A Short History of Black Friday
The Friday following Thanksgiving has become synonymous with shopping, holiday sales, and stampeding crowds. Here are some fascinating facts about black Friday history and how it all began.
Daily Dispatch
You’ll Have to Pardon My Turkey…
The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation takes place every year a few days before the holiday and involves the President of the United States “pardoning” one of the birds slated for slaughter. The turkey is then moved to a new home where it will, presumably, live a long and enjoyable life instead of winding up on a platter in the White House’s State Dining Room. The rather weird tradition is widely believed to have begun during the Truman administration but the real story is a bit more complicated.
4 Special Thanksgiving TV Specials
Turkey Day has spawned plenty of TV specials, but they’ve never received the kind of attention as those based on Christmas and Halloween.
4 Fringe Benefits of “Thriller-Mania”
In 1984, Michael Jackson was so popular that LaToya Jackson scored a hit single. From 1982 to 1984, the American public couldn’t get enough Michael Jackson. His Thriller album sold more than 20 million copies to become the bestselling album ever. His innovative music videos helped put the burgeoning MTV on the map (and integrated […]
Thanksgiving Down at Alice’s Restaurant
On Thanksgiving Day 1965, folk singer Arlo Guthrie decided to help his friend Alice get rid of some trash. What happened next would go on to inspire a hit film and one of the biggest anti-war anthems of the ‘60s.
The 6 Worst Season-Starting Losing Streaks In Pro Sports History
The phrase “off to a good start” did not apply to these teams.
6 Fruits and Vegetables That Aren’t What They Seem
Prepare to have your world turned upside-down.
3 Mothers You Don’t Want to Mess With
Never threaten a mother bear’s cubs, regardless of the animal.
The Word of the Year
Will this year’s newest and hottest word stick around…or vaporize?
Anvil Mania!
The real-life story of a cartoon character’s favorite implement of injury.
R. A. Montgomery’s Chose His Own Adventures
R.A. Montgomery, the co-creator, co-author, and publisher of the incredibly successful Choose Your Adventure books, passed away earlier this month. Here’s a look back at a few of the most significant installments in the series.
The Sexiest Man Alive!
Here are some fun facts about the honorific handed out yearly since 1985 by People Magazine.
Did You Care About “Voices That Care”?
As “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” makes a comeback, here’s a look back at a less famous all-star charity single.
5 Weird Brady Bunch Spinoffs
It was not a “sunshine day” for these ill-fated continuations of America’s most enduring sitcom. Here are the Brady Bunch spinoffs that didn’t experience the same level of success as the original show. The Brady Bunch was not a massive hit when it first aired from 1969 to 1974. It never hit the Nielsen Top […]
What’s a Blue Raspberry?
Today, it’s a food industry standard. You can find “blue raspberry” flavors of everything from Jolly Ranchers to yogurt to bubble bum to Gatorade. Believe it or not, it’s a real fruit, not a lab creation. Well, sort of.
Bo Knows…Company
Bo Jackson famously played both professional football and baseball in the 1980s and 1990s. Here are some other athletes who played more than one sport.
Primetime in East Germany
This month marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which was a major step towards the eventual reunification of Germany in 1990. These landmark events helped make life (and TV) a lot better for half of the country. Here are a few East German TV shows from behind the Iron Curtain.
The Family That Gets Stuck Inside of Things Stays Together
Never follow a member of this family anywhere. You just might get stuck there. A lot can happen in the time it takes to read a text message. When Diane O’Neill did just that at a Tennessee laundromat, her 18-month old grandson, Colin Lambert, climbed through the dispensing slot of a claw machine and into […]
