It had been only ten months since the United States entered World War II. The country was on high alert, particularly on the west coast. Fears of Japanese attacks prompted the authorities […]
The Unsolved Mystery of the WWII Ghost Blimp
That Time the United States Had an Emperor
Suppose fortune fails to smile upon you. Despite your best efforts at gaining wealth, you are bankrupt and have no professional skills to speak of. You could give up and embrace a […]
Learn About the Aviation Legend Who Became the First Person to Die in a Plane Crash
One of the most promising names in the new field of aviation was Thomas E. Selfridge. The fearless young man seemed to have a natural affinity for the amazing machines that could […]
Bob Dole on Doling Out the Housework
Bob Dole was accustomed to being the big name in his family. As long-time U.S. Senator from Kansas, Senate Republican Leader, 1976 Vice Presidential nominee, and 1996 Presidential nominee, he was recognized […]
A Pastor, A Picnic, and A 3-Day Trial About A Sandwich
For several weeks in 1927, the residents of Santa Ana, California were glued to their newspapers, eager to learn the latest details of possibly the most curious case in Orange County legal […]
How Did Star Wars Nearly Cause a Real War?
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. Well, actually, not that long ago, and much closer to home… Let’s start this again. Back in 1976, in the deserts of […]
Totally Awesome Facts About Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
As the release date for Bill & Ted Face the Music approaches, the nerdiness level at Commonplace Fun Facts Headquarters is rising exponentially. In anticipation of the sequel that has been almost […]
The Story of the Popsicle and its 11-Year-Old Inventor
What invokes happy memories of summer better than the popsicle? The cool, refreshing delight of a juicy frozen treat on a hot day can seem like manna from heaven. The next time […]
10 Border Landmarks that Really Crossed the Line
Special thanks to The Zebra for this infographic with 10 fun facts about the strangest state lines and landmarks in the USA. Check out the infographic below, and be sure to stop at these […]
Ronald Reagan: The Lifeguard Who Never Stopped Rescuing
The man who would become the 40th President of the United States was 15 years old when he became a lifeguard at Lowell Park in Dixon, Illinois. In a foreshadowing of the […]
But Officer, I Thought I Was Only Going 55 When I Jumped From the Car!
If you feel the urge to be a daredevil, you might want to steer clear of Glendale, California. City ordinances there make it illegal to jump from a motor vehicle that is […]
Ministers Marry Lots of People… But Typically By Officiating, Not By Participating
Wolfe with wife #18 and #19 (first marriage was 2 years; the second, less than a year), Sharon Goodwin Rev. Glynn “Scotty” Wolfe (1908 – 1997) holds the Guinness World Record for […]
Short-Lived and Premature Celebration
Charles Evans Hughes went to bed on election night, 1916, thinking he had just won the presidency of the United States. During the night it became evident that California’s votes were going […]
The Jury Has Deliberated… And Deliberated… And Deliberated….
The longest U.S. jury deliberation in a civil lawsuit took place in a 1992 California trial in which a woman and her son sued the City of Long Beach for preventing the opening […]
Fish Got Your Tongue?
There’s something fishy going on in the Gulf of California. The fish know about it, but they aren’t talking. You could literally say that something has their tongues. Cymothoa exigua is a […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 