Saturday, February 7, 2026

The Bigger Ann Little by Trav S.D.

February 7 was the birthday of silent film star Ann Little (Mary Hankins Brooks, 1891-1984). We call her the “bigger” Ann Little because she was a more consequential star than another pe…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:24PM

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 7, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for February 7, 2026 is about the silent western star Ann Little. It’s also National Ballet Day! Check out the ballet section of Travalanche posts here. Othe…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:24PM
Friday, February 6, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 6, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for February 6, 2026 is about Disney’s new Muppet Show special. Earlier Travalanche posts for February 6 (in no particular order) include ones on: Charlie Ch…

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

The Muppet Show Revival by Trav S.D.

I had only just gushed online about how much I enjoyed the Feb 1 Grammy awards ceremony, with its mix of old and new performers, diverse artists and styles, and stunning, clever production n…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:18AM
Thursday, February 5, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 5, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for February 5, 2026 is about Aleen Leslie, creator of A Date at Judy; and a new exhibition about The Battle of Brooklyn. Earlier Travalanche posts for Februar…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:06PM

Aleen Leslie: One Girl Chorus by Trav S.D.

Born of a February 5, writer Aleen Leslie (née Wetstein, 1908-2010), best known as the creator of the multi-platform franchise A Date with Judy, and for being the oldest member of the WGA W…

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

“The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered” at the BPL by Trav S.D.

The 250th anniversary of The Battle of Brooklyn (a.k.a. The Battle of Long Island) is coming up in August. Readers who give a hoot about such things know that I’m an enthusiast on this top…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:31AM
Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 4, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for February 4, 2026 is about David Ketchum (Get Smart). Earlier Travalanche posts for February 4 (in no particular order) include ones on: David Brenner Jerry…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:48AM

R.I.P. David Ketchum by Trav S.D.

Character actor, comedian, and scriptwriter David Ketchum (1928-2025) passed away back in August. Not to be confused with Hank Ketcham, creator of Dennis the Menace! Ketchum was nearly ubiqu…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:36AM
Tuesday, February 3, 2026

National Take a Cruise Day: On “The Good Ship Murder” and “Doctor Odyssey” by Trav S.D.

February 3 is National Take a Cruise Day but some of us aren’t so lucky; we just watch television shows about luxury! Having already posted about The Love Boat (twice actually, here and he…

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

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 3, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for February 3, 2026 are about Blythe Danner, and two recent tv shows set on cruise ships for National Take a Cruise Day (Good Ship Murder and Doctor Odyssey)…

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

Born to the Manor Was Blythe Danner by Trav S.D.

This year marks a decade since I have been unchained to any sort of a day job. I’m thankful for the blessing, but I also can’t help being grateful for the experiences I had at most of th…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 08:31AM
Monday, February 2, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 2, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for February 2, 2026 are about Sinners and movie director Frank Lloyd (Mutiny on the Bounty). Also it’s National Ukulele Day. Go here for my 2023 post on ev…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:12PM

Frank Lloyd: From Music Halls to “Mutiny” by Trav S.D.

Born on February 2, Scottish-born Hollywood director Frank Lloyd (1886-1960). Though forgotten today, Lloyd had a very successful career spanning four decades. He directed some 135 movies, a…

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

Quick Plug for “Sinners” by Trav S.D.

Just wanted to add my voice to the chorus enthusiastically praising Ryan Coogler’s Sinners (2025). We caught it a few months ago, but it seemed appropriate fodder for Black History Month (…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:36AM
Sunday, February 1, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for February 1, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for February 1, 2026 are about Demond Wilson, Morty Gunty, Woodie King Jr, James P. Johnson (composer of the “Charleston”), and some great New York museum…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 04:12PM

What Price, Morty Gunty? by Trav S.D.

I had certainly seen Morty Gunty (1929-1984) in films and television many times, but never knew him by name until someone mentioned him a few days ago. He was a Jewish nightclub comic from B…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:06PM

R.I.P. Demond Wilson by Trav S.D.

Demond Wilson (1946-2026) would have turned 80 this year; even so, I’m uncertain whether I would have done a dedicated post on him, having already written about Sanford and Son and the ill…

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

Some Exhibitions to Catch for Black History Month by Trav S.D.

Some years we manage to lean into Black History Month (February) more than others, and this’ll be one of those years. As it happens this, is the centennial of there being some kind of nati…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:48AM

James P. Johnson: Gave us The Charleston by Trav S.D.

February 1 was the birthday of musician and songwriter James P. Johnson (1894-1955). I am surprised, though perhaps I oughtn’t to be, to learn that he was no relation to J. Rosamond Johnso…

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

R.I.P. Woody King Jr. by Trav S.D.

Downtown theatre giant Woodie King Jr. (1939-2026) passed away on January 29. I thought it appropriate to hold my tribute a couple of days for Black History Month. Mr. King was the founder a…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:12AM
Saturday, January 31, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for January 31, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche posts for January 31, 2026 are about KC and the Sunshine Band, and Alexandre Patty, the Upside Down Man. We also continue to mourn the loss of the great comic actre…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 05:12PM

Happy 75th birthday to KC (of KC and the Sunshine Band) by Trav S.D.

Today we will likely blow the minds of our regular readers (and I’m blowing my own mind even as I do it) by expressing deep love and respect for KC and the Sunshine Band. KC (Henry Wayne C…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 03:01PM

Alexandre Patty: The Upside Down Man by Trav S.D.

January 31 is celebrated in some quarters as National Backwards Day (or as some perversely put it, Backward Day). It seems to me that every day for the past ten years answers both of those d…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:36AM
Friday, January 30, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for January 30, 2026 (National Strike Day) by Trav S.D.

Today, January 30, 2026 is…A GENERAL STRIKE DAY, in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis, and the agenda of either abolishing ICE or returning it to its traditional function, bounded …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 09:31AM
Thursday, January 29, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for January 29, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for January 29, 2026 is about Paul Fusco and ALF. Other earlier Travalanche posts for January 29 (in no particular order) include ones on: W.C. Fields Kansas (…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 01:02PM

On Paul Fusco and ALF by Trav S.D.

The puppet-centered sit-com ALF premiered on NBC 40 years ago; January 29 is the birthday of its creator Paul Fusco (b. 1953). Is he any relation to the MAGNUM photojournalist of the same na…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:42AM
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for January 28, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for January 28, 2026 concerns a new book about tattoo pioneer Captain Constentenus. Other earlier Travalanche posts for January 28 (in no particular order) inc…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:12AM

A New Book About Cap’n Costentenus by Trav S.D.

Every book by Modern Vaudeville Press is exciting but we are particularly jazzed about their latest literary production. Little is known (or knowable) about pioneering illustrated man Captai…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 10:18AM
Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Your Travalanche Daily Digest for January 27, 2026 by Trav S.D.

Today’s new Travalanche post for January 27, 2026 is about Ruby Lynn Reyner. Other earlier Travalanche posts for January 27 (in no particular order) include ones on: Holocaust Remembrance …

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 11:24AM

Remembering Ruby Lynn Reyner (Ruby and the Rednecks) by Trav S.D.

Downtown stage star Ruby Lynn Reyner (1948-2024) died nearly two years ago, but that seems recent enough that we can merge this birthday tribute with the idea of a memoriam. I had the thrill…

SOURCE: Trav S.D. at 07:02AM

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off