business

Dog and pony shows were once all the rage.

When people talk about a dog and pony show today, they usually mean a flashy presentation or event that's all about appearances, with little real substance. But where does this phrase come from, and what's its history?

The spinning jenny was basically the spinning wheel 2.0.

Here's the story of why the spinning jenny was invented and how the spinning mule usurped it.

Looking for your next great slice of pizza? Listen to the experts.

Paying to access your own money seems wrong, but it's how everyone from your bank to your local bar cashes in.

McDonald's has tried on dozens of slogans over the years.

From "Where's Herb?" to "We Speak Fish," these fast food slogans didn't withstand the test of time.

Thomas Edison, awaiting a ghostly phone call.

Henry Ford’s car made of soybeans and Thomas Edison’s ghost-detecting telephone are just two little-known creations of history’s most famous inventors.

In 1919, Canadian businessman Ambrose Small cashed a check for 1 million dollars. Hours later, he vanished.

Just try not to get the bottoms all wet.

When were JNCO jeans popular and how did they come to be? Discover more about the history of these ultra wide-legged pants and why they were created in the first place.

Turner and Crawford once went head-to-head.

Glamour girl Lana Turner and gangster Mickey Cohen were both young and hungry. Each wanted to take over the Hollywood movie studios and the crime ridden streets of Los Angeles, but Lana and Mickey had two major obstacles standing in their way.

Retro Pepsi-Cola logos from the mid-20th century.

Pepsi-Cola was named for two ingredients that it doesn't (and possibly never did) contain.

The origins of Taco Tuesday are surprisingly complicated.

The phrase “Taco Tuesday” has finally entered the public domain (unless you’re in New Jersey).

She's probably spent the last 20 minutes listening to the same fuzzy song on a loop.

There are some psychological reasons why being put on hold is such a frustrating experience.

After Ralph Anspach created an anti-monopoly game, he ended up in the middle of a controversial patent case with Parker Brothers over the history of ‘Monopoly’ itself.

An Edison phonograph exhibit with a talking doll in Paris, 1889.

Modern technology has helped these dolls find their voices—and when they speak, it’s downright creepy.

Hopefully this kid washed his hands before returning to his fries.

Following a string of PR nightmares, McDonald's began quietly removing its PlayPlaces in the 2000s.

In a blow to lovers of gum with shockingly short flavor bursts, Fruit Stripe is set to bite the dust.

Sam's Club shoppers can now make a quick exit.

The warehouse club is eliminating the indignity of getting stopped at the exit.

You no longer have to order at the Starbucks counter in order to use your own cup.

Astronaut Kellie Gerardi conducts research aboard the Virgin Galactic spacecraft.

Bioastronautics researcher Kellie Gerardi envisions a future when space is open to all.

The Pantone Color Institute’s global team of experts conducts color psychology research and discusses potential Color of the Year options year-round.

Lingonberry jam and cream sauce are included, naturally.

The six-armed alien has come back to Earth with a menu full of energy-boosting drinks and snacks.

These companies were accused (and sometimes convicted) of engaging in alleged pyramid schemes and other scams.

Red Lobster's shrimp deal has gone awry.

The seafood giant promised patrons as much shrimp as they could eat. It turns out they could eat a lot.

The Entertaining History of Dog and Pony Shows

How the Spinning Jenny Transformed Textiles and Led to Industrial Sabotage

The 50 Best Pizzerias in America, According to Yelp

Why Do I Have to Pay ATM Fees?

14 Fast Food Slogans You Probably Forgot All About

35 Lesser-Known Inventions of Famous Inventors

The Cryptic Case of Ambrose Small, Missing Millionaire

A Brief History of JNCO Jeans

When Lana Turner Came for Joan Crawford's Crown as Queen of Hollywood

Pop Star: How Pepsi Got Its Name

The Surprisingly Contentious Origins of Taco Tuesday

Why Hold Music Is So Annoying

The Board Game Trial of the Century

Listen to Thomas Edison’s Eerie Talking Dolls Speak After More Than a Century of Silence

Rough Play: The Dirty and Dangerous History of McDonald's PlayPlaces

RIP: Fruit Stripe Gum Is Being Discontinued After More Than 50 Years

Exit Strategy: Sam's Club Will Stop Checking Your Receipt at the Door

How to Use Your Own Cup for Starbucks Drive-Thru and Mobile Orders

“Humanity’s Next Giant Leap”: Citizen Astronaut Kellie Gerardi Envisions the Future of Spaceflight

Meet Leatrice Eiseman: The Woman Who Chooses Pantone’s Color of the Year

IKEA’s 10-Pound Meatball Belongs on Your Holiday Menu

Cosmc, a Forgotten ‘80s McDonald’s Character, Is Getting a Restaurant Chain

7 Alleged Pyramid Schemes and Scams

Red Lobster Reports $11 Million in Losses Because Customers Are Eating Way Too Much Unlimited Shrimp