11,419 stories by "Trav S.D."
April 21 was the birthday of opera singer and vocal instructor Estelle Liebling (1880-1970). Liebling was from a very musical German-Jewish family from Silesia (a Duchy that was annexed by P…
Today's new Travalanche posts for April 18, 2026 are about The Untouchables and The Turtles. Also Travalanche helps you celebrate: National Banana Day Dutch-American Friendship Day The Launc…
Mark Volman (1947-2025) passed away back in September. He and his musical partner Howard Kaylan (b. 1947) were the two core members of the popular sixties band The Turtles. When the band bro…
April 19 was the birthday of Federal law enforcement officer Eliot Ness (1903-1957). Ness was famous for spearheading the effort to bring down mob boss Al Capone during the Prohibition Era. …
Today's new Travalanche posts for April 18, 2026 are about nightclub comedian Jack White and Harry Owens and His Royal Hawaiians. Also, it's World Circus Day. Earlier Travalanche posts for A…
No, not GARY Owens. HARRY Owens (1902-86). Owens was not a native Hawaiian, in fact he was about the farthest thing from it, a product of America's Great Plains. He was born on O'Neil, Nebra…
By way of explanation, there are at least four show biz Jack Whites to concern ourselves with (or not): 1) the contemporary one, i.e., the guy from The White Stripes; 2) the one classic come…
Today's new Travalanche posts for April 17, 2026 are about silent screen actor Otto Lederer and a new TV show about Scott Joplin. Also, some good news: the live episode of the Marx Brothers …
I don't usually plug old-fashioned live TV airings anymore apart from particularly exiting showings of old movies on TCM, Criterion, and such like, but I wanted to let you know about this on…
Today we celebrate the career of character actor Otto Lederer (1886-1965), whom I know intrepid viewers have seen in prominent parts in some major films even if the name doesn't immediately …
I've had occasion to mention Dusty Springfield (1939-1999) perhaps ten times on Travalanche, she's at least that significant in 20th century pop culture. But prior to doing my homework, I kn…
Today's new Travalanche posts for April 16, 2026 are about Dusty Springfield, Johnny Silver, and Christy Cabanne. Earlier Travalanche posts for April 16 (in no particular order) include ones…
Early photos of movie director Christy Cabanne (1888-1950) resemble the famous electro-charlatan Dr. Walford Bodie. It happens that Charlie Chaplin had once done a music hall act that lampoo…
I think we're learning that classic comedy loves #47 on the Period Table of the Elements. Back in the day, there was Phil Silvers, Sid Silvers, Joe Silver, Monroe Silver (from "Cohen on the …
Today's new Travalanche post for April 15, 2026 is about prototypical hippie songwriter and naturalist eden ahbez, writer of "Nature Boy". April 15 was the day Abraham Lincoln was shot. Ther…
The serpentine path that led me to the fascinating story of eden ahbez (George Aberle, 1908-1995) came by way of Gypsy Boots, I think, and I'm pretty sure I was led to Gypsy Boots by Father …
Today's new Travalanche posts for April 14, 2026 are ones celebrating the 100th birthday of Liz Renay and the 200th birthday of Burdette Johnson, founder of Palmolive (they sponsored radio s…
Today marks the 200th birthday of Burdette Jay "B.J. Johnson (1826-1902), founder in 1864 of the B.J. Johnson Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Who are they, when at home? Why, only the creat…
Born 100, years ago today, exotic dancer, actress, and actress Liz Renay (Pearl Dobbins, 1926-2007). Most of us in the modern world know Renay as one of the stars of John Waters' Desperate L…
Today's new Travalanche posts for April 13, 2026 are about two events that happened in NYC this past weekend 1) The Marx Brothers Council Podcast weekend, and 2) the Tartan Day Parade. Also …
I got very lucky on Saturday! I'm sure Noah Diamond didn't plan it that way, but his Marx Brothers walking tour was awfully convenient for yours truly as it was just a block from the Tartan …
As we reported back in March, this past weekend wrought a rare opportunity for fans of the Marx Brothers Council Podcast to meet, greet, and sit at the feet of the triumvirate that has been …
Today's new Travalanche post for April 12, 2026 is about actress and tap dancer Eleanore Whitney. Earlier Travalanche posts for April 12 (in no particular order) include ones on: The Tramp (…
Brief but nonetheless real was the career of tap dancer/ actress Eleanore Whitney (1917-1983). Like that other Eleanor (Powell), Whitney was a tapper from kidhood. The story goes that she me…
Today's new Travalanche post for April 11, 2026 is about Dick Zigun's Coney Island Crackpots. Earlier Travalanche posts for April 11 (in no particular order) include ones on: On Barber Shop …
