RIP

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Alice Dunnigan, the First Black Woman Journalist to Get White House Press Credentials

Alice Dunnigan overcame racism, sexism, and other obstacles to make history as the first Black woman credentialed to cover the White House.

Hashimoto used the Nintendo controller to give game testers an advantage.

Konami Code Creator Kazuhisa Hashimoto Has Died

Hashimoto created the Konami Code—up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start—to make it easier to test games he found too tough to play through.

Buckingham Palace Used to Have a Bar For Its Staff—Until They Started Getting Really Drunk

Were the famously stoic Buckingham Palace guards among the guilty? We’ll probably never know for sure.

Paranormal Investigator Lorraine Warren, Whose Life Inspired The Conjuring Films, Has Died at 92

The renowned paranormal investigator was portrayed by actress Vera Farmiga in a series of successful films.

The Only 4 Private Citizens to Lie in Honor at the U.S. Capitol

Billy Graham will be one of just a handful to receive the honor.

Haruo Nakajima (second from left) during the filming of Godzilla Raids Again (1955).

Haruo Nakajima, the Original Actor Beneath the Godzilla Suit

He prepared for his role by visiting the zoo.

9 Moving Quotes from Pioneering Astronaut John Glenn

On February 20, 1962, pioneering astronaut John Glenn made history when he became the first American to orbit the Earth—but he wasn't done yet.

Weather Channel Meteorologist Dave Schwartz Dies at Age 63

You weren’t Dave Schwartz’s audience. You were his friend.

Franz Reichelt is now remembered as the "flying tailor."

6 Inventors Killed by Their Own Inventions

From the man who died because of a failed parachute suit to the daredevil who perished in a stunt gone wrong, sometimes brilliance comes with a price.

How Far Can You Fall and Still Survive?

Today's Big Question.

Sam Simon, Who Gave the Entirety of His Fortune Away to Charity, Dies

Humphrey Bogart Writing to Lauren Bacall

"You'll soon be here, Baby, and when you come you'll bring everything that's important to me in this world with you."

Maya Angelou Reads "And Still I Rise"

The author and poet has died at the age of 86.

Harold Ramis on Letterman Promoting Vacation

Harold Ramis has died at the age of 69.

5 Stories About Shirley Temple

Former child actress Shirley Temple has passed away at the age of 85. But thanks to DVDs (and Turner Classic Movies), she will remain a dimpled, curly-topped 5-year-old for generations to come. We hope you enjoy these fun facts about the life and career o

10 Things to Remember About Annette Funicello

Rest in Peace, Baby Beluga

The whale that sparked decades of elementary school sing-alongs has swum to the big ocean in the sky. Kavna, a beluga whale who inspired the children’s song “Baby Beluga,” died August 6 at Vancouver Aquarium. She was 46 years old. Kavna lived a remarkab

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Sad Readers

Sad news, detectives. Donald J. Sobol, the creator of Encyclopedia Brown, passed away on July 11 at the age of 87. Sobol wrote 28 books starring 10-year-old Leroy Brown, with the next one, Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme, scheduled to

Andy Griffith Sings the Lyrics to The Andy Griffith Show Theme Song

Well, I'll be. Before producers of The Andy Griffith Show decided that whistling set the tone for the show, Sheriff Taylor himself recorded a version of the song with lyrics. That's not him whistling, by the way - that was composer Earle H. Hagen. Here's

Every Product Billy Mays Ever Pitched

Billy Mays, America's favorite infomercial star, died three years ago today. He began his career selling the WashMatik, a car-washing brush that siphoned water through the bristles without electricity. He moved from that to the Ultimate Chopper, and some

The Abraham Zapruder of the Rodney King Video

Shortly after midnight on March 3, 1991, plumbing company manager George Holliday was awakened by the sound of police sirens screaming outside of his Lake View Terrace apartment building. He peeked out the window and saw some sort of commotion going on ac

The Stories Behind Donna Summer's Biggest Hits

© JONAS CUNHA/dpa/Corbis Disco Queen Donna Summer has passed away after a battle with lung cancer at age 63. Even though her name is always automatically entwined with disco, it was a sobriquet that she was never fully comfortable with. And rightfully so

The Time Dick Clark Explored His Dark Side

Image via The Video Beat Amidst all yesterday’s eulogies and well-deserved tributes for the great Dick Clark, I was surprised to learn that he did a little acting. Sure, it’s not a stretch for a man who made his living in radio and television broadcastin

RIP Dick Clark (1929-2012)

© Bettmann/CORBIS Since so much will be written about Dick Clark’s tenure on American Bandstand and the Pyramid game shows elsewhere, we'll try to provide you with some Dick Clark stories you may not necessarily read in the various official obituaries. F