11,936 stories by "Trav S.d."
Today is the birthday of William Selig (1864-1948), best known as the founder of the first Hollywood movie studio, the Selig Polyscope Company. A Chicago native, he started out as a vaudevil…
This is one in a series of posts in honor of Women’s History Month Today is the birthday of a long-forgotten vaudeville singer named Clarice Vance (born Clara Etta Black in 1870).She f…
And now here’s the 18th installment in our Vaudephone series, Al Duvall and his Monotone Baritone, singing two hilarous numbers, with Franklin Bruno at the keys: Vaudephone is a co-pro…
Today is the birthday of Jack Lait (1883-1954). I quoted him in No Applause without knowing much about him. I gathered that he was a journalist of some sort, but more specifics weren’t…
This is one in a series of posts in honor of Women’s History Month May Howard (ca. 1860-1925) was a star of early burlesque. After becoming popular with several of the major burlesque …
This is one of a series of posts in honor of Women’s History Month. Our guest blogger today is Anne Boucher. Anne is a fan of early 20th century entertainment who became an independent…
Just learned the other day that Tom Murrinwas near the end…he’d kept his cancer a secret so that no one would make a fuss. But everyone would have to learn about it sooner or lat…
Steve Bird is back! Well, he hasn’t actually been away. That’s just what you say when someone has a new thing coming out. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to imply that Steve …
Today is the birthday of Broadway revue impresario George White, most famous for his Scandals. For my full bio on him, go here. Below, a clip from the 1934 Hollywood film version, with Rudy …
This is one in a series of posts in honor of Women's History Month. Marion Harris appeared seemingly out of nowhere in 1916Â to appear in vaudeville, on records and in Ziegfeld’s Mid…
This is one in a series of posts in honor of Women’s History Month. Minnie and Helen French were a singing, dancing identical twin sister act of vaudeville’s earliest years. They…
Another entry in my silent comedy project (described here) in conjunction with the upcoming release of my new book Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube…
Before I fell under the spell of The Countess, I had only the dimmest awareness of eccentric German film-maker Werner Herzog, having seen his remake of Nosferatu and having heard of earl…
And now here’s the 17th installment in our Vaudephone series, the Francophiliac Filly Sweet Soubrette: Be sure to catch her and her band March 13, 20 and 27 at Spike Hill! Vaudephone i…
This is one in a series of posts in honor of Women’s History Month Artie Hall (c.1881-1906) was a blackface performer and so-called “coon shouter” in vaudeville, a field in…
This is one of aseries of posts honoring Women’s History Month Ruth Roye (originally Becker) was billed as the “Princess of Ragtime”. Very little is known about her (birthd…
This post is part of a series honoring Women’s History Month. Millie DeLeon (ca. 1873-1922) is regarded by many as one of the founders of modern burlesque. Her real name was apparently…
Kambri Crews’ inaugural book (just released) is so compelling that I had to take a break from my own current maisterwerk to finish reading it… A good memoir is supported by two p…
This post is one of a series honoring Women’s History Month Today is the birthday of Ada Reeve (1874-1966). Born into a London theatrical family, she began performing in the pantomi…
This is one in a series of posts in honor of Women’s History Month Martha Firschke, born in Budapest in 1920 and billed as “Trixie” has been called by some “The First…
Tonight is the launch of the Talking Band's revival of their 1983 show Hot Lunch Apostles at La Mama. This might have been of some passing interest to me as I walk my Indie Theatre beat, but…
It’s not really tangential for me to include LeBeau from Hogan’s Heroeson this blog. Robert Clary (born today in 1926) started out singing in French music halls at the age of 12.…
Juliet Jeske is at the controls of this provocative sounding show tonight. If ya can’t read the fine print, Tammany Hall is a 112 Orchard Street. (No, not that Tammany Hall, ya idjut!)
This is one of a series of posts observing Women’s History Month. For reasons that may ultimately defy analysis, the biggest stars in vaudeville — and consequently, the highest p…
Elizabeth “Bonnie” Cox (ca. 1871-1920) started out as a singing single at Tony Pastor’s and the Proctor singer before forming a double act with her husband, songwriter Jame…
