11,442 stories by "Trav S.D."
Peter Kastner (1943-2008) is fresher in our consciousness than he might otherwise be, on account of we recently re-watched one of his handful of his starring roles a few weeks ago, his enter…
September 30 was the birthday of screen director Lewis Milestone (Lieb Milstein, 1895-1980). This could just be my own anecdotal experience, but it seems to me that Milestone's name is almos…
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 30, 2025 include ones on director Lewis Milestone, chorus girl Blanche Satchel, actor Frank Lawton (in stereo), and my recommendations for Interna…
This International Podcast Day finds me chagrined to report that I have nothing new of my own to share or announce, apart from general intention to create new stuff for The Year of Vaudevill…
There were two generations of thespian Frank Lawtons, their combined careers spanning nearly a century. The family name was originally spelled "Laughton". If there is any connection to Briti…
"Blanche Satchel" (1906-2004) is one of the most unappealing stage names that I've ever heard; it evokes a leather saddle bag that has been boiled until it turns as white as a dead fish. I o…
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 29, 2025 include ones on B movie star Anne Nagel, songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, and a special post for Silent Movie Day! If you'd like t…
"What silent movies should I watch?" someone asked the other day, and it's a perfectly valid question. It's much preferable to the indifference (and worse, scorn) most people evince when it …
Good and bad breaks were the portion of actress Anne Nagel (Anna Marie Dolan, 1915-1966), a star of B movies, and something less than a star in major features. An Irish Catholic girl from Ma…
September 29 was the birthday of Tommy Boyce (Sidney Thomas Boyce, 1939-1994); and we lost Bobby Hart (Robert Harshman, 1939-2025) about three weeks ago, so I thought this would be a good ti…
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 28, 2025 include ones on Peck's Bad Boy and a Vaudeville Call to Arms. It also happens to be Drink Beer Day. In no particular order, other Travala…
September 28 was the birthday of both Ed Sullivan and his boss, CBS founder and President William S. Paley. I wonder who got the bigger cake? Anyway, It seemed like a good time to catch you …
We've had numerous occasions on which to mention the pop culture phenomenon of Peck's Bad Boy, which was vital roughly from 1880 to 1940, in newspaper columns, books, stage plays, films, com…
In researching the Variety critic Chicot a few months ago, I stumbled across a detail that sent me down a rabbit hole. The Variety writer's real name was Epes Sargent, and it turns out there…
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 27, 2025 include ones on three pretty obscure guys: 19th century writer Epes Sargent, Broadway songwriter Joseph McCarthy (right?), and sit-com ma…
September 27 was the birthday of comedy creator Cy Howard (Seymour Horowitz, 1915-1993), apparently no relation to the Howards from the Three Stooges, who were also born Horowitz. This Howar…
Have no fear! The title of this post doesn't refer to some imagined "good side" of the Red-Baiting Senator from Wisconsin. That man was all bad. But as it happens there was another guy with …
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 26, 2025 include ones on The Rocky Horror Picture Show, fitness guru Jack LaLanne, and artists Thomas Nast and Charles Bird King. In no particular…
September 26 was the birthday of fitness pioneer and health guru Jack LaLanne (1914-2011). LaLanne's significance lies at the very pivot point between old school physical culture of the mail…
Okay, the title of this post is hyperbole. Whenever you think you've I.D.'d the first anything, you're sure to be foiled. And of course everyone CLAIMS primacy. That's just p.r. 101. But Tho…
September 26, 1975 was the date of the American release of that singular cinematic specimen, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Is Rocky Horror the hub of the universe? For a theatre-maker of my…
Just a few words of acknowledgment about 19th century painter Charles Bird King (1785-1862). I first became aware of the artist through repeated visits to the Redwood Library and Athenaeum i…
Today's new Travalanche posts for September 25, 2025 include ones on Mercy Otis Warren, and the Beatles animated cartoon show. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September 2…
60 years ago today, September 25, 1965 saw the television premiere of the animated children's television show The Beatles. The show aired 39 new episodes over the following two years, and ai…
September 25 was the birthday of pioneering American literary figure Mercy Otis Warren (1728-1814). Daughter of Massachusetts lawyer James Otis, Mercy received the benefit of the same educat…
