12 Trivia Tidbits for Friday, July 5, 2024
Hattie McDaniel Couldn’t Attend Her Own Movie Premiere
McDaniel was the first Black actor to win an Academy Award in 1940 for her role in Gone with the Wind, a movie that she wasn't even allowed to attend the premiere of in Atlanta because of segregation.
South Detroit... Isn’t in America
I regret to inform you that Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” is built on a lie. A boy “born and raised in South Detroit” would have been living in Windsor, Ontario.
The Louisiana Tourism Hotline Had An Incredible Phone Number
Though sadly, it seems to no longer be in operation, the Louisiana Tourist Office at one point had an all-timer of a phone number: 1-800-33-GUMBO.
Cucumbers, Another Unlikely Fruit
Cucumbers are another vegetable, like tomatoes, that, botanically, are a fruit. They grow from a flower and contain seeds, ergo, fruit. Is it an argument worth having? That’s another question.
Crown Royal Has More to Do With the Queen Than You’d Think
Crown Royal, the Canadian whisky, was a blend specifically made for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's visit to the country.
Only Two South American Countries Don’t Share A Border With Brazil
Every South American country except Chile and Ecuador share a border with the massive South American country.
The Beach Almost Killed Leonardo DiCaprio
Not a real beach, but the movie entitled The Beach. Well, I suppose a real beach was involved as well: DiCaprio was involved in a boat accident while filming the movie, all for a measly 21 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Albert Michelson Was the First American to Win A Nobel in Science
He received America’s first Nobel in 1907 for his work in physics, and his work on calculating the speed of light would have direct influence on Einstein’s theory of relativity.
The First Ever Rap Song to Hit #1 Is Maybe Not History’s Finest
Maybe the reason Vanilla Ice rubs so many rap O.G.s the wrong way is that his song “Ice Ice Baby” forever holds the honor of being the first rap song to hit number one on the Billboard 100 charts.
The Meaning of MSNBC’s First Two Letters
In a bit of information internet crazies are sure to take in stride, the “MS” in “MSNBC” stands for Microsoft.
The Word Mentor Comes From An Actual Advisor’s Name
In Homer’s Odyssey, Mentor is an actual guy: It’s the name of the man in charge of educating Odysseus’ son, Telemachus. Or as we’d now say, Mentor was his, well, mentor.
The Country Copper Gets Its Name From
The word “copper” comes from the Greek name for the island of Cyprus, Kupros.