Laurel and Hardy in "Chickens Come Home" by Trav S.d.

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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 5:21pm on February 21, 2014☆⚑

Mae West in "Klondike Annie" by Trav S.d.

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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 5:01pm on February 21, 2014☆⚑

Buster Keaton in "The Haunted House" by Trav S.d.

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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 4:07pm on February 21, 2014☆⚑

"The Sunshine Boys" on TCM This Eve by Trav S.d.

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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 3:34pm on February 21, 2014☆⚑

Champagne Riot Tonight! by Trav S.d.

Filed under: Burlesk, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS, SOCIAL EVENTS Tagged: burlesque, Champagne Riot, Cutting Room, Gelber and Manning, Gin MInsky

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:45am on February 21, 2014☆⚑

Tomorrow at the Ziegfeld Society: Mama Rose's Turn by Trav S.d.

Filed under: BOOKS & AUTHORS, Broadway, Burlesk, Hollywood (History), PLUGS, Vaudeville etc. Tagged: Carolyn Quinn, Mama Rose's Turn, Ziegfeld Society

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 9:44am on February 21, 2014☆⚑

Wit's End Fifth Anniversary Party Tomorrow by Trav S.d.

Filed under: PLUGS, SOCIAL EVENTS Tagged: Flute Midtown, Wit's End

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 9:28am on February 21, 2014☆⚑

Hall of Hams #71: David Garrick by Trav S.d.

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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:19pm on February 19, 2014☆⚑

Stars of Slapstick #177: Frank Tashlin by Trav S.d.

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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:19am on February 19, 2014☆⚑

Century of Slapstick #26: A Thief Catcher by Trav S.d.

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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 9:06am on February 19, 2014☆⚑

Hall of Hams #70: Louis Calhern by Trav S.d.

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-…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 8:12am on February 19, 2014☆⚑

You Can't Cheat an Honest Man by Trav S.d.

  Today marks the anniversary of the release date of what may be W.C. Fields’ best remembered (certainly most iconic) film You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man (1939). Artistic…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 9:47am on February 18, 2014☆⚑

Angelo Rossitto a.k.a. "Little Angie" by Trav S.d.

Today is the birthday of the dwarf actor Angelo Rossitto (1908-1991). The 2′ 11″ Rossitto has the interesting distinction of being the only member of the sideshow cast of Todd Br…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 8:23am on February 18, 2014☆⚑

Tonight on TCM: A Show Biz Smorgasbord by Trav S.d.

Tonight on Turner Classic Movies, several Oscar winning films from 1962 with connections to many of our previous blog subjects: 8:00pm: Gigot The Great One Mr. Jackie Gleason’s one …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 9:48am on February 17, 2014☆⚑

Sonny and Cher in "Good Times" by Trav S.d.

Today is Sonny Bono’s birthday. As I’ve already blogged about Sonny here and Cher here, I thought today I’d write about a highly interesting movie I watched a few weeks ago…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:56am on February 16, 2014☆⚑

Laurel and Hardy in "A Chump at Oxford" by Trav S.d.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Laurel and Hardy comedy classic A Chump at Oxford (1940). This was the team’s second to last picture for Hal Roach and it show…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 9:17am on February 16, 2014☆⚑

Stars of Slapstick #176: Vernon Dent by Trav S.d.

Today is the birthday of the great comic foil Vernon Dent (1895-1963). It eludes me how I have failed to do a post on this key comedy supporting player until now! Comedy fans will grasp the …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 8:28am on February 16, 2014☆⚑

"The Love Parade" Tomorrow by Trav S.d.

Unless you’re a night owl, this is a job for your DVR. Tomorrow at 2:00 am (EST), Turner Classic Movies will be showing the great early musical The Love Parade (1929). Directed b…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 8:29am on February 15, 2014☆⚑

Nazimova in "Salome" by Trav S.d.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of Salome, starring Alla Nazimova (1923). The film has long been regarded as the notorious Nazimova’s Waterloo. A star of films since 19…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 8:05am on February 15, 2014☆⚑

Chaplin in "A Night Out" by Trav S.d.

Today marks the anniversary of the release date of the Charlie Chaplin comedy A Night Out (1915). This was Chaplin’s second film for Essanay Studios and (in addition to being fun…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 7:05am on February 15, 2014☆⚑

Candide Opens Tonight! by Trav S.d.

Filed under: BROOKLYN, Indie Theatre, LEGIT, EXPERIMENTAL & MUSICAL THEATRE, PLUGS Tagged: Candide, Theater 2020

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 5:08pm on February 14, 2014☆⚑

On Pawnee Bill, Buffalo Bill's Arch Nemesis by Trav S.d.

Today is the birthday of Gordon William Lillie (1860-1942) better known as Pawnee Bill. Lillie was an actual frontiersman working at the Pawnee Indian Agency in Indian Territory when h…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 7:23am on February 14, 2014☆⚑

The Simple Stories by Trav S.d.

Filed under: African American Interest, Blackface & Minstrelsy, Indie Theatre, PLUGS Tagged: Jewel Box Stories, Langston Hughes, Sandy Moore, Simple Stories

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 1:34pm on February 13, 2014☆⚑

Groucho Marx in "A Girl in Every Port" by Trav S.d.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of Groucho Marx’s last starring comedy A Girl in Every Port (1952). In the film Groucho and The Life of Riley’s William Bendix …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 1:22pm on February 13, 2014☆⚑

Fairbanks: His Picture in the Papers by Trav S.d.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of the 1916 Douglas Fairbanks comedy His Picture in the Papers, written by Anita Loos and directed by her husband John Emerson.  One of the mo…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:41pm on February 13, 2014☆⚑