11,878 stories by "Trav S.D."
Today is the 80th birthday of African American comedian and activist Dick Gregory, instrumental in breaking down the stereotypes that had governed representation of African Americans in come…
Today through October 18, the Film Forum is showing the 1954 horror classic The Creature from the Black Lagoon in its original 3-D format. This film will always occupy a special place …
Grave Encounters 2 is in theatres today (see local listings for where/ when). See my review of the original Grave Encounters, which came out a year ago, here.Â
I wish I upstate for this cool looking event at the Hudson Opera House! Tonight and tomorrow night only: The Lost Victrola Sessions Live Music Experimental Film Live Video Theatrical Staging…
Little Motown “the heat wave lightin’ up the night” has been performing out of NYC for about a year. She’s quickly won over the hearts and groins of fans and fellow p…
“Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole of the Law” On this day in 1875 was Aleister Crowley issued forth from the loins of his brood mare! It is written in books that he passed fr…
Dave Marion (ca. 1875-1934) was an example of the range of creativity within burlesque. As a performer he was best known for playing a stuttering character called Snuffy the Cabman, well-lov…
David Bioshop, “The Bishop of Burlesque” has been a professional stage manager in 16 states, Washington DC and Toronto since 1998. His credits include Gotham Burlesque, New York …
I think of this as the Last Bit of Unrecovered Information Excavated from My Memory. Some months ago, out of curiosity I began looking up obscure tv shows from my childhood online…and …
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Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville # 243: Peg Leg Bates (for more on this remarkable entertainer, go here). Here he is at age 60 in his final performance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Yo…
Dexter Maitland (ca. 1915-1985) was a straight man in burlesque during its dying days as well as what was then unfortunately known as a “tit singer”…which just meant that h…
Just a  little sneak preview of comedy bits from last night’s rehearsal for Burlesque-A-Pades, (no previews of the specialty dances, I’m afraid — for those I’…
Pinkie Special began entertaining NY audiences with burlesque, hula-hoops and comedy in 2002. Since then Pinkie has performed across the U.S., Canada, England, Germany, France and Spa…
From 1887 through 1888 P.T. Barnum presented as an oddity in his sideshow this interesting family, which did indeed, as advertised, hail from Burma. Members of the exhibited family we…
Today is the birthday of Edward D. Wood, Jr. a.k.a. Ed Wood (1924-1978). A number of years ago I was fortunate enough to take part in the Ed Wood Festival produced by Ian Hill and Frank C…
Today is the birthday of David Lee Roth (b. 1954)….and — oh, who I am kiddin’? I’m doing this post on a dare, a sort of challenge. I really know very little of Mr. Ro…
Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville #62: Harry Richman (for his full story go here). Here he is singing one of his biggest hits, “Blue Skies” by Irving Berlin: To find ou…
Today is the birthday of John Entwhistle (1944-2002), best known as the “anchor man” for The Who, the man who stood stick still and played rock steady while his bandmates smashed…
Today is the birthday of John Lennon. Having already done posts about Paul, George and Ringo, it’s more than fair that I do one about their bandmate, although for the past few years I …
This is one in a series of posts we are producing in connection with our new book Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube, available from Bear Ma…
Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville #242 Aimee Semple  McPherson (for more on her go here). Sister Aimee’s time in vaud was brief — audiences thought being preached at…
One on my favorite New York actors/poets/storytellers/ personalities (perhaps the poster above already covers it–”raconteurs”) Edgar Oliver opens his new show tonight, deve…
