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The Beatles Movie That Helped Inspire 'The Monkees'
The movie 'A Hard Day's Night' paved the way for the TV sitcom 'The Monkees,' which led to the success of the real band The Monkees.
Orpheus and Eurydice: Retold Across Time, From Virgil to 'Hadestown'
The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is one of the most adapted in history. We examine eight versions crafted over the course of millennia.
What Airport Security Was Really Like Before 9/11
The lack of restrictions travelers faced before September 11, 2001, seems almost unbelievable today.
The Spiritual Meaning of Waking Up at 3 a.m.
Waking up at 3 a.m. can feel eerie. Explore the spiritual meanings and beliefs associated with this mysterious middle-of-the-night wake-up.
The Chance Studio Recording That Launched Otis Redding’s Career
At the very end of another musician's recording session, Otis Redding was given a chance to try out the mic. He took it.
What American Newspaper Front Pages Looked Like on September 12, 2001
"America has changed forever..."
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Favorite Leonardo DiCaprio Film—and His Biggest Career Regret
"My biggest regret is not..."
What Did People Really Eat in Medieval Taverns?
Medieval taverns served much more than ale, with hearty everyday foods making up most of the menu.
5 Experiences the Internet Quietly Made Obsolete
From rewinding VHS tapes to waiting for songs on the radio, the internet quietly wiped out these nostalgic daily experiences.
10 Common Children’s Toys in the Middle Ages
These toys were found through excavation reports, museum catalogue records, and the margins of one very expensive book.
Why Do We Say “Close, But No Cigar”?
Most people believe the phrase "close, but no cigar" comes from a fairground tradition, but a paper trail reveals something stranger.
The Beatles Album That Helped Inspire Otis Redding's Biggest Hit
Otis Redding's "(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay" was inspired in part by the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's" and became his biggest hit.
The Biggest News Headline the Year You Were Born
These were the stories making front-page news in the U.S. the year you came into the world.
11 Sounds That Defined Back-to-School Season in the ‘90s
Some of these nostalgic sounds include compressed air, Velcro, and a newscast your school got paid to show you.
The Surprising Reason Buddy Holly Changed the Spelling of His Last Name
Buddy Holly wasn’t the one who changed the spelling in the first place.
The Surprisingly Easy Way the Story of 'Practical Magic' Came to Author Alice Hoffman
The idea for 'Practical Magic' came to Alice Hoffman easily—almost, one could say, like magic. Here's the story of how Hoffman came up with the bestselling book and its sequels.
Bruce Springsteen's Favorite Song Is a Frank Sinatra Classic
When asked what song he'd pick if he could only listen to one for the rest of his life, The Boss chose this Frank Sinatra tune—but he's also expressed admiration for The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, and many other artists.
Did Captain Kirk Ever Actually Say “Beam Me Up, Scotty” in ‘Star Trek’?
The popularized phrase supposedly comes from ‘Star Trek,’ but was it actually ever said in original series?
The 5 Best Places in the U.S. For a Cozy Fall Getaway, Ranked
These five places offer a mix of crisp fall weather, seasonal festivities, access to nature, and small-town charm. Here are the five best spots in the U.S. to visit in autumn.



































