years! Judd Apatow is …
Today's new Travalanche post for January 25, 2026 is about a pair of recent and excellent documentaries from the shop of Judd Apatow: Other earlier Travalanche posts for January 25 (in no pa…
Today's new Travalanche post for January 24, 2026 is about Vicki Baum, author of Grand Hotel. Other earlier Travalanche posts for January 24 (in no particular order) include ones on: Marvin …
January 24 was the birthday of Hedwig "Vicki" Baum (1888-1960). The Viennese-born writer is not widely known by name in the U.S. though it ought to be: her name is on over a dozen Hollywood …
Today's new Travalanche posts for January 23, 2026 are about the passing of Uncle Floyd, as well as a tribute to Founding Father John Hancock. Other earlier Travalanche posts for January 23 …
January 20 was the birthday of one America's Forgotten Founding Fathers' though one of the most important, Robert Morris (1734-1806). Morris was the wealthiest American at the start of the A…
We continue to observe the 250 anniversary of the American Revolution with today's acknowledgement of the birthday of John Hancock (1737-1793). Hancock's memory survives thankfully, though f…
I awoke this morning to find my feed aflame with the news, sad but not unexpected, that Uncle Floyd, Floyd Vivino (1951-2026) has gone to vaudeville heaven. It feels odd to report something …
We confess that this post is a bunt " I am out all day on various errands which you will soon learn about in upcoming posts. But this information is no less valuable. Tonight is the premiere…
Today's new Travalanche post for January 22, 2026 is about the new Mel Brooks documentary! Also, January 22 is National Polka Dot Day. See my post on the origins of the comics character "Lit…
