All stories by Trav S.d. on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Stars of Vaudeville #69: Jack Pearl, a.k.a "Baron Munchausen" by Trav S.D.

Originally posted in 2009.  Born Jacob Perlman this day in 1895, Jack Pearl is best known for the national catchphrase “Vas You Dere, Charlie?”, which he uttered as the “…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:13AM[SHARE]
Monday, October 28, 2013

The Little Rascals in "Spooky Hooky" by Trav S.D.

Another vintage tidbit we are sharing to Halloween season. In this 1936 Hal Roach Our Gang/ Little Rascals short Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat and Porky want to go to the circus so they l…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:16PM[SHARE]

The First (Silent) Version of "Frankenstein" by Trav S.D.

Less well known that it might be, the first cinematic version of Mary Shelley’s  Frankenstein was made by the Edison Studios in 1910, over twenty years before James Whale’s…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:29PM[SHARE]

Creep Show Peep Show: Tonight at the Delancey by Trav S.D.

Filed under: Burlesk, Contemporary Variety, PLUGS Tagged: Creep Show, Delancey, Peep Show, Shelly Watson

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:14PM[SHARE]

The Paul Lynde 1976 Halloween Special by Trav S.D.

In further celebration of the Halloween season we share this now-annual classic, the 1976 Paul Lynde Halloween special that also featured Margaret Hamilton, her Pufnstuff counter…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:38AM[SHARE]

Buster Keaton in "The Haunted House" by Trav S.D.

In honor of the Halloween season we are pleased to share this 1921 Buster Keaton short, directed by Eddie Cline. In case you find yourself getting too scared (spoiler alert) the house that b…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:36AM[SHARE]

R.I.P. Lou Reed by Trav S.D.

I found myself bawling upon learning of the death of Lou Reed yesterday, on the sly, behind a pair of sunglasses. That’s what sunglasses are for. Certainly that’s what HIS sungla…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:15AM[SHARE]

A Bing Crosby Halloween (with Boris Karloff) by Trav S.D.

Another radio treat on the lead-up to Halloween. Here’s Bing Crosby’s Halloween episode of Philco Radio Time with guest stars Boris Karloff and Victor Moore, originally bro…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:04AM[SHARE]

Ronnie and Donnie Galyon, World's Oldest Living Pair of Conjoined Twins by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Ronnie and Donnie Galyon (b. 1951), the world’s oldest living pair of conjoined twins. Born in Dayton, Ohio joined from the sternum to the groin, they share a …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:23AM[SHARE]
Sunday, October 27, 2013

An Ozzie and Harriet Halloween Party by Trav S.D.

All week I’ll be sharing vintage Halloween themed comedy-horror tidbits like this one. This episode of Ozzie and Harriet from 1952 features three narrative threads, including Ozzie Nel…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:47AM[SHARE]

The 3 Stooges in "The Ghost Talks" by Trav S.D.

All week I’ll be sharing vintage Halloween themed comedy-horror tidbits like this one. The Spook Talks is a fairly hilarious Three Stooges short from 1949 (the Shemp era) wherein…

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

The Bowery Boys in "Spook Chasers" by Trav S.D.

All week I’ll be sharing vintage Halloween themed comedy-horror tidbits like this one. The Spook Chasers (1957) is quite late in the life of the long-running Bowery Boys franchis…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:03AM[SHARE]

The Great Gildersleeve's Halloween Party by Trav S.D.

Radio comedian Harold “Hal” Peary (1908-1985) created his popular radio character Throckmorton Gildersleeve on the Fibber McGee and Molly Show in 1935. The big blowhard was…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:45AM[SHARE]
Saturday, October 26, 2013

Tonight's Horror Line-up on TCM (Oct 26) by Trav S.D.

8:00pm:  Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Much water under the bridge between the original Frankenstein and James Whale’s 1935 sequel. Karloff, who had been uncredited in the firs…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:47AM[SHARE]

Stars of Vaudeville #68: Harrigan and Hart by Trav S.D.

Today is Ned Harrigan’s birthday. From No Applause: The two biggest Irish comedians to come out of the variety scene, becoming the most popular stars of the American theatre of the …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:51AM[SHARE]

Stars of Vaudeville #380: Jackie Coogan by Trav S.D.

Originally posted in 2011 Born this day in 1914, Jackie Coogan was, like Charlie Chaplin, a child performer, and also like Chaplin, was discovered for the movies while performing on th…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:47AM[SHARE]
Friday, October 25, 2013

Under the Table: A Dorothy Parker Cocktail Guide by Trav S.D.

Kevin Fitzpatrick, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer of the Dorothy Parker Society has just released this swell new book Under the Table: A Dorothy Parker Cocktail Guide – just in tim…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:42PM[SHARE]

Coney Island Children's Halloween Parade Tomorrow! by Trav S.D.

Filed under: BROOKLYN, Coney Island, HOLIDAYS, FESTIVALS, MEMORIALS & PARADES, Horror (Mostly Gothic), PLUGS, SOCIAL EVENTS Tagged: Coney Island, Halloween Parade

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:08PM[SHARE]

Tonight's Horror Line-up on TCM (Oct 25) by Trav S.D.

6:30pm: The Walking Dead (1936) Directed by Michael Curtiz. Edmund Gwenn (best known as Santa in Miracle on 34th Street) is a scientist who revives the corpse of wrongly executed Boris…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:37PM[SHARE]

Stars of Vaudeville #251: Billy Barty by Trav S.D.

Originally posted in 2010 America's most famous and respected little person (of the twentieth century) began his career as an even littler person. William John Bertanzetti was only three yea…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:22AM[SHARE]

Big Apple Circus "Luminosity" Opens Tonight! by Trav S.D.

It’s that time of year again! Late October means many things to many people but for circus fans here in New York it always means the launch of Big Apple Circus’s Fall and Winter …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:00AM[SHARE]

On the Vital Importance of Minnie Pearl by Trav S.D.

Originally posted in 2012 I’d like to go out on a limb and say that life without Minnie Pearl is not worth living, but I’m 17 years too late. But you know what I mean. I miss the…

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

Stars of Vaudeville #67: The Dolly Sisters by Trav S.D.

Originally posted in 2009 Two, two, two Dollies in one! The Duncan Sisters were more talented, the Hilton Sisters were more freakish, but no sister act was more beautiful, or mor…

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

Ziegfeld Masquerade Ball Tomorrow by Trav S.D.

Filed under: HOLIDAYS, FESTIVALS, MEMORIALS & PARADES, PLUGS, SOCIAL EVENTS Tagged: Halloween, masquerade Ball, Ziegfeld Society

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:55AM[SHARE]

Paul Draper: Aristocrat of Tap by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Paul Draper (1909-1996), who came along too late for vaudeville, but oh how that would have been the perfect platform for him! A son of wealthy parents, and a nephew…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:42AM[SHARE]
Thursday, October 24, 2013

"Coney Island Criminals" Resumes Tomorrow: Thru Halloween by Trav S.D.

Filed under: BROOKLYN, Coney Island, Indie Theatre, LEGIT, EXPERIMENTAL & MUSICAL THEATRE, PLUGS Tagged: Coney Island, Coney Island Criminals, Creep Show, Dick Zigun, freak show

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:58PM[SHARE]

On Moss Hart by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Moss Hart (1904-1961), playwright, director, screenwriter and memoirist. With George S. Kaufman he co-wrote the plays Once in a Lifetime (1930), Merrily We …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:13PM[SHARE]

Sonny Terry by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Sonny Terry (Saunders Terrell, 1911-1986). The North Carolina farm boy learned to play blues harp from his father and lost his eyesight due to injury by the time he …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:26PM[SHARE]

Bill Wyman: In Another Land by Trav S.D.

Today is the birthday of Bill Wyman (b.1936), the member of the Rolling Stones so hapless and unsung that when he left the group two decades ago after having been a member for nearly 30 year…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:09PM[SHARE]

Vincent Price Thursdays by Trav S.D.

Every Thursday in October, Turner Classic Movies is screening the films of the incomparable Vincent Price (for my full appreciation of Price, go here.) Tonight here’s wh…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:54AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Forgotten Shows of My Nonage #64: Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp by Trav S.D.

Ah, these are among my fondest memories of early, early childhood! Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp was created by former Get Smart writers: the show is essentially a riff on the g…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:51PM[SHARE]

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