The name (and work of) Walt Disney looms large over American pop culture. Dozens of movies, lots of TV shows, characters, and even amusement parks bearing the Disney name promise wholesome, satisfying entertainment. The life of Walt Disney is an inspiring one of gumption, hard work, and luck — and we decided to write it […]
In June 2020 — 100 years ago —women won the right to vote in all elections in the United States. It took an exceedingly long time, with a lot of progress made over more than 15 decades. 1646: Only property owners at the time could vote, and lawyer Margaret Brent attempts to cast a vote […]
Here’s a look at some of the women who broke the glass ceiling in American politics and became the first females to hold important offices. First elected female mayor In 1887, women in Kansas attained the right to vote and run for office. That year, the town of Argonia held its elections; mayor was on […]
Everybody wants to be the best, but you know what’s more interesting? The worst. Here are some of the most spectacular flops to ever come along and utterly fail in their attempts to entertain. Worst Movie of All Time? After seeing a double-feature of musical duds Can’t Stop the Music (starring the Village People) and […]
Here are some edibles you may not have heard of…and may not want to go anywhere near. Durian Native to parts of Asia, the durian is so rank that passengers aren’t allowed to bring them onto the Singapore Mass Transit. With a spiky skin and a taste that’s been likened to fruit-flavored ice cream, the […]
With millions of us cooped up at home right now due to shelter-in-place orders, it’s pretty ironic that up until a few months ago, one of the most popular entertainments in America over the last few years was the “escape room.” The true experts on escapes: People who somehow broke out of an impenetrable prison […]
Are your kids super into BTS, and other K-pop singing groups? Here’s a little primer so you can figure out what they’re talking about. K-pop. Korean pop music, generally sung by medium-to-large groups of telegenic singers while performing complicated choreography. Bagel. It’s a portmanteau to describe pop stars who are both baby-faced and glamorous. Bias. A good bias — favoritism or […]
Babe Ruth was one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and in his heyday, he was one of the highest paid athletes and most famous people in the world. Nowadays, he’s the subject of Portable Press’s Show Me History: Babe Ruth, the story of the slugger’s life in graphic novel form. Here are […]
This year, the world has dealt with a pandemic — an epidemic of an illness, but on a global scale — the likes of which most of us haven’t seen in our lifetimes. The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19 has changed daily life (and terrified) billions, and it’s the first time in about a century humanity […]
With virtually all of recorded music at your fingertips when you open Spotify or Apple Music, it can be overwhelming to decide what to listen you. Allow us to help: Avoid these albums at all costs. Kevin Federline, Playing with Fire Hitting stores in 2006 was the first (and so far, only) album by Federline, a […]
For years, Portable Press has brought you fantastic nonfiction books, but recently we decided to take a whole new approach. Introducing Show Me History!, biographies of famous, notable, and important people presented in the graphic novel format. What’s a graphic novel? It’s kind of like a really long comic book. Here’s a bit more about the […]
They say it’s never too late to succeed in life, and it was true for these highly accomplished women who found fame and fortune after 40. The late Mary Higgins Clark (she passed away in February 2020) is among the bestselling authors of all time. More than 100 million copies of the more than 50 mystery […]
They say that necessity is the mother of invention…and here then are some “mothers” or very important technologies. El Dorado Jones After listening to women’s suffrage crusader Susan B. Anthony speak at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, El Dorado quit her job selling insurance and went into the more lucrative world of advertising. She soon […]
You know, you think you know somebody—like famous movie stars, musicians, politicians, and historical figures—and then you come to find out that they all worked as spies for the government. (They must have been pretty good spies then!)
Chances are, old age or a chronic condition is what will get you, so don’t worry so much about these unlikely, but potential, killers lurking all around. Icicles Ever hear that old riddle about how the “perfect” murder weapon is an icicle because it melts, thus destroying all evidence of its existence? Those sharp shards […]
It’s rare that an amazing achievement that stands the test of time was created by just one person. (Even Uncle John has a staff of writers and researchers.) Here are some things associated with a single individual…who got a lot of help from an associate. Jack Daniel The 19th century Tennessee-based distiller is so strongly […]
Twice in the last 40 years have celebrities become president of the United States: former actor (turned California governor) Ronald Reagan and real estate mogul (turned The Apprentice host) Donald Trump. They’re merely the most successful famous people to run for political office. Clint Eastwood Clint Eastwood is best known as a movie cowboy, but […]
The gift-giving (and receiving) holidays are on their way — you can just about hear the jingling bells in the distance and make out those flickering candle flames. The perfect gift for any occasion: a book. And we’ve got you covered — we’ve got lots of books for every taste! For the paternal cornball YOU: […]
