11,556 stories by "Trav S.D."
The other day when I posted my tribute to The Wizard of Oz, I realized that there was one another major MGM film on which I’d written about nearly every cast member and other related a…
It’s May the 1st. I saw this morning that the “President” wishes us all a happy “Loyalty Day”. Had you ever heard of that holiday? I never had. When I think of …
To those in the know, the name “Turner Classic Movies” is a bit of a misnomer, but in a good way. If the network only showed true classics they’d have a hard time filling a…
It’s kind of crazy that I have written about most of the other major Sid and Marty Krofft shows so far, and have even written about Jack Wild and Billie Hayes, but still have not done …
Tenor and broadcast personality Frank Parker (Frank Ciccio, ca. 1903-1999) was possibly born on this day (some sources give July 1). Born in New York, Parker studied at the Milan Conservator…
Exotic Texas beauty Carolyn Jones (1930-1983) was born on this date. She’ll always be best known for her role as Morticia Addams on The Addams Family (1964-66, and a tv movie in 1977),…
Prior to his hit sitcom The Odd Couple (1970-1975), Jack Klugman had always been known as a dramatic actor, appearing in films like Twelve Angry Men (1957) and episodic tv dramas by the like…
On this day was born the music hall memory man Edward Cyril De Hault Laston (1883-1951). Originally from Brixton, educated in India, Laston was rejected for service in the army after a bo…
Ben Model and Steve Massa have announced the exciting news that they are working on a new DVD compilation of film starring the great silent screen comedienne Alice Howell, whom we wrote abou…
FOLSOM AT FIFTY/ Thursday, May 3, 7:30pm (running time: 45 minutes)/ Dixon Place/ 161A Chrystie Street, NYC/ FREE! Johnny Cash‘s classic 1968 live album At Folsom Pri…
This post has been a long time coming. I’ve blogged about dozens of aspects of, and artists involved with, my favorite movie The Wizard of Oz (1939), and I mention it in my book No …
I’ve been holding this post on Don the Talking Dog so it could coincide with the new edition of Smithsonian, which features an article on same in which I am quoted. The canine prodigy …
Born this day, Marceline Day (Marceline Newlin, 1906-2000). Originally from Colorado Springs, and raised in Salt Lake City and Venice, California, Marceline Day was the younger sister of Ali…
It’s been several years in the making but the horror film I’m in, The Moose Head Over the Mantel, by Inappropriate Films is having its first public NYC screening on April 26. Ove…
April 22 is the natal day of television magnate Aaron Spelling (1923-2006). Because I have already written about some of his productions, and plan to write about others, it made sense to das…
No, not THAT member! Get your mind out of the gutter! A member is any constituent part of a whole. The noun applies to all limbs and natural protuberances on any creature, and today I regret…
There are many ways to skin a cat. Edward Albert Heimberger’s (1906-2005) pathway to the top in show business was unconventional but it got him there. The kid who would become “E…
Brooklyn-born singer and songwriter Walter Van Brunt (1892-1971), a.k.a. Walter Scanlan, a.k.a. Walter Scanlon came into the world this day. Van Brunt discovered the joy of singing as a boy …
Belle Bennett (1891-1932) was born of an April 22, to Minnesota circus owner William J.C. “Billy” Bennett and his wife Hazel. Part of her childhood was spent in a convent, part w…
Mabel Barrison (Eva Farrance, 1882-1912) was born on this day. (Her genuine name being Farrance, she was clearly no relation to the notorious Barrison Sisters, perpetrators of the legendary …
I had several reasons for wanting to see Little Pink House, which opens today in seven cities. One is that I love Catherine Keener. The other is that it is set in, and was shot in, New Londo…
Gregory Ratoff (Grigory Vasilyevich Ratner, ca. 1893-1960) was a rarity in Hollywood: equally accomplished as both an actor and director, and also an occasional producer. He also acted and d…
Lottie Briscoe (1893-1950), an interesting figure of stage, screen and vaudeville, was born on this day. She joins our Lotta Lotties: Lottie Gilson and Lottie Collins, not to mention Lotta C…
Well, I couldn’t let the anniversary of the San Francisco Earthquake (112 years ago today) pass without brief word of praise about The Confession of Lily Dare, Charles Busch’s ne…
I have my own unique tickler system that tells me whom to write about every day. Today, when I saw “Noble Johnson” (1881-1978), I was like, “Surely I have already written a…
