11,542 stories by "Trav S.D."
The life and career of early 20th century  actor Arthur Edmund Carewe (Hovsep Hovsepian, 1884-1937) are both interesting enough for brief treatment here. In spite of his highly Anglo prof…
Well may you think you've never crossed cinematic paths with Otis Harlan (1865-1940) but you'd almost certainly be incorrect. Harlan's most widely witnessed performance is undoubtedly the ch…
Jo Van Fleet (Catherine Josephine Van Fleet, 1915-1996) is primarily remembered for her late career roles as villainesses and meddling, complaining mother figures. She had skill and range be…
Bit player Emory Parnell (1892-1979) was nicknamed "The Big Swede" although it's doubtful that, apart from coming from St. Paul, he actually possessed a Swedish identity. "Parnell" tends to …
A brief celebration today of character actor Lou Jacobi (Louis Jacobovitch, 1913-2009). Jacobi grew up in Toronto's Jewish community, getting his first performing experience as a tummler and…
Quick words of tribute for actor John Amos (b. 1939). Newark native Amos graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in sociology. But he was also a star of Colorado State's footb…
Reading about the life of Con Colleano (Cornelius Sullivan, 1899-1973) reinforces my long-held feeling that showfolk are a global spiritual family that knows no borders, more akin to one ano…
The name Steve Brodie (1861-1901) is holy to New York history lovers, even if his most famous feat stirred up a lot of muddy water. Brodie dined out for years on having jumped off the Brookl…
Though best remembered as "Pork" in Gone with the Wind, Oscar Polk (1899-1949) had roles in numerous important stage and screen productions over a 20 year period. Originally from rural Arkan…
I just started off my Christmas morning by listening to a record I haven't heard since the mid '80s, though it was an ENORMOUS part of my annual Christmas experience throughout my childhood.…
It had been ages since we have been to one of our favorite pop culture repositories, the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Connecticut. I've been coming to the Museum since the late '90s, and fir…
There is something charmed about the fact that Johnny Gruelle (John Barton Gruelle, 1880-1938) was born of a Christmas Eve (in spite of his having a name that makes him sound like a spiritua…
We learned about the team of Hamilton and Barnes from this promotion Christmas card of theirs, which was shared on LongIsland.com. Helene Hamilton and Jack Barnes were a husband-wife vaudevi…
Ruth Roman (1922-1999) definitely had an interesting career, with enough notable projects, both well-known and quirky ones, that I had long intended to give her some attention in these annal…
As 2019 draws to a close, we have several year-end and decade-end posts in the works. We post this one a little early, as we're fairly confident that the standings won't change in the days r…
In preparation for tomorrow's release of The Rise of Skywalker, we have gone and rewatched the previous eight chapters of the Star Wars saga, a richly rewarding experience that made me reali…
Max (1903-1966) and Harry Nesbitt (1905-1968) were a South African double act of close-harmonizing brothers (real name Horowitz) who also played banjo and uke, danced, and made with snappy c…
A pause to look at the interesting career of supporting player and B movie actress Lynn Bari (Margaret Fisher, 1913-1989). The Virginia native concocted her professional name when still a te…
Bobby Barber (1894-1976) was a Hollywood bit player with close to 250 screen credits, and a special association with classic comedy. Barber's credits go back to the silent days. His first fi…
There is much more to be said about British bandleader and songwriter Ray Noble (1903-74) Â than I have time for, but he was very popular in the U.S. and his career intersected with some o…
December 17 was the natal of burlesque dancer, pin-up model, and actress Lilly Christine (Martha Theresa Pompender, 1923-1965), a.k.a. "The Cat Girl" . Originally from Dunkirk, New York (rig…
I got a highly felicitous piece of news in my in-box last night and it's timely information so I rush the information straight to you. Jody Christopherson and The House of Songs proudly pres…
I generally plug my own books during the holiday season, but occasionally there's a new one out that's so important or so interesting or by an author who matters to me such that I have to te…
Oh, what a painful, heartbreaking experience is The Wild Man of Borneo (1941). I'd long aspired to see it, as I'd read that it was originally crafted as a vehicle for W.C. Fields, and I'm cu…
Director James W. Horne (1881-1942) had an extraordinarily productive career,making close to 300 films over a 30 year career, and distinguishing himself in two genres, comedy and adventure s…
