A real injury became a character trait, the “period” music was decades out of date, Chicago was often California, and the screenplay about con men wound up in a real dispute over who borrowed what. Here are the strange true stories behind The Sting.
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A real injury became a character trait, the “period” music was decades out of date, Chicago was often California, and the screenplay about con men wound up in a real dispute over who borrowed what. Here are the strange true stories behind The Sting.
William Henry Ireland wanted to impress his Shakespeare-obsessed father. One forged signature later, he had fabricated manuscripts, love letters, Shakespeare’s library, and an entirely new “lost” play that actually reached the London stage.
During WWII, the BBC kept “Deep in the Heart of Texas” off factory broadcasts because workers might stop working to clap along.
Meet the Smothers Brothers, whose CBS variety show mixed music, satire, politics, and censorship—and helped change American television.
Discover how Scott Joplin’s 1902 rag “The Entertainer” became a 1970s pop hit, plus surprising stories from the life of the King of Ragtime.
Meet Tirpitz, the German pig who survived a sinking warship, joined the Royal Navy, raised money for charity, and ended up in a museum.
Joseph Faber’s eerie Euphonia talking machine synthesized speech, fascinated scientists, and helped shape ideas that pointed toward the telephone.
Discover 10 illnesses that changed history, altered dynasties, toppled plans, reshaped governments, and even redrew maps.
In August 1945, Japanese officers tried to seize the Imperial Palace, destroy Hirohito’s surrender recording, and keep World War II going. This is the story of hte 1945 Japanese coup attempt to stop the public from hearing the Emperor’s voice.
Discover famous typos and proofreading disasters that changed Bibles, dictionaries, laws, headlines, and publishing history.
From bowing and calling cards to chaperones and gloves, discover the strange old etiquette rules everyone once knew—and why they disappeared.
In 1949, Radio Quito staged a War of the Worlds broadcast so convincing that panic turned deadly when an angry crowd burned the station.
Edward Pennington claimed his 1896 Autocar had “impuncturable” tires. Then one burst during the famous London-to-Brighton Emancipation Run.
Meet the mother whose quiet encouragement inspired her son to honor her in one of history’s most consequential moments.
Experience September 21, 1939 through the 19-hour preserved WJSV broadcast day, from soap operas and baseball to Roosevelt and late-night swing.
