All stories by Trav S.D. on BroadwayStars

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Oxymorons and the American Radical by Trav S.D.

  “Why do Beft Always Go to the Left?” — Dr. Seuss Tonight, we plunge back into performances of The Iron Heel after a hiatus of several days and so it seemed a good ti…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:31PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 17, 2016

R.I.P. Arthur Hiller by Trav S.D.

Just heard that Arthur Hiller has passed away at the age of 92. I had been planning a post on this interesting director for a while. It occurred to me a few months ago that certain of his…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:42PM[SHARE]

Troll Museum Resurrection! by Trav S.D.

Great fun last night at the Chinatown Soup gallery for the gala opening of the one-week re-appearance of Rev Jen’s Troll Museum. The Museum (which contains more trolls than you will fi…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:49AM[SHARE]

Davy Crockett, Man of Letters by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Davy Crockett (1786-1836). Because he has been so heavily mythologized I think there has been an unfortunate tendency to regard this important American figure as a t…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:44AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Fess Parker: American Icon by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Fess Parker (1924-2010 — how did I not notice that he died so recently?) I would have been thrilled as a child to have known that I am distantly related to thi…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:02AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 15, 2016

R.I.P. Fyvush Finkel by Trav S.D.

Was saddened yesterday to hear that Fyvush Finkel has passed at age 93. When a show biz figure dies at that age it is not unusual to be  surprised to learn that they are still alive, for …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:07AM[SHARE]
Sunday, August 14, 2016

Bob Woolsey (Solo) in "Everything's Rosie" (1931) by Trav S.D.

Today’s Bob Woolsey’s birthday. Typically what I’ve done on the past on this day is re-post my blog on Wheeler and Woolsey, a neglected comedy team who’ve grown on…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:48AM[SHARE]

Stars of Vaudeville #1004: Francis Ford by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Francis Ford (Francis Joseph Feeney, 1881-1953). Born in Portland, Maine to parents from Galway, Feeney served briefly in the Spanish-American War before bumming aro…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:40AM[SHARE]
Friday, August 12, 2016

The Dark Side of the Jazz Age by Trav S.D.

It’s that time again! The Jazz Age Lawn Party returns to Governor’s Island this weekend. Flappers! Hot Jazz! Hip Flasks! What’s not to love? Yet I think the people who actu…

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

A Sideshow Sketch Night by Trav S.D.

Filed under: PLUGS, VISUAL ART Tagged: art models, Brickhouse Brewery, burlesque, drawing, Patchogue, sideshow sketch night

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:09AM[SHARE]
Thursday, August 11, 2016

Theater for the New City's "Election Selection" by Trav S.D.

It’s that time again! Theater for the New City’s annual summer street production is under way. Read all about it in my article in this week’s Villager. As an added bonus, h…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:20AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Stars of Vaudeville #1003: Allen "Farina" Hoskins by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Allen Hoskins (1920-1980) best known for his groundbreaking role as the character “Farina” in Hal Roach’s Our Gang shorts. Hoskins literally grew u…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:14PM[SHARE]
Sunday, August 7, 2016

International Day of Friendship Parade by Trav S.D.

Who knew it was International Day of Friendship in Brooklyn today? I didn’t until I was walking through Fulton Mall on my way today’s performance of The Iron Heel and passed a pa…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:52PM[SHARE]
Friday, August 5, 2016

Tomorrow: Comedies of "Pathe" Lehrman! by Trav S.D.

Filed under: BROOKLYN, Comedy, Hollywood (History), Movies, PLUGS, Silent Film Tagged: City Reliquary, Henry Lehrman, Nelson Hughes, Pathe Lehrman, silent comedies, Williamsburg

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:48PM[SHARE]

"Multiple Maniacs" and the Genius of John Waters by Trav S.D.

Tonight at New York’s IFC Center: opening night of the re-release of John Waters’ fully restored 1970 trashterpiece Multiple Maniacs! (With Waters there himself tonight) Wa…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:48PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Stars of Vaudeville #1002: Claude Gillingwater by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Claude Gillingwater (1870-1939). Trained as a lawyer, Missouri native Gillingwater worked first as a wholesale vinegar salesman before David Belasco gave him the cha…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:00AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 1, 2016

THE IRON HEEL by Trav S.D.

Originally posted on Ethan Kanfer: Based on the novel by Jack London Adapted and directed by Edward Einhorn A committed socialist, Jack London took occasional forays from adventure novels to…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:31PM[SHARE]
Sunday, July 31, 2016

In Which The Clarence Thomas of the Arts Goes Bye-Bye by Trav S.D.

Sorry this may be hard to read…it’s 4600 words and digressive and contains no pictures! I may add some later but couldn’t think what to insert. Was just eager to hit “…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:49PM[SHARE]
Friday, July 29, 2016

Sunday: Rockaway Sideshow & Strong Man Fest! by Trav S.D.

Filed under: Dime Museum and Side Show, PLUGS Tagged: Adam RealMan, Cardone

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:25AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, July 27, 2016

More Than Munchkins: An Illustrated History of Performing Little People by Trav S.D.

Today happens to be the birthday of both Fleming W. Ackerman (a.k.a “Colonel Speck”) and Major Edward Newell (a.k.a. “General Grant, Jr.”). (Click on the links to lea…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:37AM[SHARE]

Tomorrow on TCM: A Joe E. Brown Junket by Trav S.D.

Tomorrow is the birthday of Joe E. Brown . What will you do to celebrate? Will you open your mouth really wide and make a really strange noise? I will, but I do that every morning upon arisi…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:27AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Summering in Newport by Trav S.D.

OK, here’s our latest vacation slide show post! By now, it’s become a regular content stream here.  We’ve done Ireland (Galway & Dublin), New Orleans (a 5 part serie…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:55AM[SHARE]

Tomorrow: Dawn to Dusk Westerns #8 by Trav S.D.

Even as we speak we are in the midst of  Day #7 of Turner Classic Movies month long salute to the Hollywood western (see yesterday’s post here). Every Tuesday and Wednesday in…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:55AM[SHARE]
Monday, July 25, 2016

Tomorrow on TCM: Dawn to Dusk Westerns #7 by Trav S.D.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday in July Turner Classic Movies will  be showing westerns the entire day, for a total of 100 movies in all. Here is tomorrow’s line-up.  The times below…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:45PM[SHARE]

Your Guide to Gildersleeve by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of radio and screen comedian and voice-over artist Harold “Hal” Peary (1908-1985) Peary is best known for creating the popular radio character Throckmort…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:31AM[SHARE]

Hall of Hams #105: Alison Skipworth by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Alison Skipworth (Alison Mary Elliot Margaret Groom, 1863-1952). London born Skipworth was best known for playing big-boned, hearty grand dames in Hollywood, most no…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:22AM[SHARE]
Sunday, July 24, 2016

Hall of Hams #104: William Gillette by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of playwright-actor-director-producer William Gillette (William Hooker Gillette, 1853-1937). I am proud to say that I am distantly related to this important man of the …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:01AM[SHARE]
Saturday, July 23, 2016

Stars of Vaudeville #1001: Leonore Ulric by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Leonore Ulric (1892-1970). Ulric was a creature of booth stage and screen, zigzagging between both throughout her entire career. She began with midwestern stock comp…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:16AM[SHARE]

Stars of Vaudeville #1000: Janet Reade by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Janet Reade (Helen Dorothy Rulton, 1910-1943). Beginning as a chorus girl for Flo Ziegfeld, her lucky break was a featured part in Ballyhoo of 1930. This led to a…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:16AM[SHARE]

Augustin Daly: The Man Who First Tied a Damsel to Railroad Tracks by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of pivotal American playwright, producer, and critic Augustin Daly (1838-1899). The son of a North Carolina sea captain. He moved to New York as a young child with his …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:15AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tomorrow on TCM: Dawn to Dusk Westerns #6 by Trav S.D.

Even as we speak we are in the midst of  Day #5 of Turner Classic Movies month long salute to the Hollywood western (see yesterday’s post here). Every Tuesday and Wednesday in…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:57AM[SHARE]

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