There sure were strange toys out there! Do you remember the strangest toy you ever had? Witch Doctor Head Shrinker’s Kit The Product: As it says—a (plastic) head-shrinking kit The Pitch: “Into the deepest jungle went Pressman Toymakers, looking for something new. The secret they brought back for you is incredible! The Pressman Witch Doctor […]
It’s just about to be fall, which means that store shelves, restaurants, and every place else that sells things is about to be full of “pumpkin spice”-flavored options. What started with Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte more than a decade ago has now reached epic—and ridiculous proportions. BK Pumpkin A seasonal offering from Burger King Japan: […]
Loony laws even make it into the world of golf. Here are some official—but odd—rules of the game. Other than glasses or contact lenses, you’re not allowed to enhance your vision or estimate distance from the hole through the use of binoculars, a range finder, sextant, or global positioning system. The dress code of the […]
Night of the Living Eds In a baseball game in the early 1950s, Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bill Nicholson hit a high pop-up that was destined to come down somewhere near the mound. Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bill Werle didn’t want to catch it, so he called for one of his fielders to step in. “Eddie’s […]
When it first hit the air in the ‘60s, Star Trek was only around for three little-watched seasons. But thanks to endless reruns, it became one of the most beloved—and important—TV shows of all time. Here are some facts about Star Trek on the 50th anniversary of the airing of its first episode. It was […]
Actors are a superstitious lot. For example, productions of Macbeth have a history of injuries and deaths, so to ward off bad luck, actors usually refer to it as “the Scottish play.” Here are some other theater superstitions. Leave the Light On Some theaters are old and dingy places, perfect haunts for ghosts. So it’s […]
The new fall TV season is gearing up. While a lot of new shows are getting a lot of buzz, the following shows aren’t—because they only filmed a single “pilot” episode and were rejected by the major broadcast networks. COVER GIRLS They’re a team of attractive women…and they’re also undercover secret agents. No, it’s not […]
We at the BRI have an insatiable appetite for finding misinformation, including these food myths. French Fries Myth: French fries aren’t really French—they’re Belgian. Truth: Fried, salted potato strips did originally come from Belgium (they were introduced to America by soldiers returning home from World War I). But French fries are also French. How so? […]
Uncle John knows pretty much everything—and if he doesn’t, he puts one of his many researchers on the case. So go ahead: In the comments below, ask Uncle John anything. (And if we answer your question sometime, we’ll send you a free book!) Why is it considered bad to wear white after Labor Day? Our […]
Accidents can happen at work, even on movie sets. Or, if you’re Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry, especially on movie sets. The actress has incurred a remarkable number of (thankfully) minor injuries during the filmmaking process. Die Another Day Berry portrayed Jinx, an NSA agent in this 2002 James Bond movie. While filming an action […]
Neanderthals were a race of hominids that developed alongside early humans. They first appeared in Africa about 700,000 years ago and slowly migrated into Europe and the Middle East. They shared almost all the same genetic classifications with Homo sapiens (us), but differed in the final category, species (Homo neanderthalensis). After about 40,000 years of […]
Sure, Labor Day is great—it celebrates the workin’ folks and a lot of us get the day off. But what other holidays does September offer? Plenty…if you consider these observances to be “holidays” Sept. 1: Emma M. Nutt Day It’s a celebration of an important woman with a fantastic name. Nutt was the first female […]
Since it opened in Universal Studios Orlando last winter, Williams of Hollywood Prop Shops has offered for sale parts and pieces of rides that have been closed down or revamped. That makes for some one-of-a-kind (and very expensive) souvenirs. One of the most memorable parts of the 1996 disaster movie Twister was a very angry […]
That headline is not a joke. There’s something weird going on in Scandinavia that involves reindeer, and unfortunately it doesn’t involve Santa, red noses, or delivering presents to all the children of the world. Here’s a freak story of the powerful effects of weather and electricity. A recent thunderstorm in Norway killed 323 reindeer (including […]
Of course, every dog is special—especially yours. But the following dog breeds are truly one of a kind. Has a Nose That Can be Used in Court Bloodhounds, of course. They’re so good at following a scent—either to people or pieces of evidence—that whatever they find is admissible in criminal cases throughout the United States. […]
Beloved comic actor and writer Gene Wilder passed away this week at age 83. Here’s some stuff you may not have known about “Dr. Frankenstein,” “The Waco Kid,” and “Leo Bloom.” Wilder portrayed the title character in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but he doesn’t appear until about halfway into the movie. Suspense and […]
Uncle John knows pretty much everything—and if he doesn’t, he heads his massive research library, or puts one of his many associates on the case. So go ahead: In the comments below, ask Uncle John anything. (And if we answer your question sometime, we’ll send you a free book!) Why do some imitation flavors, particularly […]
We usually associate the word “spinoff” with TV shows—Frasier was a spinoff of Cheers, or Laverne & Shirley was a spinoff of Happy Days, for example. But it’s an idea used in the world of restaurants, too. Or at least it was—as these three spinoffs of a very famous fast food brand all flopped. Ollie’s […]
