All stories by Trav S.D. on BroadwayStars

Friday, September 26, 2025

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Turns 50 by Trav S.D.

September 26, 1975 was the date of the American release of that singular cinematic specimen, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Is Rocky Horror the hub of the universe? For a theatre-maker of my…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:12PM

Portrait of Charles Bird King by Trav S.D.

Just a few words of acknowledgment about 19th century painter Charles Bird King (1785-1862). I first became aware of the artist through repeated visits to the Redwood Library and Athenaeum i…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:48AM
Thursday, September 25, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 25, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 25, 2025 include ones on Mercy Otis Warren, and the Beatles animated cartoon show. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:06PM

60 Years Ago: The Beatles Cartoon by Trav S.D.

60 years ago today, September 25, 1965 saw the television premiere of the animated children’s television show The Beatles. The show aired 39 new episodes over the following two years, and …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:02AM

Mercy Otis Warren: Poet, Patriot, Pamphleteer, Propagandist, and Playwright by Trav S.D.

September 25 was the birthday of pioneering American literary figure Mercy Otis Warren (1728-1814). Daughter of Massachusetts lawyer James Otis, Mercy received the benefit of the same educat…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:48AM
Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 24, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 24, 2025 includes ones on Jim Henson, silent movie director Barry O’Neill, and movie actress Julia Faye. In no particular order, other Travala…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:18PM

Julia Faye: The Legs of the Lasky Lot by Trav S.D.

September 24 was the birthday of actress Julia Faye (Julia Faye Maloney, 1892-1966). Faye was a faye-vorite of Cecil B. DeMille, in more ways than one, and had over 100 screen credits to her…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:18PM

Your Jim Henson and the Muppets Finding Aid by Trav S.D.

It’s Jim Henson’s birthday again! Having already posted a good deal about him and his Muppet creations, I thought this year I would observe the occasion by adding this little finding aid…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:02PM

A Bio of Barry O’Neil by Trav S.D.

September 24 was the birthday of pioneering silent film director Barry O’Neil (Thomas J. McCarthy, 1865-1918). O’Neil was the son of Irish immigrants residing in New York City. His name …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:48AM
Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 23, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 23, 2025 includes ones on Ken Burns’ The Civil War, and Seinfeld‘s Jason Alexander. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for Sept…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:18PM

Of Jason Alexander vs. George by Trav S.D.

The order in which I have posted about the primary cast members and creators of Seinfeld speaks volumes: Jerry Seinfeld (2020), Larry David (2021), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2024), Heidi Swedberg…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:18PM

The Civil War by Trav S.D.

Today marks 35 years since the opening shot of Ken Burns’ The Civil War (1990) went hurtling toward Fort Sumter. Arriving at the height of the Culture Wars, this nine part, ten hour docume…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:12PM
Monday, September 22, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 22, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 22, 2025 includes ones on Narragansett Indian track champion Tarzan Brown, and a thing on rhinoceros movies. In no particular order, other Trava…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:18PM

Three Movies for World Rhinoceros Day by Trav S.D.

September 22 is Elephant Appreciation Day, but I have already done numerous elephant themed posts. Fortunately, it’s also World Rhinoceros Day so I thought I would do a small post on these…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:18PM

On Tarzan Brown and the People He Ran With by Trav S.D.

Born of a September 22, track star Ellison “Tarzan” Brown (1913-1975). My recent trip back to the city of birth, Westerly, Rhode Island, reconnected me with memories of Brown, a more fam…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:12PM
Sunday, September 21, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 21, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for September 21, 2025 is about actress/author/entertainer Fannie Flagg. In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September 21 include ones on: Sile…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:24PM

A Salute to Fannie Flagg by Trav S.D.

I was working at a bookstore when the 1992 screen version of Fried Green Tomatoes was released. Naturally at the time there was a reissue of the novel, which had been written in 1987 by Fann…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:24PM
Saturday, September 20, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 20, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 20, 2025 are about Batman (for Batman Day), tempestuous actress Rachel Roberts, and Nelson Sardelli, secret father of Mariska Hargitay. In no pa…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:42PM

For Batman Day: A Travalanche Guide to Posts on the Caped Crusader by Trav S.D.

The third Saturday in September is celebrated as Batman Day by nerds throughout the globe, and why should I be any different? In observation of the day I have pulled together my many posts r…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:36PM

Rachel Roberts: Ruff, Ruff, Ruff by Trav S.D.

There used to be more than one definition of the word sexy. It’s come to mean sexually attractive, or attractive full-stop. Long ago, maybe a century ago or thereabouts, it was sometimes u…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:32PM

The Secret Nelson Sardelli by Trav S.D.

Nearly every online photo of Las Vegas lounge singer Nelson Sardelli (b. 1934) shows him either with Jayne Mansfield, his romantic partner for a few months in 1963 and 1964, or with Mariska …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:12AM
Friday, September 19, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 19, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for September 18, 2025 is about actor William Hickey: In no particular order, other Travalanche posts for September 19 include ones on: (For Talk Like a Pirate…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:12AM

In Which We Raise a Glass to William Hickey by Trav S.D.

September 19 was the birthday of acting legend William Hickey (1927-1997). Coincidentally, Hickey is the name of the character at the heart of Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh. I’m n…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:12AM
Thursday, September 18, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 18, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 18, 2025 are about the late country comedian and actor Gailard Sartain and the recent cancellations of Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert: In no p…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:02PM

Of Kimmel and Colbert and Company by Trav S.D.

I’m fairly certain I have nothing to say about the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel and the cancellation of Stephen Colbert that hasn’t already said by millions, but I do want to get my positi…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:48PM

R.I.P. Gailard Sartain by Trav S.D.

Character actor Gailard Sartain (1943-2025) passed away a couple of months ago; I opted to wait ’til his next birthday to post a long-planned tribute. Sartain was one on a very short list …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:24AM
Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 17, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 17, 2025 are about George Cleveland (Lassie), Dorothy Loudon (Annie), and the birth, life, death, and possible reincarnation of the U.S. Constit…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:54PM

R.I.P. U.S. Constitution by Trav S.D.

I think that’s about where we’re at, and while it is indeed catastrophic, it’s also not a reason to give up hope or to cease working for progress. September 17 is Constitution Day in A…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:54PM

The Dorothy Loudon Centennial by Trav S.D.

Born 100 years ago today, Broadway star Dorothy Loudon (1925-2003). Loudon’s time in the sun clustered around several big moments, none of which succeeded in pushing her into widespread re…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:24AM

On the Other Grover Cleveland by Trav S.D.

Born of a September 17, Grover “George” Cleveland (1885-1957). Cleveland had nearly 200 screen credits, but (quite wonderfully) his biggest and best known role was his last one, the part…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:24AM
Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for September 16, 2025 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for September 16, 2025 are about Ed Begley Jr, the Lady Aye’s new book on 19th century spiritualism, and the late Robert Redford: September 16 is a great da…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:24PM

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