11,936 stories by "Trav S.d."
Today is the birthday of cross-eyed comedian Ben Turpin (a.k.a Star of Vaudeville #232. For my full squib on him go here) Here’s one of his oldest extant clips from 1909′s Mr.…
Like some Cold War Russian mole, burlesque likes to play a dangerous double game. The ideal burlesque show (for most of us) is both classy and dangerous. (Seedy and dangerous is for people w…
I love nothing more than checking out revivals of once-successful but long forgotten plays. They are often as illuminating about the times in which they were first produced as the “sur…
Like all the rest of the suckers, the Countess and I tuned into the premiere of the new NBC show Revolution last night, attracted by the sexy lure of apocalypse promised in the relentless ad…
Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville #231 Eddie “Rochester” Anderson (for my full squib on him go here). We all know about that voice; today we celebrate his feet: To find…
Tonight at The Morgan in Bushwick. BUSHWICK BURLESQUE’s ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW … Starring their special guests . . . GIN MINSKY LEFTY LUCY FEM APPEAL FANCY FEAST and Bushwick …
A brilliant bit of pre-Halloween season programming at the Barnum museum today, starring their mummy Pa-Ib! Step Right up, Grab Your Pith Helmet and Bullwhip! Your adventure awaits  
Put That Wallet Away!  We have two tree-mendous events coming up for you this week, and they’re free, free, free! CHAIN OF FOOLS: HOW THE SILVER SCREEN WAS INVADED BY THE GREAT …
Well, his son may be a national disgrace but it just doesn’t get any better than Hank Williams, Sr (1923-53). I’ll definitely write a more in depth post at some future date…
Today is the birthday of Star of Vaudeville #358: Winnie Lightner (for my full article on her go here). Now here she is singing a song I first heard sung by Bugs Bunny: To find out more abou…
The Wiere Brothers unfortunately came along too late for American vaudeville, hence we do not include them in our Stars of Vaudeville Series. Yet it would have been the perfect home for thei…
Sept 17, 20 & 21 American Opera Project, The Walt Whitman Project, and Angeli Rasbury present I HEAR AMERICA SINGING In association with Opera in Brownsville, the 1st Annual …
Today is the birthday of the great Broadway impresario Earl Carroll (1892-1948), best known for his series of revues Earl Carroll’s Vanities , which ran from 1923 through 1940. H…
The Life and Legacy of P.T. Barnum will be presented on tonight at the Trumbull Historical Society in Trumbull, CT Kathy Maher, Executive Director/Curator of The Barnum Museum will be presen…
Today is the birthday of magician David Copperfield, who is really only David Seth Kotkin of Metuchen, New Jersey — but thanks for making it harder for children to Google the Dickens&#…
I know what you’re saying…when ISN’T Molly Pope at the Duplex? True, but still and all, she is an amazing phenomenon and if you haven’t seen her, you should. Reservat…
Today is the birthday of the great American humorist Robert Benchley (1889-1945). A native of Worcester, Massachusetts (you can hear it in his accent), he later went to Harvard, where he wro…
Today is the birthday of Penny Singleton (real name Dorothy McNulty), who played Blondie in the movies and tv and was the voice of Jane Jetson (for more on her see my profile here). And now …
Today is the birthday of Julius “Nipsy” Russell (1918-2005). Those of us a certain age remember him as the guy who used to go on all the game shows as a panelist and recite humor…
I reckon it should come as no surprise that one of my favorite rock band/tv shows Ghoul-a-Go-Go  should be showing one of my favorite schlocky horror movies The Devil Bat (1940).…
I’m just posting this because I like the poster: Saturday, September 15th, 8pm-2am An evening of music, dance, and international intrigue at the House of Collection, featuring Not Wavi…
Originally from San Jose, Ca, Meghan Murphy is a classically trained actor/singer/dancer with a BFA in musical theatre from The Boston Conservatory. A proud member of AEA, she has been seen …
Paul Gerard Smith (born this day in 1894) was one of the most successful of the vaudeville sketch writers. At his peak he had close to a hundred acts using his material  touring the circu…
Bambi the Mermaid presents the 10th Annual “Miss Coney Island” Burlesque Beauty Pageant tonight at 10pm with 10 glamorous showgirls competing to be Queen for the summer of 2013. …
Today is the birthday of Mae Questel, vaudevillian and voice of Betty Boop (for my full article on her go here). Now here she is with Rudy Vallee, singing “Don’t Take My Boop-Oop…
