11,498 stories by "Trav S.D."
We seldom talk about food on this blog, and in the opinion of my wife, today we won't be doing that either. But the humble hot dog has such a close association with Coney Island, one of our …
Today is World P.R. Day and believe it or not I have a post for that, too. These days P.R. has bad P.R. of all things, largely the fault of an industry which has done too much work on behalf…
Born 100 years ago today, documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker (Donn Alan Pennebaker, 1925-2019). Like most moderately well-educated Americans of my age, I have seen most of Pennebaker's ma…
The death of Hugh "Bud" Ernst (1910-1950) is often told, for it made all the papers, but we'll add as much about his life as we can, for it was also interesting. Ernst was an aviator, a radi…
Since we have written about so many other members of the Ed Wood stock company, we thought it only fitting to do something on James "Duke" Moore (1913-1976), whose only credits were in Wood …
Born this day in 1945 comic actress Leigh French. Born in Kentucky, a former member of The Committee (based in San Francisco and L.A.), French specialized in three types of characters: hillb…
I originally intended this post for last year, it being the 50th anniversary of the ascension of Gerald R. Ford (Leslie Lynch King, 1913-2006) to the U.S. Presidency. But I didn't get to it,…
Never would I have dreamt, once upon a time, that Travalanche would grow to such an extent that a second post on comedian Ken Murray (1903-1988) would be warranted. But at the moment I happe…
July 14 is…yes, Bastille Day and World Chimpanzee Day, I know, but it is also World Orca Day. We used to call them "killer whales" but people objected to the false, negative impression the…
Of course, all life stories have a downer ending, insomuch as they, well, end. We regret that this is our third tale in one day with a premature finish however. In addition to Danitra Vance …
By a happy accident I find myself about my second LaMaMa alum of the day, actor, playwright, and director Seth Allen (1971-1986). (The accident is that he and and Danitra Vance share a July …
To my mind, the history of Saturday Night Live is largely a chronicle of mismanaged talent and squandered opportunities. The list of comedy geniuses the show has hired, then didn't know what…
Time was when a Saturday showing of Three Stooges shorts was just Life on Earth. Nowaday it's sumpn I gotta tell ya about! Here are some good reasons to catch That Slapstick Show at QED toda…
It may be a rash boast, but I feel there must be few readers as constitutionally capable of appreciating the life and career of author/critic John Lahr (b. 1941) as this correspondent. My co…
Actor Joe Higgins (1925-1998) was born 100 years ago today. Higgins was a bit player best known for playing sheriffs in commercials, PSAs, and television shows, frequently with the tag line,…
1945 was the year of publication of one of my favorite children's books Stuart Little. This children's classic was only about 25 years old when I discovered it. It just so happens that my yo…
Johnny Marvin (1897-1944) was one of the great ukulele playing vaudeville stars of the '20s and early '30s. His name has fallen by the wayside in comparison with some others, so it is our pl…
Teacher Appreciation Day was two months ago, and I came this close to doing a long-planned piece on my Freshman English teacher, Judi Scott. For whatever reason I ducked it, not for the firs…
I first became aware of the great singer Ivie Anderson (1905-1949) " of course " from her turn in the Marx Brothers' movie A Day at the Races (1937). She's the lady who sings "All God's Chil…
Irish playwright Conor McPherson is always having a moment " he's been having a moment for the last 30+ years. But 2025, which is only half over, has been extraordinary with FOUR shows happe…
Jester Hairston (1901-2000) had two strong careers in two entirely different but overlapping cultural disciplines. Arguably his contributions to music were of greater significance, but we'll…
The second Tuesday in July is Cow Appreciation Day. Remember to tip your cows! (Just kidding, cow tipping is cruel). As we have done with many another critter, we observe the day with a litt…
Vaudeville makes strange bedfellows, and one of the unlooked for outcomes of the publication of my book No Applause 20 years ago, was encountering all sorts of people who assumed (on the bas…
Now that the Fourth of July holiday (along with the political trauma that preceded it) are out of the way, I am pleased to announce a project designed to ease your worried mind! Friday, Augu…
Cecil Lean (1878-1935) and his two wives (in succession, of course) were major stars of their day, headliners in vaudeville and musical comedy stars of Broadway and nationwide tours, yet one…
