11,881 stories by "Trav S.D."
Today is the birthday of the greatr classic blues singer Ma Rainey. (See here for her full story). Now here is the tune that August Wilson named his famous play after: To find out more about…
I just learned that my local grocery store used to be a vaudeville house! From the Sept. 18, 2008 New York Sun: “The white terra-cotta-clad C-Town supermarket on the north side of 9th …
Eddie Emerson (Edward William McQuaid) and Jerry Baldwin had a comedy/ magic/ juggling act from around 1907 until the demise of vaudeville in 1932. Billing themselves as “Emerson and B…
Our Vaudephone taping schedule is officially on hiatus as I work on my new book Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube. We will be resuming with a who…
Today is the birthday of Borscht belt funnyman Jack E. Leonard (Leonard Lebitsky, 1910-1973). I discovered him absolutely backwards. He came to my attention as one of the stars (playing the …
Today is the birthday of Blanche Ring (1871-1961), star of late variety, vaudeville and Broadway. A fifth generation member of a theatrical dynasty, she is much associated in her early years…
Can’t put my finger on why I find the picture above kind of disturbing. Is it that it looks like Steve Allen has pulled a random elderly audience member up onstage and is making her do…
Tomorrow morning (4/23/12) starting at 6am on TCM, a bunch of silent Laurel and Hardy shorts! 6am: Do Detectives Think? 6:30am: Putting Pants on Philip 7am: You’re Darn Tootin’ 7…
Today is the birthday of the great Tin Pan Alley songwriter Paul Dresser (1857-1906). The brother of novelist Theodore Dreiser, he famously gave his name to singer Louise Dresser so a little…
Today is the birthday of English music hall drag king Hetty King (1883-1972). Her father Will King had a one-man band act in the music hall. She herself started performing at age six. She be…
El Barto was the stage name of magician named James Barton (not to be confused with singer/performer/actor of the same name). Born on this day in 1859, he was an oprhaned and homeless tee…
Today is the birthday of Beatrice Kay (1907-1986) best known for repopularizing songs of the Gay 90s long after the fact. She got her start in vaudeville, radio, and Billy Rose’s Diamo…
created and performed by Trey Lyford & Geoff Sobelle directed by Aleksandra Wolksa Kingsborough College, Brooklyn - Saturday April 21st, 8:00 – tickets and information HERE - and E…
Today is Harold Lloyd’s birthday (for my full biographical essay go here). Check out this cool video someone posted on Youtube, cutting classic shots of Harold to the Beatles’ He…
Today is the birthday of singing single Grace La Rue (1880-1956). She got her start singing in variety saloons, tent shows and burlesque, working her way into vaudeville after performing wit…
I may have seen as many as two dozen exhibitions at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts over the years, and this one is without a doubt the best one I’ve seen. Entitled…
Our Vaudephone taping schedule is officially on hiatus as I work on my new book Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube. We will be resuming with a who…
Today is the birthday of vaudeville child star Sylvia Froos (for my full article on her go here). Now here’s a clip of her singing “Snuggled On You Shoulder” (1932) lovingl…
Today is the birthday of Dewey “Pigmeat” Markham. For the full story on this hilarious character go here. And here he is in a vintage burlesque sketch from 1949, “The Love-…
Tomorrow morning (4/18/12) TCM is running three pictures from the early 30s starring the always hilarious Joe. Brown. (Go here for his amazing life story).The line up will be: 6:15am: Firema…
Don’t miss this (very reasonably priced) gala event for one of my favorite causes! Among the honorees this year are Don Wilmeth, author and editor of numerous indispensable theatre his…
Today is the birthday of the great British music hall singer Harry Champion (1865-1942). His real name is William Crump, which in its way is just as good a stage name). Champion had never be…
Today is the birthday of faux Frenchie Fifi D’Orsay — the original “ooh la la” lady. For my full bio on this interesting person go here. And here she is in a clip fro…
Today is Charlie Chaplin’s birthday; my full biographical article on him is here. In celebration of the day, TCM is showing several of his film, this morning. The line up is: 6am: Pay …
