11,853 stories by "Trav S.D."
Today is the birthday of the great comic heavy Stanley “Tiny” Sandford (1894-1961). Sandford was usually an uncredited bit player, often cast as bouncers, cops, bullies, boxers, …
Today is the anniversary of the release date pf Charlie Chaplin’s last comedy short The Pilgrim (1923). The Pilgrim is essentially a remake of Chaplin’s earlier pictures…
Just a quick note to plug the new soundtrack CD from Chip Deffaa’s recent show Irving Berlin’s America. Michael Townsend Wright (well known to many of our readers) play…
Today is the release date of the hilarious Laurel and Hardy comedy Twice Two (1933). As the title implies, this is a doubling comedy, a device the team often relied on (see also Brats,…
Tonight at 6pm at the Film Forum , a real treat for fans of vaudeville, music hall and early cinema, the 1930 British revue film Elstree Calling. “Elstree” was the name of the…
Today is the birthday of Abe Vagoda (b. 1921) who is indeed still with us (aged 92). This is possible because he was much younger than he looked in The Godfather and on Barney Mille…
Quick! Change your evening plans! Film Forum is showing Breaking Away tonight at 7:30pm, with a Q & A featuring one of its stars Paul Dooley. When this little movie came out…
Filed under: Coney Island, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS, SOCIAL EVENTS Tagged: Coney Island USA, gala, Webster Hall
Filed under: Contemporary Variety, Dixieland & Early Jazz, HOLIDAYS, FESTIVALS, MEMORIALS & PARADES, Marches, PLUGS, SOCIAL EVENTS Tagged: Mardi Gras Ball, Two Boots
Today is the anniversary of the release date of one of the most perfect Laurel and Hardy comedies Wrong Again (1929). It wasn’t until relatively late in life that I discovered the t…
Today is the birthday of the great equestrienne Ella Bradna (1879-1957). The daughter of a circus family from Bohemia, she came to the U.S. with her husband Fred to perform for Barnum and…
Today is the birthday of the great Hollywood character actor Dwight Frye (1899-1943). Originally a musician, Frye gravitated toward theatre, appearing in 17 plays on Broadway from 1921 throu…
Today is the birthday of Maurice Costello (1877-1950.). Costello is a major figure in early film history, sadly now forgotten, although his DNA remains very prominent in the contemporary mov…
Today is the birthday of Sir John Mills (1908-2005). Considered one of the great British stage and screen actors of the 20th century, Mills differs from many in his generation in that he had…
Today is the anniversary of the hilarious 1931 Laurel and Hardy comedy short Chickens Come Home. In this one Ollie is a prosperous fertilizer merchant who is running for Mayor. Laurel, thoug…
Today is the anniversary of the release date of the 1936 Mae West comedy Klondike Annie. Partially penned by West herself (based on her 1921 stage play Frisco Kate), the comedy essentiall…
Today is the anniversary of the release date of The Haunted House a 1921 Buster Keaton short, directed by Eddie Cline. In case you find yourself getting too scared (spoiler…
Tonight at 6pm (E.S.T.) Turner Classic Movies will be showing a particular favorite of many show biz buffs, Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys (1975). This comedy about a bickering v…
Filed under: Burlesk, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS, SOCIAL EVENTS Tagged: burlesque, Champagne Riot, Cutting Room, Gelber and Manning, Gin MInsky
Filed under: BOOKS & AUTHORS, Broadway, Burlesk, Hollywood (History), PLUGS, Vaudeville etc. Tagged: Carolyn Quinn, Mama Rose's Turn, Ziegfeld Society
Filed under: PLUGS, SOCIAL EVENTS Tagged: Flute Midtown, Wit's End
Today is the birthday of David Garrick (1717-1779), one of the most influential figures in the history of the English-speaking theatre. Descended from French Huguenots, he studied under Samu…
Today is the birthday of the great, highly unique comedy director Frank Tashlin (1913-1972). His career trajectory was perfect, starting out in the 1930s as an animator working at various ca…
100 years ago today Keystone released its short comedy A Thief Catcher. This minor picture features the Keystone Kops, and Ford Sterling (who also directed). Sterling plays a charac…
The Hall of Hams pays tribute to some of our favorite actors who helped bring the art of melodramatic acting into the modern age. Today is the birthday of Louis Calhern (Carl Vogt, 1895-…
