11,870 stories by "Trav S.D."
Today is the birthday of Duane Eddy (b.1938), whom along with producer Lee Hazelwood, was progenitor of the “twangy” sound, heard on such hits as “Rebel Rouser” and &…
Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville #319: Ma Rainey (for my full article on this important performer go here). Here she is in a 1925 recording of that old blues standard “See S…
Hollywood comedy character actor Edgar Kennedy (born this day in 1890) is most famous for his so-called “slow burn” reaction, although for the life of me, I can’t see what&…
Today is the birthday of the great magician Charles Bertram (b. James Bassett, 1855-1907). He was originally a hotel keeper. When his establishment went belly up in 1882, he turned to magic.…
Today is the birthday of Percilla Roman Bejano (1911-2001). Born covered head to toe in fur, and possessing two rows of teeth, she was billed as The Monkey Girl and exhibited alongside chimp…
Still scratching out the occasional squib for the Villager and her sister papers. Please check out three pieces I did on this year’s Tribeca Film Festival: * A wrap-up of all the docum…
Today is the birthday of the late Jerry Lieber (1933-2011), one half of one of the great songwriting teams of all time, Lieber and Stoller, I got to speak to Jerry once on the phone b…
Today is the birthday of Albert King (1923-1992), a major influence on Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, among others. He is often referred to as one of the Three Kings of t…
Born in 1859 in upstate Copenhagen, New York James Morris possessed the unique gift of being able to stretch his skin out like taffy, sometimes as far out as 18 inches. He could pull his…
Today is the birthday of Will Rock (William George Rakauskas, 1907-1995). Born in Lithuania, he moved the U.S. at age five. At age 13 he started studying magic, becoming a professional in 19…
Today is the birthday of George Lashwood (Edward George Wright, 1863-1942). Known as the “Beau Brummel of the music halls” the comedian/ singer was a star of London’s…
Today is the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Woolworth Building, which from 1913 through 1930 was the tallest building in the world. Yes, but is there a vaudeville angle? Dear friend…
Today is the 100th anniversary of the release of The Bangville Police, the comedy short containing what is considered by many to be the first appearance of The Keystone Kops (others consider…
Ruth Berry (born circa 1910)was born with the condition called phocomelia which resulted in stunted limbs with fused digits, resembling flippers. Short and stout with a waddling gait she beg…
Over years of repeated exposure what seems impossible when you're young finally comes to pass " you gradually come to "know" Shakespeare. Actually, on an intuitive level, I felt I knew him r…
Today is the birthday of Roy Orbison (1936-1988). I’ll never forget how shocked I was when my friend told me Orbison had just died; I can even remember right where I was standing. I re…
Today is the 85th birthday of Mrs. Shirley Temple Black, the most popular child star in history, and one of the few who didn’t disintegrate or self-distruct. Her life is both well-know…
This pair of German giants met whilst performing in a London revue. He was actually from Austria and had been billed as Prince Yose; she was from Bernstadt, Germany. They got married in 1…
Today is the birthday of the great be bop bass player and composer Charles Mingus (1922-1979). Who did more good for the soul of America during the Cold War? Some army general? Wrong! Billy …
Today is the birthday of comedian Byron Allen (b. 1961). At age 14 he was already working as a joke writer for Jimmy “J.J.” Walker; at 18, he was the youngest stand-up …
Today is the birthday of John Waters (b. 1946) foremost heir to the cinematic showman mantle worn by the earlier likes of Roger Corman, William Castle and Herschel Gordon Lewis. A gifted …
Today is the birthday of the great tin pan alley songwriter Paul Dresser (for my full article on him go here). But if you don’t feel like reading, you can always play Lux Radio T…
Today is the birthday of Bull Moose Jackson (1919-1989), a saxophonist and bandleader, whose band specialized in jump blues and R & B. Nowadays his most famous tune is the 1952 “Bi…
Rasmus Nielsen (1874-1957) was one of America’s first extreme tattooed and pierced individuals. Billed as “the Danish Strong Man” he was tattooed from head to toe, and had …
Today is the birthday of Buddy Pepper (Jack R. Starkey, 1922-1993). At age 13, the Kentucky native won Major Bowes Amateur Hour, which led to a tour of what was left of vaudeville by the mid…
