The observations of actor, author, comedian, critic, director, humorist, journalist, m.c., performance artist, playwright, producer, publicist, public speaker, songwriter, and variety booker Trav S.D.
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Today’s new Travalanche post for August 22, 2026 is about 19th century stage star Sam Devere. Previous August 22 posts include ones on: Dorothy Parker Valerie Harper and Rhoda George Herriman and Krazy Kat Ray Bradbury Cindy Williams David Chase and The Sopranos. Blues man John Lee Hooker Grade Z director Jean Yarbrough Crooner/ musician […]
Someone reminded me the other day that I had mentioned Sam Devere (1842-1907) in my book No Applause, and I was startled to realize that he hadn’t gotten a shout-out here on Travalanche yet. In the book I had mentioned the story that Devere had once beaten someone in Texas to death with his banjo. […]
Today’s new Travalanche post for August 21, 2026 is a sad farewell to Coney Island photographer Kenny Lombardi. Previous August 21 posts include ones on Senior Citizens Day (several, in fact) The Golden Girls Classic Comedians Who Lived to Be Over 90 Several Elderly Screen Detectives Seniors in the Swinging Sixties A Review of Nomadland […]
I received news yesterday that Coney Island stalwart Kenny Lombardi (b. 1959) passed away on Tuesday (August 18). If Kenny had held on a day longer, he would have died on World Photography Day, which would have possessed a fitting resonance. He was a key member of Coney Island USA‘s unofficial paparazzi pool, a group […]
Today’s new Travalanche post for August 20, 2026, concerns the recently passed German variety act The Kessler Twins. Previous August 20 posts include ones on: Alan Reed (Fred Flintstone) Jacqueline Susann, author of Valley of the Dolls Boxing promoter Don King. Comedy writer Sheldon Keller Jazz great Jack Teagarden Horror author H. P. Lovecraft William […]
For 89 years, the Kessler Twins, Alice and Ellen (1936-2025) did everything together. Last November, they collaborated one last time — on a joint assisted suicide. The triple threat duo were all about integrity and professional pride. Ellen had suffered a stroke the previous month. They realized they were about to enter the stage of […]
Today’s new Travalanche posts for August 19, 2026 are about the reopening of the NYC Fire Museum, a new kids book about Fred Stone, some show business orangutans, and pioneering Chinese American burlesque performer Ada Lum. Previous August 19 posts have included ones on: A Post for World Photography Day Fred Stone — the major […]
August 19th was the birthday of vaudeville and Broadway star Fred Stone, best known today for having played the part of the Scarecrow in the original stage production of The Wizard of Oz in 1902. My original post on Stone is here. As I wrote in that post, Stone is the major stage star to […]
A word to the wise: the New York City Fire Museum (278 Spring Street) is celebrating its reopening with a ceremony tomorrow (Thursday, August 20, 2026) at 10pm. The museum has been closed for two years due to renovations. It better be up to code! I would SO be attending this if I weren’t already […]
August 19 is International Orangutan Day. Do you know where YOUR orangutan is? Having already celebrated the Chimps of Travalanche, and the Gorillas of Travalanche, along with many another show business animal, we can’t very well leave out orangs. Honestly, I never dreamt such a thing would be possible until I looked into it. I […]
August 19, 1892 was the date of birth of stage star Ada Lum. Lum was the daughter of a Chinese-American physician and shrimp importer and his German-American wife. She grew up in New Orleans, was educated in a convent school, and was given private lessons in voice and piano. Upon the death of her father […]
Today’s new Travalanche post for August 18, 2026 is on Elayne Boosler. Previous August 18 posts have included ones on: Criswell Shelley Winters Jack Pickford Robert Redford Gus Edwards Alan Mowbray Walter O’Keefe Otto Harbach Sam Scribner and the Columbia Burlesque Wheel The Sisters G Music Hall comedian Walter Groves Magician Grover George Andrea Leeds […]
August 18 is the birthday of stand-up comedian Elayne Boosler (b. 1952), and this year finds us at some significant Boosler anniversaries: 50 years since she started to gain mainstream attention (1976), and 40 years since her first hour long Showtime special Party of One (1986). We are delighted to learn that Boosler is second […]
Today’s new Travalanche posts for August 17, 2026 are on: Monty Woolley, Lottie Gee, and The Black Cat. Previous August 17 articles (in no particular order) include ones on: Mae West Davy Crockett National Massachusetts Day Black Cats in the Movies The Writing of Julian Fellowes Barbara Stanwyck’s Uncle Buck Maureen O’Hara Ed Sanders and […]
