All stories by Trav S.d. on BroadwayStars

Thursday, September 25, 2014

New York Burlesque Festival Opens Tonight! by Trav S.D.

Filed under: Burlesk, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: New York Burlesque Festival, NYBF

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

Laurel and Hardy (Separately) in "Sailors Beware" by Trav S.D.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Hal Roach silent comedy Sailors, Beware! (1927). As you can see from the post, it’s a Stan Laurel starring vehicle, with Ol…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:02AM[SHARE]

Charlie Chaplin in "The Idle Class" by Trav S.D.

Today is the anniversary of the release date one of Charlie Chaplin’s last comedy shorts The Idle Class (1921). Though a straight up slapstick comedy, The Idle Class is also one …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:28AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Why Your Friend Might Have to Blow a Certain Popcycle Stand Real Soon by Trav S.D.

I don’t know if you’ve caught wind of this, but a certain social media website upon which many or most of have come to rely for online communication has recently announced that t…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:50PM[SHARE]

Conor McPherson at the Irish Rep by Trav S.D.

Tonight, one of my favorite NYC companies The Irish Rep starts previews for its revival of Conor McPherson’s Port Authority. I had the privilege of interviewing Mr. McPherson a few …

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

The Hands of Orlac by Trav S.D.

Today marks the anniversary of the original German release date of The Hands of Orlac (1924), the first and probably the best of the “evil hand” movies. This kind of story …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:37AM[SHARE]

Buster Keaton in "The Three Ages" by Trav S.D.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of Buster Keaton’s first feature length film The Three Ages (1923). Keaton cleverly designed it as a parody of D.W. Griffith's Intole…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:58AM[SHARE]

Stars of Slapstick #196: Billy Bletcher by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Billy Bletcher (1894-1979) Because of Bletcher’s small size and basso profundo voice, his was a rare career that embraced both visual comedy and voice ov…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:12AM[SHARE]

Century of Slapstick #50: The New Janitor by Trav S.D.

Today is the 100th anniversary of the release date of the Charlie Chaplin comedy The New Janitor.  In this Keystone comedy, Charlie plays a janitor at a bank, a situation he would revi…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:24AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga AND FRIENDS! by Trav S.D.

If ya live long enough, you start to see little rivulets from your past converge into the rolling, muddy Mississippi of your existence (you may quote me). Long time Trav S.D. watchers (are t…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:33PM[SHARE]

The Long History of Our Gang a.k.a.The Little Rascals by Trav S.D.

  Because I’ve had occasion to mention this franchise many times on this blog and in other writings, and it’s pretty important to film comedy history, I thought it fitting to …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:50AM[SHARE]

Harold Lloyd in "Movie Crazy" by Trav S.D.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Harold Lloyd talking feature Movie Crazy (1932). I think this is a terrific movie, as good as Lloyd’s best silents. Movie Craz…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:40AM[SHARE]
Monday, September 22, 2014

Laurel and Hardy in "The Big Noise" by Trav S.D.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Laurel and Hardy film The Big Noise (1944), directed by Mal St. Clair. This is one of the team’s last and worst films. They pl…

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

Buster Keaton in "The Cameraman" by Trav S.D.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of Buster Keaton’s comedy The Cameraman (1928). The Cameraman was Keaton’s first film as an MGM contract player. The change …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:37AM[SHARE]
Sunday, September 21, 2014

Force Majeure Launches Today by Trav S.D.

Filed under: Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Cobra Club, Force Majeure, Sara vaentine, Tanya Solomon

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:44PM[SHARE]

Tomorrow on TCM: Strange Bedfellows at the Opera by Trav S.D.

Tomorrow morning on Turner Classic Movies: films set at the opera! They’ll be showing: 6am (EST): The Phantom of The Opera (1925) This is handily one of the first silent movies I…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:16AM[SHARE]

My Short Films in NY Clown Theatre Festival Tonight by Trav S.D.

Ha! I didnt know until yesterday but some of my collaborations with Jim R. Moore will be screened tonight at 8:30pm in NY New York Clown Theater Festival at the Brick Theater:  some of ou…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:04AM[SHARE]

The Inspirational Bill Murray by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Bill Murray (b. 1950), the Saturday Night Live alumnus whose cinematic career is by far — light years — the most distinguished (unless  you want to in…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:24AM[SHARE]

Tonight: Neptune's Daughter and The Ziegfeld Follies by Trav S.D.

Tonight, TCM will be showing a pair of films calculated to appeal to show biz buffs: 8pm (EST): Neptune’s Daughter (1949) Unfortunately has nothing to do with the silent Annette …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:43AM[SHARE]

Mae West in "Belle of the Nineties" by Trav S.D.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of Mae West's third starring feature Belle of the Nineties (1934), directed be Leo McCarey. The film is kind of a "might have been", one that one…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:10AM[SHARE]

Laurel and Hardy in "They Go Boom" by Trav S.D.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of the very early Laurel and Hardy talkie short They Go Boom (1929), directed by James Parrott.  This is one of their comedies with a…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:45AM[SHARE]

Fibber McGee and Molly: Autumn Leaves by Trav S.D.

It’s the first day of Autumn! And here to ring it in for us are Fibber McGee and Molly (Jim and Marian Jordan) in a 1953 episode of their radio program entitled Autumn Leaves Drive …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:25AM[SHARE]
Saturday, September 20, 2014

The Ubiquitous Slappy White and His Brotherhood Creed by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Melvin “Slappy” White (1921-1995). Comedian White was a little too young to have come up through black vaudeville, but he did spend much  time in its …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:38PM[SHARE]

Norman McLeod: A Record of Comedy Classics by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of the legendary comedy director Norman McLeod (sometimes billed as Norman Z. McLeod, 1895-1964). A Michigan native, McLeod had been a fighter pilot in WWI, experience …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:39PM[SHARE]

Harold Lloyd in "The Freshman" by Trav S.D.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of Harold Lloyd’s feature length comedy The Freshman (1925). The Freshman is up there with Safety Last as being one of Lloyd’…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:54AM[SHARE]

Slapstick Under the Stars Tonight by Trav S.D.

Filed under: BROOKLYN, Comedy, Hollywood (History), Movies, PLUGS, Silent Film Tagged: BROOKLYN, City Reliquary, silent movies, Slapstick Under the Stars

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:53AM[SHARE]

Stars of Slapstick #195: Blanche Payson by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Blanche Payson (Mary Elizabeth Bush, 1881-1964). Payson’s near-giant proportions (6’4″, 238 lbs) made her highly useful in silent comedy, and Mack …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:18AM[SHARE]
Friday, September 19, 2014

Two Jack Benny Films Tomorrow by Trav S.D.

Tomorrow morning on Turner Classic Movies, two comedy classic starring Jack Benny.  7:00am (EST): The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945) The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945) was Jack Benny’…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:12PM[SHARE]

Tonight: Two Mae West Pictures on TCM by Trav S.D.

Tonight on TCM, two of Mae West’s best movies, interesting shown in reverse order: 9:45pm (EST)  I’m No Angel (1933).  I’m No Angel was the follow up to West’…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:43PM[SHARE]

Charley Chase in "Bromo and Juliet" by Trav S.D.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of the hilarious Charley Chase short Bromo and Juliet (1926) directed by Leo McCarey.  In this silent comedy classic Charley plays a you…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:26PM[SHARE]

Harry Langdon in "The Strong Man" by Trav S.D.

Today is the anniversary of the release date of the Harry Langdon comedy The Strong Man (1926), the very first feature film directed by Frank Capra.  In The Strong Man, Langdon play…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:07PM[SHARE]

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