3 10 23 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/5a6331ea85fbc96d53b0a59367597b4b.png ba699310ac50d3d37c948cf10385d1ad Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Actors People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1954-02-18 Birthplace Englewood, New Jersey, USA Occupation Actor Musician Source of File Attached “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Travolta">John Travolta</a>.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 June 2024. <div></div> Monroe, Thomas "Moose." "John Travolta." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived flickr Title A name given to the resource Travolta, John Joseph (1954-) Subject The topic of the resource Movies Description An account of the resource John Travolta rose to international fame in the 1970s through his starring roles in Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Urban Cowboy, and Blow Out. His career would later include an Academy Award-nominated performance in Pulp Fiction and a successful recording career, highlighted by the chart-topping duet You're the One That I Want with Olivia Newton-John. Yet long before he became one of Hollywood's most recognizable stars, Travolta was a teenager growing up in Englewood, New Jersey. Born on February 18, 1954, to Salvatore "Sam" Travolta and Helen Cecilia Burke Travolta, John was one of six children in a family deeply interested in the performing arts. His mother was an actress and drama teacher, and several of his siblings also pursued careers in entertainment. The Travolta family lived in Englewood during a period when the city was becoming increasingly diverse, and it was here that John encountered cultural influences that would help shape the performer he would become. One of the most significant influences on Travolta's development came from his interactions with Black classmates at Dwight Morrow High School. A 1980 newspaper profile noted that Travolta's path to stardom "began at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood where jumpin' John picked up dance steps and rhythms from Black students, developing a 'looser style' that served him well in Saturday Night Fever and Grease." The article recognized something that distinguished Travolta from many white performers of his generation. Rather than remaining within the boundaries of his own social group, he immersed himself in the music, dance, and style that Black students were bringing into the halls and social life of Dwight Morrow High School during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Another newspaper account described how Travolta initially struggled to fit in with his peers. School bus riders sometimes teased him, but he eventually found acceptance among fellow students. A particularly close friendship developed between Travolta and Jerry Wurms, and the two spent hours together. Wurms recalled that "somebody was always dancing." Travolta later reflected that every new dance that appeared at school became an opportunity to learn. "I think the blacks accepted me because I cared about them," he said. "They seemed to have a better sense of humor, a looser style. I wanted to be like them." That statement provides a rare glimpse into the cultural exchange occurring in Englewood's schools during a period of significant social change. As Black families arriving during the Great Migration transformed communities throughout northern New Jersey, they also shaped local music, fashion, language, and dance culture. Travolta became one of the many young people influenced by that environment, but unlike most, he would eventually carry those influences onto movie screens around the world. When Saturday Night Fever premiered in 1977, audiences were captivated by Travolta's dancing, confidence, and distinctive swagger. The "Travolta walk" became a national phenomenon. Newspapers reported that barbers offered "Travolta haircuts," clothing stores sold white three-piece suits inspired by his character Tony Manero, and teenagers across the country imitated his style. What many fans did not realize was that some of the rhythms, movements, and dance sensibilities that made Travolta famous had roots in the hallways, parties, and friendships of Englewood. The ease and fluidity that critics admired in his performances had been cultivated years earlier through interactions with Black classmates whose influence he openly acknowledged. His success was so great that it transformed life for the Travolta family. One newspaper humorously reported that curious visitors flocked to the family's Englewood home seeking autographs and souvenirs, even removing pieces of wood from the front porch as keepsakes. Fame had literally arrived on the family's doorstep. Travolta would go on to become one of the most successful actors of his generation, earning multiple Academy Award nominations and appearing in films spanning five decades. He married actress Kelly Preston in 1991, and together they had three children: Jett, Ella Bleu, and Benjamin. His story is often told as the rise of a talented young actor from New Jersey to international stardom. Yet the Englewood chapter reveals a deeper story. It demonstrates how cultural exchange within a diverse community helped shape one of the defining performers of the late twentieth century. The dance style, confidence, and charisma that captivated audiences worldwide were not created in Hollywood. They were nurtured in Englewood, where Black students and Black culture played an important role in influencing the young man who would become John Travolta. In that sense, Travolta's success is also part of Englewood's story—a reminder of how the city's Black community helped shape American popular culture in ways that extended far beyond the city's borders. "Humor = Acceptance," in Michael Munn, John Travolta (London: Robson Books, 1979), reproduced in newspaper clipping provided by the author. The quotation reads: "I think the blacks accepted me because I cared about them. They seemed to have a better sense of humor, a looser style. I wanted to Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ludder, Rachelle Colman, David Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ron Raffety Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available wikipedia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 18, 2024 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Public Domain Entertainment https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/aab1522a62ed908114725a5b004f435b.png 11b3571c9d3ddb60937d55e45df56f0a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Actors People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1912-01-18 Birthplace Englewood, New Jersey, USA Death Date 1978-12-03 Occupation Actress Source of File Attached Gordon, Larry. "John Travolta's mom dies." The Record, 6 Dec. 1978, p. C-1, C-8. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Travolta, Helen Burke (1912-1978) Description An account of the resource Born in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1913, Helen Burke Travolta was one of the most influential figures in the development of community theater and amateur filmmaking in Bergen County during the 1930s and 1940s. A graduate of St. Cecilia School, she devoted her life to the performing arts as an actress, director, teacher, and community organizer, helping establish the cultural foundations that would shape generations of local performers. During the early 1930s, when community theater and amateur cinema were still emerging forms of entertainment, Burke became a founding member of both the Bergen County Cine Club and the Bergen County Players. These organizations provided local residents with opportunities to participate in dramatic productions and motion picture projects at a time when professional entertainment was largely concentrated in New York City. As secretary of the Bergen County Cine Club, she helped organize activities and encouraged public participation in amateur filmmaking. She also appeared in the club's first motion picture production, What a Cook, one of Bergen County's earliest locally produced films. (The Record, April 18, 1933). Her involvement extended well beyond film. Burke was a regular performer with the Bergen County Players, appearing in productions such as Candle Light and Ryerson Mystery, and was widely recognized as one of the leading figures in the county's amateur theater movement. Newspaper accounts frequently highlighted her performances and leadership within local dramatic organizations. (The Record, January 25, 1933; July 23, 1938). Equally important was her work as an educator. By the late 1930s and early 1940s, Helen Burke Travolta had become director of dramatics at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood while also leading the drama program at St. Cecilia High School. Her responsibilities were so extensive that in 1941 she withdrew from a Bergen County Players production because the demands of directing school theater programs left her little time for outside acting. (The Record, April 8, 1941). Through her teaching, she introduced hundreds of students to acting, stagecraft, public speaking, and performance, helping to cultivate a vibrant theatrical culture within Englewood's schools and throughout Bergen County. Her commitment to the performing arts extended into radio as well. In 1932, she and Katherine Ryan successfully auditioned for radio station WRNY and began broadcasting as the "Lafayette Sisters," demonstrating her versatility across multiple forms of entertainment. (The Record, January 21, 1932). In 1937, Helen married Salvatore "Sam" Travolta. Together they raised six children—Ellen, Margaret, Anne, Sam, Joey, and John—all of whom pursued careers in entertainment. Their youngest son, John Travolta, would become one of the most recognizable actors in the world. Yet long before her son achieved international fame, Helen Burke Travolta had already established herself as a driving force behind Bergen County's cultural life. Her legacy rests not only in her own performances but also in the institutions she helped build, the students she mentored, and the artistic opportunities she created for others. As a founder of local theater and film organizations, a pioneering drama educator at Dwight Morrow High School and St. Cecilia High School, and a lifelong advocate for the performing arts, Helen Burke Travolta played a central role in transforming Bergen County's amateur theater and cinema scene into a thriving cultural community. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6027/helen_cecilia-travolta">Added to Fina a Grave by Brad Norwood February 19, 2023.</a> Subject The topic of the resource Movies Theater Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Rightsholder Being Researched Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Find a Grave Entertainment https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/d8aea2ea1475a4673a54f467bb9bde25.jpg ed0fd188f045aca8b308b48a86ba5608 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/9fe83cb2fa0130e6d5b4cb4c4007dc2b.jpg 2ebf57da41635fddb8acbe65a6c13d81 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Actors Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Type of Place Residential Date Started 1902-05-08 Source of File Attached “<a href="https://actorsfundhome.org/history">History</a>.” Actors Fund Home. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Actors Fund Home Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Joseph, Christina. "Actors' Fund Home asks benefactress to take bow." The Record, 24 Apr. 2003, p. L-3. “<a href="https://actorsfundhome.org/history">History</a>.” Actors Fund Home. Description An account of the resource For nearly a century, the <a href="https://actorsfundhome.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Actors Fund Home</a> has been one of Englewood's most distinctive institutions, serving as a refuge and community for generations of performers and entertainment professionals. Operated by the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund), the organization was founded in 1882 to provide assistance and support to actors and other members of the performing arts community during times of hardship. The Fund opened its first retirement home on Staten Island in 1902. In 1928, it relocated the facility to Englewood, purchasing the former estate of famed financier <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hetty_Green" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hetty Green</a>. Situated on a wooded hilltop property, the home quickly became a nationally recognized residence for retired entertainers. Newspaper accounts from the 1930s and 1940s described it as a vibrant community where aging actors, musicians, vaudeville performers, and stage veterans continued to share stories, friendships, and a lifelong love of the theater. The home became closely associated with legendary theatrical producer Daniel Frohman, who served as president of The Actors Fund and was frequently celebrated for his commitment to caring for aging performers. A 1933 newspaper profile on Frohman highlighted his belief that happiness came through helping others and noted his long involvement with the Fund and its residents. By the mid-twentieth century, the Actors Fund Home had become a cherished institution within the entertainment industry. A 1948 feature in The Boston Sunday Globe described the Englewood residence and its companion facility on Long Island as examples of how performers cared for their own through mutual aid and philanthropy. The article emphasized that the homes were supported largely through benefit performances and donations from members of the theatrical community. Throughout its history, the home welcomed hundreds of notable entertainers. Among its most famous residents were Joseph Sultzer ("Joe Smith") and Charles Marks ("Charlie Dale"), the celebrated vaudeville comedy team <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_and_Dale" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smith and Dale</a>. Their decades-long partnership inspired The Sunshine Boys and the earlier Broadway play of the same name by Neil Simon. Smith continued performing and speaking at schools even while living at the Englewood home, preserving the traditions of vaudeville for younger generations. Other residents included former Ziegfeld Follies dancer Marguerite St. Clair, actress Mary Hari, television performer Harriett Sappington, and countless stage actors, musicians, dancers, and technicians whose careers had helped shape American entertainment. Newspaper profiles often noted that while many residents had once appeared on Broadway, in vaudeville theaters, or in early motion pictures, they found companionship at the home among peers who understood the unique experiences of life in show business. The home also benefited from the support of prominent entertainers and philanthropists. In 2003, a major donation from <a href="https://thenytrust.org/news/lillian-booth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lillian Booth</a>, widow of philanthropist Ferris Booth, helped strengthen the institution during a difficult period for nursing facilities. The Englewood campus was subsequently renamed in her honor, becoming the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Booth_Actors_Home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lillian Booth Actors Home</a>. Over the decades, the facility evolved to meet changing needs. The original Green mansion was replaced in 1961 by a modern care facility. Subsequent expansions included the Percy Williams Wing (1975), the Edwin Forrest Wing (1988), the Natalie Schafer Enhanced Care Unit (1993), major renovations in 2009, the Shubert Pavilion rehabilitation center (2017), and the Friedman Pavilion memory-care facility (2019). Today, the Actors Fund Home remains a cornerstone of the Entertainment Community Fund's mission. The 169-bed facility provides rehabilitation services, assisted living, skilled nursing care, and memory care while continuing a tradition that began more than 140 years ago: ensuring that performers and entertainment professionals who spent their lives bringing joy to others have a community that will care for them in return. Richmond Times-Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1947 ("Stage Career in Richmond Recalled by Mary Marble") Boston Sunday Globe, June 13, 1948 ("How Actors Take Care of Their Own With Two Comfortable Houses") Hartford Courant, June 17, 1979 ("Vaudeville Still Flourishes Inside Actors Fund Home") The Record (Bergen County), Feb. 16, 1982 ("Curtain Still Up on Actors' Home") Daily Sentinel, May 20, 2003 ("$2 Million Donation Big Help for Actors' Home in Tough Times") Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Subject The topic of the resource Social Services Movies Theater Elderly Entertainment Housing