All stories by Trav S.D. on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

The Many Incarnations of Jimmy Jewel by Trav S.D.

OMG, in the UK they give plaques for “Comic Heritage”? What a civilized nation! December 4 was the birthday of British comedian and actor Jimmy Jewel (1909-1995). The name is virtually u…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:03AM
Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Please Support Travalanche — Some OTHER Day by Trav S.D.

Giving Tuesday — what a dumb idea! To have every charity in the country beg for money all at the same time! I’d be interested to know if it actually works. I should think you’d have LE…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:48PM

The Spirit of Barbara Fritchie by Trav S.D.

December 3 was the birthday of Barbara Fritchie (1766-1862). I don’t expect that you will know the name off the bat but I hope you at least possess a vague sense that you have encountered …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:03AM
Monday, December 2, 2024

When Travis Stewart Made the News by Trav S.D.

When working on the piece about my recently deceased colleague Kathleen Hulser I did some googling to refresh my memory about our New-York Historical Society days when I stumbled on a few ra…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:03PM

It’s CyberMonday: Perfect Time To Complete The Trav S.D. Section of Your Library by Trav S.D.

Well, today is an ideal time to pick up one of my works for that show biz loving loved one in your life as a holiday gift. Major online bookdealers are offering 40-50% off today for CyberMon…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:32AM

On Comden and Green and Company by Trav S.D.

This story begins with a New York cabaret act based in Greenwich Village in the late ’30s and early ’40s called The Revuers. We’ve written about two alum of this unusual act: Judy Holi…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:12AM
Sunday, December 1, 2024

R.I.P. Marshall Brickman by Trav S.D.

How odd to learn one day after Woody Allen’s birthday (from Eve Golden, natch) that one of Allen’s prime collaborators has passed on. Marshall Brickman (1939-2024) was a behind-the-scene…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:42AM

100 Years Ago in Berlin: The Launch of the Kabarett der Komiker by Trav S.D.

The Kabarett der Komiker (the Cabaret of Comedians, often shortened to “Kadeko”) was a Berlin variety venue which throve especially during the Weimar Era. It was founded on December 1, 1…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:36AM
Saturday, November 30, 2024

Woody Allen: More TV Work (1960-72) by Trav S.D.

November 30 (it turns out) is the birthday of Woody Allen (b. 1935). We used to think it was December 1, but Allen’s recent memoir set the record straight. I originally planned a highly am…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 12:54PM

Happy Felton: From the Orchestra Pit to the Dugout by Trav S.D.

Yes, I know this photo makes him seem more like “Sinister Felton” but it was the best photo I could find of Francis “Happy” Felton (1907-1964), prior to the guise he was best known f…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:36AM

A Meeting Near a Statue by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:31AM
Friday, November 29, 2024

For Native American Heritage Day: A Finding Aid to the Corresponding Section of Travalance by Trav S.D.

The day after Thanksgiving is always Native American Heritage Day, a day, I guess, when things are even more Native American Heritagey than they are during Native American Heritage Month, wh…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:36AM

Memorializing Crazy Horse by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:31AM
Thursday, November 28, 2024

A Bio-Pic About Squanto by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:54AM
Wednesday, November 27, 2024

On “Plymouth Adventure” and Other Bad Mayflower Takes by Trav S.D.

All claims (by others) to the contrary, I am at most a partial historian, though I have been at it since childhood, when I was a 13 year old Junior Member of the Pettaquamscutt Historical …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:02AM
Tuesday, November 26, 2024

The National Museum of the American Indian Is Still There: But For How Long? by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:31PM

Turning Another Page by Trav S.D.

Well, our projected three part celebration of Geraldine Page (see my 100th birthday post here) got an unexpected 2.5 installment when we had the honor and privilege of attending a performanc…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:12AM
Monday, November 25, 2024

Oddments: Several Items of News Concerning Friends of This Blog by Trav S.D.

Every so often (pretty rarely, in fact) it happens that a number of news items accrue that I’d love to tell the readers of this blog about, and so I bundle them together into their own suc…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:36PM

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:06AM

The Roles of Vera Reynolds by Trav S.D.

Celebration today of silent star Vera Reynolds (1899-1962) — not to be confused with Vera Ralston! Reports conflict about where Reynolds was originally from Nebraska or Richmond Virginia. …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:02AM
Sunday, November 24, 2024

Candy Darling Would Be 80 Today by Trav S.D.

Until quite recently, Candy Darling (1944-1974) was the most beautiful male-to-female trans person most people had ever seen. She wasn’t just gorgeous, but she possessed a studied, gracefu…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:24AM

Charlie Hill: Pathbreaking Native American Comedian by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:18AM

The Eileen Barton Centennial by Trav S.D.

Born 100 years ago today: singer and radio/tv personality Eileen Barton (1924-2006) Barton was a second generation vaudevillian, reported to have joined her parents act at age 2 1/2. Her par…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:12AM
Saturday, November 23, 2024

Redbone: Come and Get Your Love by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:31AM

Harpo Marx on Television by Trav S.D.

November 23 was the birthday of the great clown Harpo Marx (1888-1964). Harpo’s gotten a lot of coverage here in the past, in my main post on him, on a movie he made without his brothers, …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:18AM
Friday, November 22, 2024

I Will Fight No More Forever: The Story of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:36AM

The Geraldine Page Centennial by Trav S.D.

Today would have been the 100th birthday of the great stage and screen actress Geraldine Page (1924-1987). This is the second of a projected trio of pieces I’m doing the mark the occasion.…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 02:12AM
Thursday, November 21, 2024

Come See Me in a Movie of a Play of What Some Say was a Charade Tomorrow Night! by Trav S.D.

From late 2018 through late 2019 I had the honor of performing in Jason Trachtenburg’s Lee Harvey Oswald musical Me and Lee at a bevy of off-off locations throughout NYC, including Sidewal…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:54AM

Sitting Bull and the Show Business by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 06:32AM
Wednesday, November 20, 2024

For World Children’s Day: “The Lost Children” by Trav S.D.

November is Native American History Month; next year (2025) will mark the 350th anniversary of King Phillip’s War, the beginning of the end for the native people as the dominant polity …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:54AM

For Fifth Avenue’s 200th Birthday: On the Misnamed Fifth Avenue Theatre by Trav S.D.

Hungry I guess for any kind of positive story to tell, local press in New York is trumpeting the news that Fifth Avenue has now reached its bicentennial as one of the city’s main thoroughf…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:42AM