12,225 stories from Trav S.D.
Today is the anniversary of the release date of the W.C. Fields-Chester Conklin comedy Tillie’s Punctured Romance (1928), directed by Eddie Sutherland. As the name suggests, the film w…
A number of months ago an Internet thing made the rounds asking participants to name ten writers whom you love or who influenced you. And virtual tongues wagged in the aftermath, as they alw…
Head’s up, New Yorkers! Tonight at 5:30pm and 9:30pm the Brooklyn Academy of Music will be showing the EXTREMELY enjoyable Barbara Stanwyck western Forty Guns (1957) Written, …
Filed under: Burlesk, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Beauty Bar, Behind the Velvet Curtain, Bettina May, burlesque
At the age of 86, Jules Feiffer still has the ability to reinvent himself and stretch in surprising new directions. Knowing how I love him, the Mad Marchioness got me his new graphic novelÂ…
It may shock you to learn that I hadn’t seen any of the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies until less than ten years ago. I had previously seen clips of their dancing, but apparentl…
Today is Jackie Gleason’s birthday – – a fitting time to talk about his most unique film, which is really saying something since his career also included Skidoo. The…
This is part of a continuing series on Hollywood shows biz bio-pics. The preceding three parts (this, this, and this) focused on bio-pics from the classic studio era. An upcoming post will c…
It’s long been an observation of mine that our greatest (male) film comedians have as one of the chief quivers in their arsenals the ability to go into “female.” What I ref…
I can’t believe it’s been five years since we reviewed Jeff Nichols’ delightful memoir Trainwreck and the movie that was based on it. A former stand-up comedian, N…
Filed under: Circus, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, First of May Award
Tomorrow morning at 6:45am, Turner Classic Movies will be screening General Spanky (1936), Hal Roach’s one attempt to move his popular “Our Gang” characters up to fea…
TheFiled under: Burlesk, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Broadway Brassy, burlesque, La Flaca, Temple of the Virgins
Today is the birthday of the great silent comedy actor Henry Bergman (1868-1946). Originally from San Francisco, he began acting on stage around 1888, making it to Broadway (where he a…
Tonight at 11pm (EST) on Turner Classic Movies, one of my favorite movies: Robert Altman’s McCabe and Mrs. Miller. Warning: we always include spoilers here! I first saw this film wh…
Tomorrow on Turner Classic Movies – a smorgasbord of classic comedies!  6:15 am (EST): Speedy (1928) Harold Lloyd plays a soda jerk and rabid Yankees fan who wants to help…
Here’s one for all burlesque fans. We caught this 1973 tv movie the other day and must share news of its existence. Written by Dory Previn (whom we only just heard about and are rapidl…
Filed under: Contemporary Variety, Music, PLUGS Tagged: Charming Disaaster, Metropolitan Room
Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Keystone comedy A Thief Catcher (1914). This minor picture features the Keystone Kops, and Ford Sterling (who also directed). …
Herewith is part three of our three part series on Hollywood show biz bio-pics of the studio era. For part one, including an introductory essay, go here, and for part two, go here. As alw…
Wow. I only just heard this morning about the passing of Louis Jourdan (he died on Saturday). The age of social media has done much to expose us to the idiocy of the great mass of mankind, a…
Herewith is part two of our three part series on Hollywood show biz bio-pics. For part one, including an introductory essay, go here. As always, click on the links to learn more about the…
Today marks the 100th 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 bei…
Now tell me true — would you rather start performances of your intricate, ambitious new spectacle on Friday the 13th, or would you prefer to do so on a day of candy, hearts and flowers…
Today is the anniversary of the release of the Mack Sennett silent comedy feature A Small Town Idol (1921), starring Ben Turpin and featuring an all-star cast including Jimmy Finlayson…
