All stories by Trav S.D. on BroadwayStars

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Houdini's Birthday by Trav S.D.

Today is the great Houdini’s birthday! For my full biographical essay on him go here. And see him do his rope escape below: To learn more about the roots of variety entertainment, c…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:00AM[SHARE]
Friday, March 23, 2012

Honestly Abe by Trav S.D.

An Off-Broadway show for the whole family! HONESTLY ABE Produced and directed by M. Stefan Strozier SPECIAL OFFER! TICKETS ONLY $12.00 (reg. $35.00) Actors Temple Theatre 339 West 47th Stree…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:44AM[SHARE]

Milbourne Christopher by Trav S.D.

  Today is the birthday of the great Milbourne Christopher (1914-1984). During his nearly 60 years as a magician, he racked up many accomplishments: President of the Society of American…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:30AM[SHARE]
Thursday, March 22, 2012

Fear Mongers Next Tuesday! by Trav S.D.

What’s the connection between vaudeville and horror, you may ask? Believe it or not, there are many, and I’m all too eager to tell you about them, so please come see me and the i…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:51AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Albert Chevalier, 'My Old Dutch" by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of English music hall “coster singer” Albert Chevalier. (See his full bio here). Here he is performing the touching “My Old Dutch”. (Dutch is sh…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:25AM[SHARE]

Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic by Trav S.D.

It’s Flo Ziegfeld’s birthday. For my full run-down on him, please go here. In honor of the day, we share this AMAZING clip. It’s a 1929 filmed version of Ziegfeld’s M…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:18AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Vaudephone #19: Jason Trachtenburg by Trav S.D.

And now here’s the 19th installment in our Vaudephone series, none other than the amazing human jewel Jason Trachtenburg, lately of the Pendulum Swings. Needless to say, I am extremely…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:11PM[SHARE]

Feiffer on TCM Tonight by Trav S.D.

The great Jules Feiffer (see my extensive rave about him and his recent autobiography here) is the guest programmer on TCM tonight. His choice of films is a typical mix of light and dark, an…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:15AM[SHARE]
Monday, March 19, 2012

Tin Pan Alley Opens Tonight by Trav S.D.

Tin Pan Alley is a musical revue of popular standards from 1890 " 1935. The song list includes such numbers as "Daisy"," Alexander's Ragtime Band", "When Johny Comes Marching Home Again" and…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:14AM[SHARE]

Two Awesome Reasons to Attend Downtown Clown Revue 2Nite! by Trav S.D.

I’m chained to my desk these days to finish a book and ain’t makin’ it out to nothin’. So I’m particularly bummed to be missing the Downtown Clown Revue at Dixo…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:57AM[SHARE]

Moms Mabley by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of the great comedy pioneer Moms Mabley (for the full bio go here.) And here’s one of her classic routines, recorded live at the Apollo Theatre: To learn more abo…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:28AM[SHARE]
Sunday, March 18, 2012

Ukuladies at Rodeo Bar Tonight by Trav S.D.

Tonight The Ukuladies! Live at THE RODEO BAR! 375 3rd Ave at 27th st, NYC 9pm 2 Sets. Totally and completely FREE! Join the “ladies” in a fun-filled evening sure to delight even …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:20AM[SHARE]

Edward Everett Horton by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of beloved character actor Everett Edward Horton. To mark the day, here he is being gulled by Fred Astaire into believing he’s seasick in Shall We Dance?: To lear…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:05AM[SHARE]
Saturday, March 17, 2012

Stars of Vaudeville #464: The Russell Brothers by Trav S.D.

Since their birthdays are unknown, I’ve saved this post for St. Patrick’s Day. The Russell Brothers, John (1856-1925) and James (1859-1914), were a pair of Irish-American brother…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:42AM[SHARE]
Friday, March 16, 2012

Bill's Gay Nineties by Trav S.D.

I first heard about Bill’s Gay Nineties from the man-who-knows-all-things Todd Robbins, who spoke of it in the most glowing terms. An actual former speakeasy from the 1920s, the three …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:14AM[SHARE]

The Unholy Three & The Ridiculous Romantic by Trav S.D.

Tonight at 8pm at Dixon Place Lounge, Jim Moore & Katy Einerson will present: A Quiet Night at the Movies: Lon Chaney and Todd Browning’s The Unholy Three.  Tickets are FREE!

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:23AM[SHARE]

Stars of Vaudeville #463: Harry Steppe by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Harry Steppe (Abraham Stepner, 1888-1934). A legendary burlesque and vaudeville comedian, Steppe was billed as “The Hebrew Gent”. He was credited by Phil…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:12AM[SHARE]

Happy Birthday Henny Youngman by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of the legendary Henny Youngman (see here for his full bio including my own brush with Henny). Now here he is in a classic spot on the The Steve Allen Show in 1960: To …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:21AM[SHARE]

Elsie Janis by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of early vaudeville favorite Else Janis (see her full bio here). Now here she is singing “Florrie Was a Flapper” (recorded 1914): To find out more about …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:14AM[SHARE]

On Jerry Lewis by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Jerry Lewis (b. Joseph Levitch in 1926). Though he came into the world just a hair too late for vaudeville, his parents (former vaudevillians) let him onstage with t…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:03AM[SHARE]
Thursday, March 15, 2012

Gracie Allen: Truth in Comedy by Trav S.D.

For Women’s History Month, Travelanche is hosting several posts by several guest bloggers about various female vaudevillians and other performing artists. This is the second in our ser…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:13PM[SHARE]

Three Dozen Musketeers by Trav S.D.

The DVD release of last year’s Three Musketeers movie and research for my Adah Isaacs Menken play have recently placed Dumas pere foursquare on my radar. The former development represe…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:46AM[SHARE]

Miss Representation at Bklyn Museum Tonight by Trav S.D.

The Brooklyn Museum is screening an amazing documentary tonight. You should definitely see it if there are any seats left. I had a chance to look at a screener a couple of weeks ago and it r…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:59AM[SHARE]

Cinefest in Syracuse by Trav S.D.

Today is the opening day of Cinefest, the vintage film festival put on by the Syracuse Cinephile Society. I know it’s far away, New Yorkers, but when you see the dense program of rare …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:40AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Stars of Vaudeville #462: William Selig 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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:11AM[SHARE]

Stars of Vaudevile #461: Clarice Vance by Trav S.D.

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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:50AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Vaudephone #18: Al Duvall by Trav S.D.

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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:31AM[SHARE]

Jack Lait by Trav S.D.

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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:18AM[SHARE]

May Howard by Trav S.D.

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 …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:40AM[SHARE]

Stars of Vaudeville #460: La Belle Titcomb by Trav S.D.

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…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:10AM[SHARE]

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