Trivia

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5 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Joan of Arc

On April 29, 1429, Joan of Arc entered the besieged city of Orleans and led the French to a victory over the invading English. Joan was eventually captured, imprisoned, and burned at the stake. Here are 5 interesting facts you didn't know about Joan of Arc...

Joan of Arc Had Many Names

She didn’t hail from a place called Arc, nor was her name Joan. Though illiterate, she could sign her name. When she did, she signed it "Johanne" or "Jehanne" which was translated to "Joan" by her English captors.  She didn't come from any place named Arc — she was born and raised in Domrémy in northeastern France. The surname "d'Arc" was a misunderstanding of her father's name which was pronounced "Dark" but written nine different ways in the original records. Her real name may have been one of several names, including Jehanne d'Arc, Jehanne Romée, Jehanne Tarc, or Jehanne de Vouthon. She even referred to herself as "Jehanne la Pucelle" throughout her trial in 1431 and even went so far as to claim that she didn't know what her actual last name was. It was not until the mid-19th century that her name was standardized as Joan of Arc.

Joan Never Fought in Battle

One of the things that Joan of Arc was most famous for was being a brave warrior during the Hundred Years' War between England and France. However, she was never actually an active part of the battle, nor did she kill any enemy. Instead, she served mainly as a symbolic figure that offered inspiration to those fighting. Despite this, she was wounded twice during the battles she attended, first by an arrow in her shoulder and later by when a crossbow bolt struck her in the thigh. 

She Was Burned At The Stake For Heresy

Joan was famously burned at the stake, but not necessarily for witchcraft, as legend has it.  She was charged with dozens of crimes, including sorcery, when she was captured by enemies in 1430. But by 1431, her charges were reduced to just 12, most of which had to do with her wearing men's clothing and claiming that God was speaking directly to her. She was offered life in prison in exchange for her admission of guilt, after which she signed a document confessing her wrongdoings. It is said that one evening the judges visited her in captivity and she was wearing men's clothing again and still hearing voices. They dubbed her a “relapsed heretic” and for this she was burnt at the stake.

Many Women Posed As Joan After Her Death

One of several women who posed as Joan in the years following her death was Claude des Armoises, who resembled the well-known heretic.  She together with Joan's two brothers Jean and Pierre, came up with a plan to pretend that Joan had escaped her captors to fool the people of Orleans. The three enjoyed being showered with gifts and travelling to receptions until Claude eventually confessed their scheme to Charles VII, who Joan had helped ascend in 1429.

She Inspired a Popular Haircut

The cute bob haircut was modeled after Joan of Arc's hair.  Joan claimed that the voices she heard had commanded her to wear men's clothing. But they also told her to cut her hair, too. A Paris hairdresser started a fashion for a short bob cut in 1909, claiming that Joan of Arc was the inspiration for the haircut. The look really caught on in the 1920s, popularized by silent film stars and embraced by the flapper set. 

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The 1939 World's Fair_3

The 1939 New York World’s Fair opened on April 30, 1939, which was the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington in New York City, the nation’s first capitol. Here are 5 things you probably didn't know about the 1939 World's Fair...

The Fair Featured Two Imposing Structures

Spanning 1,200 acres at Flushing Meadow Park in Queens, the fairground was marked by two imposing structures—the “Perisphere” and the “Trylon” —which quickly became symbols of the fair. Planners of the fair wanted to develop structures comparable to the Eiffel Tower, which was constructed for the Universal Exposition of 1889 in Paris, France. The Trylon and Perisphere were chosen for their unique yet simple shapes, which symbolized the fair's futuristic vibe. To get into the Perisphere, guests had to ride up an electric escalator, which was the longest of its kind back then. When visitors wanted to get back out, they had to go down the Helicline, a 950-foot-long curved ramp that took guests back to ground level.

The Fair Introduced Some New Technology

The 1939 World's Fair exhibited new technology such as FM radio, nylon fabric, the View-Master, robotics, and a crude fax machine. Norman Bel Geddes designed a Futurama ride for General Motors, and users were transported through an idealized city of the future. The fair was also the first public demonstration of several lighting technologies that would become common in future decades including the introduction of the fluorescent light by General Electric. Other exhibits included Vermeer’s painting The Milkmaid from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, a streamlined pencil sharpener, and early televisions. 

It Was The First Day Television Was Broadcasting In New York

The opening ceremony, which featured a speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt ushered in the first day of television broadcasting in New York. As a reflection of the wide range of technological innovation at the fair, Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech was not only broadcast over the various radio networks but also was televised on 200 television sets scattered throughout the New York metropolitan area. During this formal introduction at the fair, television sets became available for public purchase at various stores in the New York City area. 

A Popular Exibit Was The Westinghouse Time Capsule

One of the first exhibits to receive attention was the Westinghouse Time Capsule. The time capsule was a tube containing writings by Albert Einstein and Thomas Mann, copies of Life Magazine, a Mickey Mouse watch, a Gillette safety razor, a kewpie doll, a dollar in change, a pack of Camel cigarettes, millions of pages of text on microfilm, and much more. The capsule also contained seeds of foods in common use at the time: (wheat, corn, oats, tobacco, cotton, flax, rice, soy beans, alfalfa, sugar beets, carrots, and barley, all sealed in glass tubes). The time capsule is buried at a depth of 50 feet and is not to be opened for 5,000 years (the year 6939). 

The Fair Was A Financial Flop

Sixty-three nations participated in the fair, which enjoyed large crowds before the outbreak of World War II interrupted many of its scheduled events. The great fair attracted over 45 million visitors and generated roughly $48 million in revenue. Since the Fair Corporation had invested $67 million (in addition to nearly a hundred million dollars from other sources), it was a financial failure, and the corporation declared bankruptcy. The next day after the gates closed to the fair for the last time, demolition of the fair site started, including the Trylon and Perisphere. It's believed that some parts of the structures were used to make military weapons and equipment for the Second World War.

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5 Unexpected Facts About The Empire State Building_2

On May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building was officially opened when President Herbert Hoover turned the lights on with a push of a button from Washington, D.C. Think you already know a lot about this iconic landmark? We’ve got 5 more unexpected facts for you….

President Herbert Hoover Turned On The Lights

President Herbert Hoover was the man who turned on the lights in the Empire State Building for the first time. He never went to New York to accomplish this task. Approximately 200 miles away in Washington, D.C., Hoover pressed a button that signaled the instantaneous activation of the building’s electric illumination system. Some 350 guests attended the opening ceremony on the 86th floor including New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt.  Unfortunately, they chose the wrong day as the entire view was obscured by dense fog for the duration of the event. 

A B-52 Bomber Struck the Building in 1945

On the morning of July 28, 1945, while flying an Army B-52 bomber toward New York’s La Guardia Airport, Army Lt. Col. William F. Smith became disoriented in heavy fog and drifted over Midtown Manhattan. The World War II combat veteran was unable to avoid plowing into the 78th and 79th floors of the Empire State at 200 miles an hour. Smith and two crewmen were killed, as were 11 people inside the building. A four-alarm fire broke out on several floors but firefighters managed to extinguish it in just 40 minutes. Amazingly, the undamaged sections of the building were reopened for business just two days later.

Three People Have Parachuted Off The Building's Observation Deck

If you've ever been to the top of the Empire State Building, you know there is security and fencing up everywhere. And for good reason: In 1986, two daredevils successfully hid parachutes from security and launched themselves from the top of the building. Both survived and were arrested. Fourteen years later, another man followed suit and jumped from the observation deck. He managed to evade capture and later successfully jumped from the Chrysler Building, too. He was finally caught while attempting a jump from the World Trade Center.

It Has Its Own Personal Zip Code

Although the Empire State Building is geographically located within the boundaries of Manhattan’s 10001 ZIP code, it was assigned its own zip code of 10118 in 1980. The U.S. Postal Service says that a building with over 150 businesses located inside that receives mail can have its own zip code. (Unique zip codes are sometimes also assigned to universities and government agencies.)

The Sends a Father’s Day Card Every Year

William Frederick Lamb, the architect for the Empire State Building, used an old design of his for the Reynolds Building, as the model for the Empire State Building. As a fond gesture to the “parent” of the Empire State Building, a Father’s Day card is sent each year to the Reynolds Building in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to show gratitude for the grand design. It is probably the only known instance where a building sends a Father’s Day card to another building. The card simply reads, "Happy Anniversary, Dad.”

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5 Delicious Facts You Didn't Know About Cheerios_2

On May 2, 1941, General Mills began shipping Cheerioats, their new dry cereal, to different test markets. The breakfast cereal was later renamed Cheerios. Here are 5 delicious facts you probably didn’t know about Cheerios…

They Were Originally Called CheeriOats

A physicist named Lester Borchardt worked in Minnesota for General Mills in 1941 and helped invent the soon-to-be popular breakfast cereal. His team’s contribution was in developing a gun-shaped machine that caused oats to puff into an “o” shape. The original name of the cereal was Cheerioats, but a trademark infringement claim by Quaker caused General Mills to change the name to Cheerios in 1945. 

The First Mascot for Cheerios Was a Little Girl

Cheeri O’Leary was the name of the little girl who first appeared in the 1940s as the mascot in ads for Cheerios. During the 1950s and 1980s, animated television commercials featured the Cheerios Kid and a sidekick named Sue, where the Kid ate Cheerios and then went on to solve problems  and save the day— similar to Popeye eating his spinach. Those two characters were revived in 2012 to explain to viewers how Cheerios could help lower cholesterol.

Cheerios Boxes Were Early Examples of Cross-Marketing Campaigns

In the 1960s, General Mills had a media division dedicated to creating children’s cartoon programs. The division worked directly with studios such as Hanna-Barbera and Total Television, and with cartoonists such as Bullwinkle creator Jay Ward to create and supply fully-produced half-hour cartoon shows to television stations. Among the classics that they helped create were “The Bullwinkle Show,” “Underdog,” and “Tennessee Tuxedo and his Tales.” These popular animated characters that appealed to children soon began to appear in Cheerios commercials. General Mills then partnered with Disney to co-brand Cheerios boxes with comic books and the Mickey Mouse Club. Action figures of the Lone Ranger as well as small toys were also packaged inside Cheerios boxes.

It Was Decades Before Cheerios Came Out With a Different Flavor

General Mills only produced plain Cheerios for about 30 years, but began selling Cinnamon Nut Cheerios in 1976 and Honey Nut Cheerios three years later.  The Honey Nut Cheerios were a big hit and a bumble bee became recognized as its mascot. For nearly 20 years, that famous bee went mostly unnoticed because he didn't have a name. In 2000,  Kristine Tong, a fifth grade student from Coolidge, Texas, won a national contest to name the bee, dubbing him "BuzzBee". Honey Nut Cheerios has outsold the original flavor since 2009, and has been the #1 selling breakfast cereal in America every year since 2009.

There’s a “Cheerios Effect”

A Harvard University mathematician and graduate student attending Cambridge University used the name Cheerio Effect to demonstrate three physics concepts: surface tension, the meniscus effect and buoyancy. If one Cheerio is placed in a bowl with milk, its weight makes the cereal dip a little, which forms a dent in the milk, while an additional Cheerio will do the same thing. However, if the two pieces of cereal come close to each other, they will touch as though they are attracted to each other.

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About James Brown_2

On May 3, 1933, James Brown was born in a small wooden-frame shack in Barnwell, South Carolina. To celebrate the anniversary of his birthday, here are 5 things you didn't know about the legendary entertainer best known as ¨The Godfather of Soul.¨

He Is The Most Sampled Artist Of All Time

Having been sampled more than 5,200 times, James Brown is the most sampled artist of all time. Just the beat of “Funky Drummer” has been copied some 1,584 times by, among many others, Madonna, Britney Spears, George Michael, Public Enemy, Run DMC, Ice Tee, Jay-Z, and  Kanye West. 

Brown Fined Band Members Who Played a Bad Note

In March 1970, Brown fired his band for complaining about his system of fining anyone who played a wrong note. In their place he pulled in a young Cincinnati act named The Pacesetters, led by brother Catfish and Bootsy Collins, aged 27 and 19 respectively, and renamed them The JB’s. The first recording Brown made with The JBs as his band was “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine.”   It is regarded as one of the greatest and most important soul records ever made.

A Movie Restarted Brown’s Career

Disco appeared in the 1970s, sending Brown’s career into a nosedive.  He was rediscovered after he met John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd in Studio 54 in 1979 and they asked him to play Reverend Cleophus James in 1980 movie The Blues Brothers. By the mid-1980s his music was everywhere all over again, and he was earning millions from the myriad hit records that sampled his work. “There’d be no hip hop without James Brown,” clarified Chuck Dee of Public Enemy.

He Impersonated Little Richard

Early in his career, James Brown had the same manager as Little Richard, and on more than one occasion, the future Godfather of Soul impersonated his friend onstage when the rock and roll pioneer couldn't make a date. Brown reportedly did a great Little Richard impersonation, but he never managed to fool the audience. 

He Never Topped The Billboard Hot 100

Though Soul Brother No. 1 lived up to his nickname on the R&B chart, where he scored 17 No. 1 hits, none of his singles made it to the top of Billboard's pop chart. The one that came closest was his 1964 hit "I Got You (I Feel Good)," which peaked at No. 3.

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Rhode Island

On May 4, 1776, Rhode Island became the first colony to declare its independence from England and renounce its allegiance to King George III. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about Rhode Island.

The State Is Small, But The Name Is Big

The smallest state in the Union also boasted the longest official name: the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The name itself was a result of a land merger dating back to pre-Revolutionary War days when the two separate colonies — Rhode Island and Providence Plantations — joined up. Of course, the lengthy name was not without controversy. In 2009, a referendum proposed eradicating the latter half of the name. The vote to keep “and Providence Plantations” won, with advocates noting that the use of “plantations” is not a nod to slavery but an archaic English synonym for “colony.” But last November,. Rhode Island voters finally approved shortening the state’s official name and lopping off the centuries-old phrase  “and Providence Plantations” that supporters said held connotations of slavery.

Rhode Island Is a Small State With A Huge Population

Yes, Rhode Island's the smallest state in the U.S. But its population density—an estimated 1,050,292 people—is second only to New Jersey. According to Rhode Island's official government website, the distance from north to south is just 48 miles. If you want to travel from east to west, you'll only need to drive about 37 miles at the widest point. The total area of the state is about 1,500 square miles, but an astonishing 66% of that consists of bodies of water. So, those million or so Rhode Island residents are crammed into a region spanning 34% of habitable land.

The People of Rhode Island Have Some Strange Local Words

For a state so small, Rhode Island certainly has a large, unique vocabulary. In little Rhody, a “cabinet” is a milkshake and chocolate sprinkles are called  “jimmies.” A “grinder” is a submarine sandwich and “hot wieners” are hotdogs served with onions and mustard. Thirsty? You won't find a water fountain in Rhode Island, but they do have "bubblers." A "casino" is not necessarily a place to gamble in Rhode Island. This word refers to any public building including some form of entertainment, or fun attraction.

College Students Have Rhode Island to Thank for Pell Grants

If a Federal Pell Grant helped you pay for college, you can thank Rhode Island's longest-serving senator, Claiborne Pell. In 1972, Pell was the sponsor of the bill that reformed the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, which provides financial aid funding to college students. The grant was later given Pell's name in honor of his work in education legislation. 

A Rhode Island Governor Invented Sideburns

Governor Ambrose Burnside was a Union Army general during the Civil War, the first president of the National Rifle Association, and the inventor of … sideburns. The trend sparked by his unique facial hair was originally called "burnsides," until someone decided that reversing the name better defined the style.

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5 Celebrities Who Have Spent Time Behind Bars_2

On this day in 2007, Paris Hilton was sentenced to jail for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case for which she served 23 days behind bars. Here are 5 more celebrities you probably didn’t know that served time in jail...

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg was charged with the attempted murder and assault of two Vietnamese men at the age of 16. He attacked Thahn Lam first, knocking him unconscious with a large wooden stick while shouting racial epithets. Later that day, he attacked another man by punching him in the face. After the altercations, which reportedly both involved racial slurs. Wahlberg was sentenced to two years in prison for attempted murder but only served a 45 day prison sentence. "I want people to remember my past so that I can serve as an example of how lives can be turned around," Mark wrote in a request for pardon.

James Brown

"The Godfather of Soul” experienced some unwanted media attention in 1988. During a seminar in Georgia, James Brown entered the room armed with a shotgun and a pistol. After clearing the area, he sped off in a car with the police in pursuit. Three of the tires on his car were shot out, but Brown kept on driving on the rims, until he ended up in a ditch. Brown later said that he felt threatened by white officers. The judge sentenced him to six and a half years for aggravated assault and failing to stop for a police officer. He received a pardon after serving only 15 months behind bars.

Don King

With an outrageous and rather odd hairdo and flamboyant mannerism, no other man has managed to make a fortune out of promoting boxers as much as Don King. King has been charged with killing two people in incidents 13 years apart. The first was determined to be justifiable homicide after it was found that King shot Hillary Brown in the back and killed him while he was attempting to rob one of King's gambling houses in 1954. In 1967, King was convicted of second-degree murder for the second incident, in which he stomped to death an employee who owed him $600. For this, he served three years and eleven months in prison.

Tim Allen

Allen is most recognized for his role on the sitcom Home Improvement, and for his voiceover work (Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story). The comedian and actor  pleaded guilty in 1978 to drug trafficking after being caught by an undercover agent with 1.4 pounds of cocaine at a Michigan airport. He ended up spending 28 months in prison for the offense. It could have been life, but Allen plea-bargained by giving the police the names of almost two dozen drug dealers in exchange for a lesser sentence. "It was a watershed moment. It put me in a position of great humility, and I was able to make amends to friends and family and refocus my life on setting and achieving goals," Allen said.

Robert Downey Jr.

In 1996, Robert Downey Jr. was pulled over for speeding and ended up being arrested on charges of driving under the influence and for having heroin, cocaine, crack, and a gun in his car. He spent time in jail and rehab but after violating his parole, he was sentenced to six months in jail. Then in 1999, he missed one of his court-ordered drug tests and was sentenced to a three year stint at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison. After a year in prison, a judge ruled that his collective time in incarceration facilities qualified him for early release.

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About "Friends"_2

On May 6, 2004, an estimated 51 million people tuned in to watch the final original episode of "Friends." Here are six surprising things you probably didn’t know about NBC’s long-running comedy series...

“Insomnia Café” Was The Original Name Of The Sitcom

It would be tough to imagine Friends being named anything else. But before this simple name was chosen, other names were considered for the show. The show's creators originally created a pitch for a sitcom called Insomnia Café. Not only was the name of the show different, but so was the plot, with Joey and Monica being love interests instead of Ross and Rachel. When the pilot was bought by NBC, they changed the name to Friends Like Us and considered naming it Across the Hall. It changed again to Six of One, but finally ended up as Friends by the time it premiered in September 1994. 

Phoebe's Twin Sister Ursula Was Also A Character On Mad About You

Phoebe's twin sister, Ursula, wasn't just featured on Friends. She was also a character in another popular sitcom, Mad About You. In fact, Lisa Kudrow, who plays both Phoebe and Ursula, was already playing the character of Ursula on Mad About You before being cast on Friends. Friends producers decided to say the characters were twin sisters to address the potential confusion among viewers who may have been watching both shows with the same actor.

The Show Could Have Had a Different Cast

With a cast of six main characters, it's not surprising to know that many different actors were considered to play the different roles in Friends. For example, Kathy Griffin and Jane Lynch actually became friends after meeting while both were auditioning for the part of Phoebe.  Jon Cryer and Jon Favreau were considered role of Chandler before it went to Mathew Perry.  Meanwhile, Perry almost didn't get the gig either. During the 1994 pilot season of Friends, Perry was also filming a pilot for the show LAX 2194. The show was about baggage handlers at LAX who sorted aliens’ luggage. Thankfully, that show was never picked up, leaving Perry committed to the role of Chandler Bing.

The Cast Members Negotiated Their Salaries as a Group

Each actor was initially paid $22,000 per episode during the first season, but salaries started to differ by the second season. As a result, all of members of the cast joined together and insisted on an equal salary of $100,000 in 1997; otherwise, they refused to work. Their group effort paid off, as they eventually each went on to earn a whopping $1 million per episode by the final season.

Bruce Willis Appeared On The Show After Losing A Bet To Mathew Perry

In 2000, Bruce Willis appeared with Matthew Perry in the movie The Whole Nine Yards.  During the filming, Perry bet Willis that the movie would be number one in the box office on its opening weekend. Willis bet against this achievement and inevitably lost when the film reached the top spot in February 2000. As a result of the bet, Willis had to appear on Friends and donate his pay to charity.

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About "The Scream"_2

On May 7, 1994, Norway’s most famous painting, “The Scream” by Edvard Munch, was recovered almost three months after it was stolen from a museum in Oslo. To celebrate this anniversary, here are five things you didn't know about one of the most famous paintings in the world...

The Thieves Left a Thank You Note

On the opening day of the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer on February 12, 1994, most people were busy watching the games, so the streets were fairly empty when the painting was stolen from the National Gallery during daylight hours.  The security around The Scream was more than lax. Adding insult to injury, the thieves left a polite note saying, “Thanks for the poor security.”  The painting was recovered three months later, and four men stood trial for the robbery. However, a legal technicality meant all four were later released without charge.

“The Scream” Isn’t a Single Piece of Art

While we all probably assume that The Scream is a standalone painting, it's actually only one of four pieces. In 1893, the Norwegian artist made a painted version as well as a crayon piece. A pastel version was then created two years later, followed by another format using tempera paints in 1910, marking the final piece.

"The Scream" Was Not Its Original Name

"The Scream" seems so fitting for this piece of artwork, but it actually wasn't the original name of the painting. Before the final name was chosen, Munch intended to name the piece The Scream of Nature. The name came from a poem he wrote in 1895, which depicts a man suffering melancholy while trekking through a frightening scene filled with a blood-red sky, black fjord, and tongues of fire. The poem ends with the phrase, "I felt the great Scream in Nature."

It Inspired The Mask Of Wes Craven's Scream Killer

Wes Craven's hit thriller film "Scream" involved a mysterious character disguised wearing a black grim reaper-like robe and white face mask that eerily resembles that of the person featured in Munch's famous painting. There's a reason why the two are similar: Craven admits that the mask was inspired by what he calls one of his favorite works of art.

Two Million M&M's Were Offered As A Reward For Its Return

Art thieves targeted another version of the painting at the Munch Museum in 2004, but this time the thieves stole “The Scream” and “Madonna.” The candy bar company Mars, Inc. decided to get involved in the recovery efforts as a way to market its new dark chocolate M&M's. The company offered a reward of 2 million dark chocolate M&M’s for the return of the stolen paintings. It apparently worked, because days later, a prisoner entered a plea deal with law enforcement. The location of the painting would be revealed in exchange for conjugal visits and the candy. When the painting was recovered, Mars decided the police on the case deserved the candy instead. In the end, the police decided that the cash value of the prize — $26,000 — should be given to the Munch Museum.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Saturday Night Live_4

On May 8, 2010, Betty White became the oldest person to host Saturday Night Live at age 88. Fans of the actress had called for SNL to give her the opportunity to host, creating a Facebook campaign that went viral.  To honor this anniversary, here are 5 things you might not have known about the legendary sketch show.

Will Ferrell Was SNL's Highest Paid Cast Member

During the first season of Saturday Night Live, cast members earned $750 a week. Fortunately, by season two, their wages increased to $2,000, and they earned $4,000 a week during season four. The highest-paid member was comedian Will Ferrell who made $350,000 per season in 2001.

SNL Rejected Comedian Jim Carrey Not Once But Twice

Jim Carrey actually was rejected TWICE, once in 1980 and again in 1985. SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels never got to see Carrey's audition for the 1980 to 1981 season, explaining that the comedian was rejected by one of the show's staff members. Michaels has stated that Carrey was one of the more confusing rejections of the show. Jim Carrey would go on to have an immensely successful comedy career, and did eventually make his way onto the SNL set. Carrey hosted the show three times and he also appeared in the star-studded lineup for the series' 40th anniversary special in 2015.

Larry David Quit As a Writer But Then Pretended That He Hadn't

Larry David wrote for SNL in the 1980s, but was always struggling to get his sketches on the air. Five minutes before the show went live one Saturday night, he went up to Dick Ebersol, the producer at that time, and said, “I’ve had it. I quit.” After he left, he realized how much money he had just cost himself, so he decided to show up to work on Monday as if the incident never happened. The crazy idea worked, and Larry David continued working at SNL for the rest of the season. The story was later used in an episode of Seinfeld.

The Beatles Almost Reunited On SNL

In 1976, six years after they had disbanded, The Beatles were offered $230 million by promoter Sid Bernstein to appear together as a band, which they promptly refused. Soon afterwards, Lorne Michaels made a live plea to the Beatles to reunite as musical guests on SNL, stating that NBC had authorized him to offer them “a certified check for $3,000.” John Lennon said they actually considered it. “Paul and I were together watching that show,” Lennon said. “He was visiting us at our place in the Dakota. We were watching it and almost went down to the studio, just as a gag. We nearly got into a cab, but we were actually too tired.”

Eddie Murphy Hosted The Show While He Was A Cast Member

Eddie Murphy became the only person to host the show while still a cast member. Murphy took over for Nick Nolte when the actor, after partying at Studio 54, was too ill to host the show. Apparently, Murphy’s hosting of the show wasn’t too popular with other members of the cast. It probably didn’t help much when he announced “Live from New York, it's the Eddie Murphy Show!"

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Honeymooners_3

On May 9, 1971, the final episode of the sitcom The Honeymooners, starring Jackie Gleason aired on CBS. Think you're a Honeymooner fanatic? Here are five interesting facts you probably didn't know about the show...

In The Beginning, There Was A Different Alice

In 1951, sketches of The Honeymooners appeared regularly on “Cavalcade of Stars,” which was Jackie Gleason’s variety show. Pert Kelton, a former vaudevillian, originated the role of Alice, and probably would have remained on board had her husband, Ralph Bell, not sponsored a 1948 ad in The Daily Worker, which was a communist newspaper. Bell was branded a Communist, which got the husband and wife  blackballed from the industry. Kelton was guilty of fascism by association so, despite Gleason’s protests, the network terminated her while telling the viewing public that she’d left for health reasons. Audrey Meadows appeared on the CBS series as her replacement.

Only One Of The Show's Stars Received Lifetime Residuals

Audrey Meadows probably laughed all the way to the bank when her two brothers, both lawyers, insisted on putting a residuals clause in her contract when she signed it in 1952. The network agreed to the clause and granted her residual income for any episode that was re-broadcast. That lack of foresight cost the network heavily, and payments were made to Meadows for the next four decades.

Norton's Signature Hat Belonged To Art Carney

In his role as sewer worker Ed Norton, Art Carney always sported a battered pork pie hat. The hat belonged to Carney himself, which he bought in 1935 while he was in high school. In a 1985 interview with People magazine, Carney said that he still had the hat stashed in the closet of his home in Westbrook, Connecticut. Carney died in his sleep of natural causes on November 9, 2003, five days after his 85th birthday. Carney's son Brian now proudly sports the pork pie hat that his dad made famous.

Jackie Gleason Didn’t Believe in Rehearsals

Jackie Gleason didn’t believe in rehearsals, mainly because he preferred his performance to be spontaneous, and partially because he preferred to spend his afternoons hanging out with friends at Toots Shor’s, the legendary Manhattan restaurant and saloon. Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie, rehearsed by themselves with someone else reading Gleason's lines.

Gleason Called It Quit After Just One Season

The Honeymooners was a big hit after it premiered, and Gleason was nicknamed the “king of Saturday night television. However, by fall, The Perry Como Show moved into the time slot opposite The Honeymooners and caused ratings for the show to drop. Gleason decided to pull the plug on the show after only 39 episodes, stating that the writers had exhausted all possible plots for the show.  The Honeymooners would return once again as a recurring skit on The Jackie Gleason Show  whenever Art Carney was available. According to Gleason, Carney was “90 percent” responsible for the success of The Honeymooners.

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About J. Edgar Hoover

On May 10, 1924, J. Edgar Hoover began his 48-year tenure as the FBI director. During his tenure, Hoover became a national icon and  personally shaped American criminal justice in the 20th century. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about J. Edgar Hoover.

The Mob Made Him an Offer He Couldn’t Refuse

In the 1950s, when La Cosa Nostra was at the height of its power, the Federal Bureau of Investigation not only did nothing about it, but Hoover also actively denied that it was even a real thing. The Special Committee on Organized Crime held several public hearings in which they concluded that organized crime was, in fact, very real. Hoover, however, dismissed the claim as “baloney.” The prevailing theory is that the mob had some dirt on Hoover that would have exposed that he was a member of LGBTQ+ community.

Hoover Dug up Dirt On Everybody

Throughout his career, Hoover ordered his agents to keep track of pretty much anyone he considered a threat - which was a lot of people. Anyone with a high profile was fair game for Hoover. As a result, Hoover's FBI compiled thousands of pages of intelligence on notable individuals including JFK, Martin Luther King, Liberace, Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller and even Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame.

Hoover’s FBI Didn’t Allow Women

Not only did Herbert Hoover not allow women to join the Bureau as agents, but he also forbid women from wearing slacks and insisted that all female employees of the FBI wear skirts or dresses to work. Hoover didn’t even let women smoke at their desks because he considered smoking a “perk” for men alone to indulge in.

Hoover Kept a Close Eye On Albert Einstein

Hoover was extremely suspicious of Albert Einstein, and sent out several memos in which he advocated keeping Einstein away from government business. Hoover was so obsessed with Einstein, that the FBI file on Einstein was over 1,800 pages, none of which ever actually found the scientist guilty of wrongdoing. When the physicist was hired onto the Manhattan Project, the FBI stated, “In view of his radical background, this office would not recommend the employment of Dr. Einstein on matters of a secret nature without a very careful investigation, as it seems unlikely that a man of his background could, in such a short time, become a loyal American citizen.”

It Is Believed That Hoover Wore Women’s Perfume

There were many rumors that Hoover wore women’s clothing in his downtime. During the Gridiron Club dinner attended by President Bill Clinton, he joked, “I might have to pick an FBI Director, and it’s going to be hard to fill J. Edgar Hoover’s pumps.” It was also common knowledge that the FBI director preferred to wear women’s perfume over men’s cologne—something he refused to talk about.

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know about Bob Marley_3

On May 11, 1981, Reggae star Bob Marley died at the age of 36, leaving a musical legacy that remains popular still today.  Get your reggae on with these 5 facts you probably didn’t know about Bob Marley...

He Worked for Chrysler and DuPont

A little-known, surprising fact about Marley is that he actually lived in the United States for a short time in the mid 1960s. He had initially followed his mother to Delaware after she remarried, living close to her in the town of Wilmington. While there, he surprisingly worked on the Chrysler assembly line and also as a lab assistant at DuPont. But his heart wasn't in either job and when his visa ran out, he moved back to Jamaica to continue with music with the Wailers. Wilmington holds a People's Festival every summer in Marley's honor.

The "Is This Love" Video Features a Very Young Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell was just seven years old when she appeared in Marley’s video “Is This Love.” The video was shot in London at the Keskidee Community Centre in 1978, and shows Marley singing and playing with kids, including a young Naomi Campbell. The supermodel said of the experience, "I was just seven, and didn't know what it would involve. I didn't realize Bob Marley would be standing right next to me, tucking me under a blanket. He was the most handsome man, with beautiful bone structure; mellow, too, and soft-spoken, with a strong Jamaican accent, the kind I already knew from home."

The Wailers Were Originally 'The Teenagers'

In 1963, Marley and his friends Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer started a band called The Teenagers. They later renamed themselves The Wailing Rudeboys, and then The Wailing Wailers and finally The Wailers. The young men spent much of their time listening to rhythm and blues on American radio stations, and used the word “wailers” as a reference to their social and economic position in Trenchtown, a deprived area where they were “born wailing.”

Marley Is a Top-Earning Dead Celebrity

Marley ranks number eight on the Forbes list of top-earning dead celebrities. In 2020, his estate earned $13 million– more than the likes of Prince, Marliyn Monroe and John Lennon. Bob Marley also saw his music streams soar last year—the reggae legend accumulated more than a billion streams globally. House of Marley, his line of speakers, turntables and headphones, and sales of T-shirts and lighters adorned with his likeness also added more than $3 million to his coffers.

Marley Died From Cancer That Started in His Toe

Marley died at age 36 from a rare form of cancer called acral melanoma that began under his toenail. Acral melanoma forms on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet or under a nail and is not caused by sun exposure. Although he was advised to have the toe removed, he refused, and the cancer spread quickly, reaching his lungs, brain and other parts of his body. Marley was Rastafarian and cited his religious beliefs as the reason he refused the amputation, and by the time he sought medical treatment, it was too late.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Katharine Hepburn

On May 12, 1907, Katharine Hepburn was born in Hartford, Connecticut.  To honor the birthday of one of the most celebrated actresses of the 20th century, here are 5 things you probably didn't know about Katharine Hepburn.

She Found Her Brother Dead When She Was 13 Years Old

Hepburn lived a privileged childhood, but it was not without tragedy.  When she was just 13 years old, she found her 15-year-old brother Tom hanging from the rafters after strangling himself to death. The family asserted that it wasn’t suicide but instead a magic trick gone awry since Tom had tried a mock-hanging trick once before.  Regardless, the incident cast a dark shadow over the rest of Hepburn's life.

She Held The Record For Most Oscar Nominations... Until Meryl Streep Came Along

With her Best Actress nomination for the film On Golden Pond in 1981, Katherine Hepburn set a record for the most nominations ever earned by an actor: 12. This record stood until 2002, when Meryl Streep was nominated for her 13th for a supporting role in Adaptation (since then, Streep’s nomination count has risen to a whopping 21). When it comes to actual wins, however, Hepburn comes out on top: Streep has three wins, while Hepburn has won four.

Hepburn Once Dumped Water on Ginger Rogers

On the set of Stage Door, Ginger Rogers was flaunting a new mink coat when Katherine Hepburn approached Ginger Rogers and poured water on it, explaining that if the coat was, real mink, it wouldn't shrink. It was assumed that the behavior was brought on by her jealousy of Rogers, since Hepburn’s boyfriend Howard Hughes had reportedly shown an interest in her.  Asked about the incident in an interview, Ginger Rogers said, “Don’t ask me, I haven’t the foggiest notion why she did it.”

She Had A Decades Long Affair With Spencer Tracy

Katherine Hepburn's life and career were dominated by her love affair with Spencer Tracy. The couple lived together for 27 years despite the fact that Spencer Tracy was still married to his wife Louise Treadwell. Tracy left the family home in 1933, and he and Louise openly discussed their separation with the media, maintaining that they were still friends and had not taken divorce action. Tracy was unhappily married and the father of two when they met, and he remained married until the end of his life. Over the course of his relationship with Hepburn, the two lovers starred in nine films together including Pat and Mike in 1952 and Adam’s Rib in 1949.  Just a few weeks after filming their final film together Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Spencer Tracy passed away after suffering a heart attack at age 67.

She Chose To Buy Out Her Contract For "The Lake" Rather Than Finish Out The Run

Katherine Hepburn made her successful Broadway debut in Art and Mrs. Bottle in 1930, and appeared in The Warrior’s Husband in 1932. Her third play however, The Lake was a major flop. Not long into its Broadway run, a 26-year-old Hepburn was so miserable—and treated so poorly by director Jed Harris—that she bought out her contract and simply walked away.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Battle of The Sexes_3

On May 13, 1973, tennis stars Bobby Riggs and Margaret Court faced off in a $10,000 winner-take-all challenge match. The 55-year-old Riggs branded the contest a “Battle of the Sexes.” It drew in plenty of spectators, but not nearly as many as the follow-up Battle of the Sexes between Riggs and another top female tennis player, Billie Jean King. Here are 5 things you didn't know about the Battle of the Sexes"...

Billie Jean King Initially Turned Bobby Riggs Down

Bobby Riggs had originally proposed a male-female match-up to Billie Jean King, whom he dubbed the “leading women’s libber of tennis.” King ignored the offer, but Australian Margaret Court, who had won 89 of her last 92 matches and was the leading money-winner on the women’s professional tour, accepted. Leading up to the match, Riggs loudly and consistently belittled women’s tennis and its players to the media while Court, occupied with raising her one-year-old son, said little.

Bobby Riggs' Had Home Court Advantage

The famous match between Riggs and Court was played in Ramona, California, at the San Vicente Country Club, Riggs' home turf. Margaret Court was a serve-and volley player, known for her tough play at the net. By contrast, Riggs was a baseliner, and it later became known that he had the court resurfaced to slow the game, giving him time to wind up and put more power into his stroke. The slow surface immediately put Court at a disadvantage. Rather than firing shots back at Court, as she was accustomed to, Riggs lobbed them. This messed with the hard-hitting rhythm that Court was used to. Rattled, she lost the match, 6-2, 6-1. Riggs ended up taking home the $10,000 prize, and the proceeds were donated to the American Diabetes Association.

Billie Jean King Agreed to a Match After Riggs Taunted Female Tennis Players

The moment the match ended, Riggs again challenged Billie Jean King. She accepted, and their $100,000 winner-take-all match took place on September 20, 1973, in front of a sold-out Houston Astrodome crowd. The nationally televised game aired on ABC in a prime time slot. Some dubbed the match "the libber vs. the lobber." The 29-year old King prevailed 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, and took home the $100,000 winner-take-all prize.

Rumors Flew That the Mob Had Fixed the Match

One of the greatest urban legends in tennis is the subject of a terrific, in-depth piece by ESPN’s Don Van Natta. In his article, “The Match Maker: Bobby Riggs, The Mafia and The Battle of the Sexes,” Van Natta traces the origins of the long-held rumor that Bobby Riggs threw the 1973 Battle of the Sexes. Riggs was allegedly deeply in debt to the mob for a lot of money. Riggs died in October 1995 at the age of 77. His son, Larry, told ESPN his father knew people involved with the mafia and that it was "possible" he discussed throwing the match.  

The Match Between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs is Still the Most-Watched Tennis Match Ever

While nearly five decades have passed since the infamous match at the Houston Astrodome, it is still known as the most-watched tennis match ever. Over 30,000 people were in attendance at the match, and more than 90 million others tuned in to catch the match on TV across the world. More importantly, the match is regarded as a turning point in women's sports and one that solidified the term "battle of the sexes" in the world of American sports.

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5 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Seinfeld_2

On the evening of May 14, 1998, an estimated 76 million TV viewers tuned in to watch the final episode of Seinfeld. Think you're a Seinfeld trivia expert? Here are five surprising facts you probably didn't know about about the show... 

The Opening Music For Every Single Episode Was Different

Those mouth pops, and bass notes that made up the Seinfeld theme song are truly unique and synonymous with the infamous show. But while it may have sounded like Jerry Seinfeld's opening monologue was accompanied by the exact same music, each track was actually made individually by composer Jonathan Wolff based on the comic's specific monologue. Wolff claimed that his musical creations for the show's opening monologue were built on certain factors, including what Seinfeld was saying and the length of the monologue. As such, the music had to be re-done for each episode.

The Real Soup Nazi Said Seinfeld Ruined His Life

Al Yeganeh, the real soup store owner upon whom The Soup Nazi is based on, was not pleased with the way he was depicted in the series.  When he was interviewed on CNN, he called Seinfeld  "a clown" and said the use of “the N word—the Nazi word—is disgraceful.” He further claimed that Seinfeld was made famous because of him, and not the other way around. When the interviewer countered that “you’re famous because of him,” Yeganeh insisted “No. He got fame through me. I made him famous." Yeganeh  then banned Jerry Seinfeld from his restaurant.

The Actress Who Played Jerry's Mother Dated James Dean

Seinfeld has cast a number of famous actors, many of whom were very popular in Hollywood long before the show began in 1989. One of those actors is Elizabeth Sheridan, who played Jerry's mother. The actress was prominent in Broadway productions in the 1970s and dozens of feature films and prime-time TV network movies. Perhaps not as well known about Sheridan is the fact that she dated actor James Dean for about a year before he made it big in Hollywood. She even penned a book about the experience called Dizzy & Jimmy: My Life with James Dean.

Seinfeld Turned Down $110 Million For A Tenth Season

On May 14, 1998, The Finale aired, marking the last episode of the show that lasted nine seasons. The show could have seen a tenth season, through the comedian opted against it. When Seinfeld turned down the chance to earn $5 million per episode—a grand total of $110 million—to come back for a tenth season, the network finally realized that he wasn’t kidding around.

Seinfeld Begins and Ends With Buttons

It might take binge-watching the entire series several times to realize that the very first conversation George and Jerry had in the pilot episode and their last conversation in the finale are about a poorly-placed button. In fact, the dialogues are almost word-for-word.

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5 Awful Things You Didn't Know About George Wallace

On May 15, 1972, George Wallace, the governor of Alabama was shot while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination. Wallace was known for his position on segregation and extreme racism, but there are many other things about the controversial American figure that you may not know about. Here are 5 awful facts about George Wallace, the most racist politician in modern history.

He Promised “Segregation Now, Tomorrow, And Forever”

George Wallace famously promised segregation to remain in the US forever. In fact, segregation became the basis of his 1962 gubernatorial race. Wallace even made a campaign slogan out of it, saying “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever!” White supremacists in the south applauded this motto, and his position on the matter helped him win the role of Governor of Alabama. He would then use his power to fight to keep segregation for years to come.

He Loved The Song "Sweet Home Alabama" Despite Being "Booed"

Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd's classic tune "Sweet Home Alabama" was released in 1974. The lyrics in the song mentions that “[in] Birmingham they love the governor,” a shoutout that Wallace certainly appreciated. He was said to love the song, but it might not have actually been complimentary of him. The lyric is followed up by “Boo! Boo! Boo! We all did what we could do,” hinting that Skynyrd may not have been Wallace’s biggest fans and might have tried to vote him out of office.

His Wife Served as a Surrogate Governor

When the 1966 gubernatorial elections rolled around in Alabama, George Wallace wasn't ready to let go of his desegregation stranglehold on the state. However, at the time, Alabama didn't allow governors to serve two consecutive terms. So, he decided to have his wife, Lurleen, run as a surrogate candidate. Lurleen Wallace won the election, but she was ill throughout its entirety. George had previously been informed by her doctor that she had cancer, but he chose to hide that fact from her so that she could complete the campaign. This prevented her from seeking treatment for the cancer, and she died shortly into her stint as governor.

He Considered Colonel Sanders As His Presidential Running Mate

It's not surprising that George Wallace had a tough time finding a running mate when he ran for president in 1968. After all, who would want to tie their political career to a racist? In searching for partners in the 1968 election, Wallace wanted someone with a military background, but he compromised on a different sort of colonel. Wallace seriously considered Colonel Harland Sanders, the KFC icon, as his running mate. In the end, he chose former Air Force General Curtis LeMay, and Colonel Sanders saved himself from a finger-licking bad decision.

He Was Shot And Paralyzed During 1972 Campaign Trail

Unsurprisingly, Wallace gained a lot of haters because of his racist position and stance on segregation. His hatred was redirected back at him, and in 1972 on the campaign trail, Wallace was shot by 21-year-old Arthur Bremer. Three others were wounded, and Wallace was left permanently paralyzed from the waist down. He remained in the hospital for several months, bringing his third presidential campaign to an end. Bremer was convicted and sentenced to 63 years in jail but was eventually released in 2007, long after Wallace died.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Jim Henson And His Muppets_2

Jim Henson, creator of Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the other Muppets who entertained and educated millions of preschoolers around the world, died on this day in 1990.  Here are 5 things you may not know about Jim Henson and his Muppets...

Henson Invented The Name "Muppet"

The term Muppet was invented by Jim Henson at the beginning of his career to describe his puppet act. It is sometimes claimed, and refuted, that Henson created the term as a combination of the words marionette and puppet. Henson used the Muppet name to define the characters in his productions, and to distinguish his act from those of other puppeteers.

The Muppet Show Wasn't Henson's First Television Program

Before he created "The Muppet Show," Jim Henson's first television venture was called "Sam and Friends," a puppet ensemble show that ran from 1955 to 1961. In addition to featuring the original version of Kermit the Frog, a wide array of early Muppets appeared on "Sam and Friends" including Harry the Hipster, Icky Gunk, and Pierre the French Rat.

Kermit Wasn't Originally A Frog

In the early days of the Muppets, the character Kermit was not a frog. His  body was made out of Jim Henson’s mother’s old coat, and his eyes were made out of ping pong balls. He was introduced in 1955 with roundish feet instead of flippers and no collar. He was more turquoise than his signature green. As Jim Henson described: "all the characters in those days were abstract"; Kermit was simply a lizard-like creature, and was not a specific species. Over the years, Kermit gained the frog collar, turned green, and grew webbed feet. As Henson put it: "We frogified him."

Henson Was a Consultant for The Empire Strikes Back

George Lucas consulted Jim Henson when he was creating the Yoda character for The Empire Strikes Back. Henson suggested that his colleague, Frank Oz, should perform and voice the character, and Oz nailed. it! Henson and Lucas stayed friends throughout the years. In fact, on the first day of shooting Labyrinth, George Lucas arranged for Darth Vader to hand Jim Henson him a good luck card.

Cookie Monster Evolved From a Character In An IBM Training Video

Henson created a training film for IBM in 1967 that featured "The Wheel Stealer," a character that suspiciously resembled Cookie Monster. In the film, the monster eats a coffee machine while identifying the parts. The character reappeared a few years later, minus the sharp teeth as "Cookie Monster" on Sesame Street. In a song in 2004, Cookie Monster revealed that, before he ate his first cookie, his name was Sid.

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About The NYSE_2

On May 17, 1792, the New York Stock Exchange was founded by brokers meeting under a tree on what is now Wall Street. Here are five surprising facts you probably didn’t know about the NYSE...

It Isn’t America’s Oldest Stock Exchange

The New York Stock Exchange was established in 1792 when a few dozen merchants and stockbrokers gathered in front of 68 Wall Street and began trading. Yet despite its age, the NYSE doesn't have the distinction of being the first U.S. stock exchange. That instead goes to the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, which was founded in 1790. As the center of economic power shifted to New York from Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia exchange waned in importance, as the NYSE gained financial supremacy – a role that it maintains to this day.

The Bank of New York Was The First Stock Listed On The NYSE

In 1792, The Bank of New York, founded by Alexander Hamilton, became the first stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The original company whose shares traded as The Bank of New York in 1792 is now the Bank of New York Mellon and is still fully operational in Manhattan. This bank traces its roots back to Alexander Hamilton, who wrote the bank's constitution. The bank provided the U.S. government its first loan in 1789. The loan was orchestrated by Hamilton, then Secretary of the Treasury, and it paid the salaries of United States Congress members and President George Washington.

The Buttonwood Agreement Is On Display

The original agreement from 1792, held underneath a buttonwood tree, listed the exchange’s responsibilities. It is still on display on the 7th floor of the exchange, protected in a temperature controlled glass case. The Buttonwood Agreement reads, " We the Subscribers, Brokers for the Purchase and Sale of Public Stock, do hereby solemnly promise and pledge ourselves to each other, that we will not buy or sell from this day for any person whatsoever, any kind of Public Stock ,at a less rate than one quarter per cent Commission on the Specie value of and that we will give a preference to each other in our Negotiations. In Testimony whereof we have set our hands this 17th day of May of New York 1792."

The Stock Exchange Used to Ring in the Day With a Chinese Gong

Until 1903, a day at the NYSE began by ringing a Chinese gong. The gong was replaced with two brass bells that rang at the same time, but it was annoyingly loud and one was moved to a separate room to lower the noise. There are four bells used now, which are located in the four main parts of the stock exchange, and they are rung each day at 9:30 a.m. and again at closing at 4:00 p.m. The bell is rung for 10 seconds to open the exchange in the morning and for 15 seconds to close it in the afternoon. Any deviation from those times often sees traders booing the ringer! On three-day weekends, at 3:33 in the afternoon, the traders shout “Whoop, whoop.”

Guests Are Invited to Ring the Opening Bell

A little boy, age 10, was the first person to ring the opening bell as a guest back in 1956 as a prize he won in a television quiz show game. After the 1990s, the practice of inviting guests to ring the bell became more common and was granted to companies who had just announced a public offering or were starting a new business unit. Celebrities and world leaders are sometimes invited too. Celebrities such as Sylvester Stallone, Liza Minnelli, and Snoop Dogg have all rung the bell.  World leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Tony Blair have also pushed the button that starts the day.

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5 Revolutionary Facts You Didn't Know About "Les Misérables"

On May 18, 2003, "Les Misérables," one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, closed after more than 16 years and 6,680 performances. Here are five things you probably didn't know about "Les Misérables."

Oliver! Inspired The Show

While the French Lyricist, Alain Boublil, was watching a performance of "Oliver!" in London, inspiration struck him that a lovable, street-dwelling young rascal could provide a focus for "Les Misérables." “As soon as the Artful Dodger came on stage,” Boublil recalled, “Gavroche came to mind. It was like a blow to the solar plexus. I started seeing all the characters of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables—Valjean, Javert, Gavroche, Cosette, Marius, and Eponine—in my mind’s eye, laughing, crying, and singing onstage.”

Early Reviews of the Musical Were Terrible

Most critics hated Les Mis when it opened at the Barbican Theatre in London.  The Observer’s Michael Ratcliffe dismissed the show as “a witless and synthetic entertainment.” The musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel also received complaints that the three-and-a-half hour show was overlong and overwrought. The producer, Cameron Mackintosh, remained devastated until he visited the box office the next day. There, he learned that out that Les Mis had sold an astonishing 5,000 tickets in less than 24 hours after its maiden performance. 

Jim Henson's Memorial Service Included a Song From The Musical

Jim Henson, the creator of Kermit the Frog and countless of other Muppets, adored the song "Bring Him Home" from the musical. After he passed away, a memorial was held in New York on May 21, 1990, just five days after Henson's death.  The service began with an organ rendition of the Sesame Street theme song, and "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie. It also included a beautiful rendition of “Bring Him Home”  by Louise Gold, a regular on "The Muppet Show.

The Original Broadway Cosette Was Also The Voice of Disney's Pocahontas

Before taking on the role of Cosette in Les Misérables, Judy Kuhn worked with lyricist Stephen Schwartz on a musical called Rags, which was a major failure and closed after only four performances. She must have made a good impression on Schwartz because he asked her to record a conceptual song the animated film about Pocahontas.  She agreed and eventually sang the title role in the 1995 film Pocahontas, including her rendition of that song "Colors of the Wind", which won its composers the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

It Is The 6th Longest Running Broadway Musical Of All Time

"Les Misérables" ran on Broadway from March 12, 1987, to May 18, 2003. The only other five musicals to run longer have been "Phantom of the Opera," "Chicago", "The Lion King", "Cats", and "Wicked".  Although the original Broadway production closed in 2003 and has been revived twice, the latest production opening in 2014.

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Marilyn Monroe's Performs "Happy Birthday, Mr. President"

On May 19, 1962, actress Marilyn Monroe performed a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday" for President John F. Kennedy  at a celebration of his 45th birthday at New York's Madison Square Garden. Here are 5 facts behind Marilyn Monroe's rendition of "Happy Birthday" dedicated to JFK.

There Were Already Rumors of an Affair Between Monroe And JFK

Marilyn Monroe was one of the most glamorous and sought-after stars of her time. John F. Kennedy was, well, the president of the United States. Rumors of an affair between the two began months before the event. It is widely accepted that they spent the night together following a party at Bing Crosby's Palm Springs home in late March. Shortly after, Marilyn confided this sexual relation to her close relatives, insisting about the fact that their affair ended there." It was reportedly that night at Crosby's home that John asked Marilyn to perform at his upcoming birthday party at Madison Square Garden.

It Would Be Her Last Major Appearance

President Kennedy's birthday celebration was held at the third Madison Square Garden and more than 15,000 people attended, including many celebrities. The event was a fundraising gala for the Democratic Party. She was eagerly anticipating performing for JFK, which would prove to be her last major appearance. Marilyn Monroe’s seductive song to President John F. Kennedy  marked one final hurrah before her life came to a sudden end less than three months later.

Monroe Was Very Anxious About Her Upcoming Performance

Monroe rehearsed her performance for two days in New York, leaving the set of Something's Got to Give to do so. Despite practicing, she became very anxious about the upcoming moment. As she quietly began singing, she continued to gain confidence as the audience cheered her on. She continued the song with a snippet from the classic song, "Thanks for the Memory", for which she had written new lyrics specifically aimed at Kennedy. Monroe encouraged everyone to join in on the birthday wishes, with a giant birthday cake carried out to mark the end of her performance. 

Monroe Never Saw JFK Again

Monroe's dedication of "Happy Birthday" to JFK certainly sparked rumors of a love affair between the two again. But interestingly, even after a brief interaction between the star and the president at an afterparty hosted by studio mogul Arthur B. Krim, the two never saw each other again. The performance was one of her last major public appearances before her death less than three months later on August 4, 1962. 

Monroe's Dress Was Auctioned For a Whopping $4.8 Million

Monroe's dress during her performance to the president was perhaps just as famous as her singing itself. The dress — which made the actress appear somewhat nude — was purchased for a reported $12,000. Monroe's dress was made of a sheer and flesh-colored marquisette fabric, with 2,500 shimmering rhinestones sewn into it. The dress was so tight-fitting that Monroe had difficulty putting it on; she wore nothing under it.  In 2016, the dress was auctioned off and fetched an astounding $4.8 million. The winning bidder was museum chain Ripley's Believe It or Not. Ripley VP Edward Meyer rationalized spending all that money because of his belief that the dress was "the most iconic piece of pop culture that there is."

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Blue Jeans_4

On May 20, 1873, Levi Strauss and his partner Jacob Davis received a patent for riveted pants that became known as blue jeans. Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about the history of these iconic jeans in America…

Those Rivets Had A Purpose

The copper rivets that are commonplace on the pockets of Levi's jeans weren't put there for looks. Instead, they were designed to ensure that the seams would last longer, considering the fact that the pants were worn by miners. Pockets were the first signs on a workman's pants that would tear, and the rivets would help ensure they'd remain intact and prevent the pants from looking too raggedy. That small fifth pocket on a pair of Levi's, by the way, is called a watch pocket since it was originally meant for placing a pocket watch inside. In the 1930s, the pockets were sewn to the pants so that the rivets were covered because of complaints that they scratched furniture. But they were returned to view in 1947.

Levi's May Be An American Icon But They Were Created By Two Immigrants

Levi's has been an American symbol in the world of fashion since the late 1800s. But it wasn't actually Americans who were behind the clothing label. Jacob Davis, an immigrant from Latvia, who was living in Reno, Nevada, came up with the idea of placing copper rivets at particular points in work pants to make them stronger. He contacted Levi Strauss, a German-born wholesale dry goods merchant, who supplied his fabric and financed the application for the patent. Levis Strauss became the name behind the brand.

Dude Ranches Made Jeans Popular With Everyday Americans

"Dude ranches'' became popular in the 1930s and served as guest ranches for visitors and tourists. Throughout the Depression, ranchers brought in some extra cash by charging customers to visit and pretend they were cowboys for the day. Many visitors would buy jeans before visiting dude ranches, even though few cowboys actually wore denim. Instead, miners and farmers were much more likely to wear jeans. Many an American purchased their first pair of jeans in anticipation of their dude ranch visit.  That said, jeans became a popular staple in the American closet, though at the time, they were worn strictly on weekends.

Hollywood Made Jeans Popular With Teens

Movie stars began donning jeans in films, making the apparel attractive among teens.  Among the first stars to make jeans "cool" was James Dean, who famously sported a pair of jeans along with a white t-shirt and leather jacket in the 1955 cult classic film "Rebel Without a Cause." A couple of years later, in 1953, Marlon Brando had the same look in his film "The Wild One," and Marilyn Monroe made the look popular among women after her role in "The Misfits." Jeans were synonymous with rebellion and freedom thanks to their association with the "cowboy" look. This clothing item symbolized nonconformity to societal norms. In fact, jeans were banned from schools in the 1950s, seen as a symbol against authority Regardless, jeans became firmly linked to youth culture starting in the 1950s, and they've remained a staple in people's wardrobes in America.

One Pair of Levi's Sold for More Than $46,000

One of the world’s oldest pairs of Levi’s jeans - made in the 1880s and sold for around a dollar- was reacquired by Levi Strauss & Co. for $46,532. The jeans were found in an old gold mine in the Mojave Desert in California in 1999 and were reported to be 100 years old.  In what is believed to be the highest price ever paid for denim, Levi’s bought the jeans during an online eBay auction. Levi’s historian Lynn Downey said the company would use the jeans as a template for part of a vintage collection. Historians for Levi Strauss examined the fabric and patented copper rivets and concluded the jeans were produced between 1880 and 1885.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About "The Empire Strikes Back"_2

On May 21, 1980, The Empire Strikes Back was released in theaters. This was the second film in the Star Wars series although it was technically the fifth film in the planned saga. Here are 5 things you didn't know about The Empire Strikes Back...

Cliff Clavin Was a Member of the Rebel Force

Two years before John Ratzenberger played mail carrier Cliff Clavin on the sitcom Cheers, he appeared in The Empire Strikes Back as Major Bren Derlin, part of the Rebel Force.  What he remembers most about that time is how “I somehow got a parking space next to Kermit the Frog. It was Jim Henson’s space, with this Kermit the Frog sign. So I took a photo of it and sent it to my mom with a caption that read, ‘Look, Mom. I made it. I got a parking space next to Kermit the Frog.’”

Its Most Memorable Line Is Also Its Most Misquoted

The most well-known line in the film is one of the most often misquoted in cinema history, and usually repeated as “Luke, I am your father.”  This line has actually been misquoted for decades. The real quote from The Empire Strikes Back is "No, I am your father." Either way, the news that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father remains one of the most devastating moments in the entire saga. 

Jim Henson Turned Down The Voice Of Yoda

To create Yoda, George Lucas knew it would require some innovative techniques. He consulted with Jim Henson, who’s Muppets had become cultural icons. Lucas and Henson became fast friends, and Lucas asked Henson to play the role of Yoda. Henson declined his offer to direct "The Great Muppet Caper." Henson did, however, suggest his frequent collaborator Frank Oz for the part. Oz accepted, performing Yoda's voice.

Alec Guinness Was Paid Millions In Royalties For His Cameo

Much has been written about the enormous riches Alec Guinness earned - and his estate continues to earn, even - for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars. So when Guinness was approached to reprise the role for a brief cameo in The Empire Strikes Back, Guinness decided to drive a hard bargain, now being fully aware of the series' popularity. And so, despite being on set for less than five hours on a single day, Guinness negotiated to receive 0.25% of the film's box office gross, which going by the film's $550.9 million box office gross amounts to a windfall of over $1 million for a day's work. Incredible.

Han Solo Was Frozen In Carbonite Because....

The ending of The Empire Strikes Back has Han Solo frozen in carbonite and passed off to Boba Fett. But there is a very particular reason that George Lucas decided to leave Han in limbo between movies. As it turns out, Harrison Ford wasn't sure if he would be returning for the third film - even asking Lucas to kill him off in Empire - so to cover his hide in case Ford decided not to come back, his fate was left up in the air between movies. Unlike Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, Ford never agreed to sign a three-picture deal, which in retrospect seems like a huge gamble on Lucas' part. Thankfully, of course, it all worked out in the end.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Martha Washington_3

President George Washington’s devoted widow and the nation’s first first lady, Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, died at her Mt. Vernon home on this day in 1802. Here are five things you probably didn't know about Martha Washington....

Martha's Marriage to George Was Actually Her Second Marriage

Though George and Martha enjoyed a 40-year marriage before his death in 1799, George was not Martha's first husband. Her first husband was a wealthy planter named Daniel Parke Custis, whom she married on May 15, 1750. At the time of their wedding, she was just 18 years old, and her husband was nearly twenty years her senior. The couple had four children together before Custis died eight years later, presumably of a heart attack. His death left Martha a young widow at age 26, with independent control over a dower inheritance for her lifetime. Martha ran the plantation, aided by her innate business sense. Two years later, the socially prominent widow met George Washington.  

Martha Was Fabulously Wealthy When She Met George

To say that Martha had more to offer than good looks and a winning personality would be an understatement. She had numerous properties and more than seventeen-thousand acres of land across six different counties. She also had hundreds of head of cattle and sheep, and nearly 300 slaves who worked her vast tobacco empire. Indeed, she was the wealthiest woman in the colony of Virginia when George proposed marriage—and her wealth and social status meant a great deal to the young Virginian. By marrying Martha, George quickly achieved the social advancement he craved.

She Is One Of Two Women to Have Appeared on U.S. Paper Money

Women rarely appear on U.S. currency, with perhaps the most well-known being the Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea dollar coins. But as far as paper money goes, only two women have appeared. The first was Pocahontas, who was featured on a $20 bill in the 1860s. The other was Martha Washington, featured on $1 silver certificates in the 1880s and 1890s. There have been no other women on U.S. paper currency since then. 

She Had Never Been Referred to as “First Lady” in Her Lifetime

Since Martha was married to the first US president, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that she was the country’s first First Lady. But the title was rarely used to refer to the spouse of a president until the 1930s. In fact, in all her life, Martha was never referred to as “First Lady.” Instead, she was commonly addressed as "Lady Washington."  An article published in the newspaper St. Johnsbury Caledonian in 1838, nearly four decades after her death, was the first time she was referred to as “the first lady of the nation.”

She Outlived Two Husbands And Four Children.

Tragically, Martha outlived not only the two men she got married to, but also the four kids she had given birth to. All four of her children were fathered by Custis – she had none with George. Two of the kids died before reaching the age of four, while one passed away at the age of 16. John Parke Custis was her only child to make it to adulthood and get married. However, he too died prematurely, at the age of 26, after having contracted “camp fever” while serving as a civilian aide-de-camp to his stepfather during the siege of Yorktown. After already having witnessed the death of her two husbands and four children, Martha died on May 22, 1802, at the age of 70.

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Bonnie And Clyde_3

On May 23, 1934, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow took their last ride in a stolen car and died in a hail of bullets. To mark the anniversary of the death of the notorious lovers-turned-robbers, here are five surprising things you didn't know about Bonnie and Clyde...

Bonnie Died Wearing a Wedding Ring—But it Wasn’t Clyde’s

Six days before turning 16, Bonnie married high school classmate Roy Thornton. The couple separated because of his infidelity, and Thornton went to prison for armed robbery in 1929. Soon after, Bonnie met Clyde, and although the pair fell in love, she never divorced Thornton. On the day Bonnie and Clyde were killed in 1934, she was still wearing Thornton’s wedding ring and had a tattoo on the inside of her right thigh with two interconnected hearts labeled “Bonnie” and “Roy.” 

Clyde Chopped Off Two Of His Toes In Prison

While serving a 14-year prison sentence in Texas for robbery and automobile theft in 1932, Clyde decided he could no longer endure the brutal conditions at the notoriously tough Eastham Prison Farm. In an effort to force a transfer to a less harsh facility, Clyde severed his left big toe and a portion of a second toe with an axe. The self-mutilation, which permanently crippled his walking stride and prevented him from wearing shoes while driving, ultimately proved unnecessary as he was released on parole six days later.

Their Robberies Didn’t Make Them Wealthy

Although often depicted as Depression-era Robin Hoods who stole from rich and powerful financial institutions, Bonnie and Clyde staged far more robberies of gas stations and grocery stores than bank heists. They were even known to break open gumball machines to steal the change. Although they had a reputation as major criminals, oftentimes their take only amounted to $5 or $10. 

"Souvenir" Hunters Flocked to The Scene of Their Death

On May 23, 1934, a six-man posse led by former Texas Ranger captain Frank Hamer ambushed Bonnie and Clyde and pumped more than 130 rounds of bullets into their stolen Ford V-8 outside Sailes, Louisiana.  After dozens of robberies and 13 murders in their name, Bonnie and Clyde's crime spree had finally come to an end. News spread like wildfire when Bonnie and Clyde died in a hail of bullets, and locals arrived at the scene to scavenge souvenirs. According to Jeff Guinn’s book Go Down Together, one man tried to cut off Clyde’s ear with a pocket knife and another attempted to sever his trigger finger before the lawmen intervened.

The Car They Died in Is Displayed at a Casino

Following the shootout that took the lives of Bonnie and Clyde, the bullet riddled Ford V-8 they had been driving was returned to its former owner before it was stolen, a woman named Ruth Warren of Topeka, Kansas. Eventually, Warren sold the car to to Charles Stanley, an anti-crime lecturer who used it as a sideshow attraction. It ended up in Primm, Nevada, about 40 miles from Las Vegas, where it is now an attraction in the lobby of Whiskey Pete’s Casino, along with other Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia.