Drive In Theaters Were Invented Partly So People Wouldn’t Have To Dress Up At The Movies

Today in 1933, Camden, New Jersey became the site of the very first drive-in movie theater. Here's the story of Richard Hollingshead, who brought movies outside so people could drive right up to the picture.

By |2024-12-13T07:28:22-05:00June 6, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , |

“The Fastest Cyclist In The World,” Major Taylor, Was A Black Sports Pioneer

There's a new exhibit at the Indiana State Museum about Marshall "Major" Taylor, a Black cycling star who became famous before Jack Johnson, Joe Louis or Jackie Robinson. Here's some of his story.

Being Nice Really Can Make The World Around You Nicer, Science Has Shown It

A University of Oregon study on what's called the “perceiver-elicited similarity effect" finds that when you’re nice, that can lead to more niceness around you!

By |2024-12-16T10:04:22-05:00November 12, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , |

Incubus, The Esperanto-Language Movie Starring William Shatner

Today in 1966, the official release of "Incubus," the only Esperanto-language movie starring a pre-Star Trek William Shatner. The movie had such bad fortune some people actually thought it was cursed.

By |2024-12-13T07:29:09-05:00October 26, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

The Parrots That Almost Did Publicity For A Mae West Movie

Today in 1934, Paramount Pictures released the movie “Belle of the Nineties,” starring Mae West. And, for some reason, the studio trained several dozen parrots to learn to say the title of the movie so they could appear at theaters and wow the moviegoing public. There was just one problem with the plan, though.

By |2024-12-07T20:48:59-05:00September 21, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

Before There Was CGI, There Was Special Effects Master Ray Harryhausen

Ray Harryhausen was a pioneer of special effects in movies in the days before computers, whose influence is still all over the world of movies today.

By |2024-12-16T10:23:29-05:00June 29, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Why A Stormtrooper Walked Helmet-First Into A Door In The Original “Star Wars”

Today in 1977, "Star Wars" premiered in movie theaters, and became a movie, pop culture and merchandising phenomenon. But how is it that, in one scene, an Imperial Stormtrooper walks helmet-first into an overhead door?

By |2024-12-07T20:53:00-05:00May 25, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Milicent Patrick Gave The Black Lagoon Its Creature

The woman who designed the Creature, Milicent Patrick, was almost forgotten, but film lovers and fans have been working to make sure her story is told.

By |2024-12-07T20:17:20-05:00February 12, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

How “Them!” Became The Greatest Giant Ant Movie Of Its Generation

It was on this day in 1954 that one of the most important monster movies most people have never heard of was released: "Them!" featured giant irradiated ants, James Arness, the Wilhelm Scream, Fess Parker, Leonard Nimoy and more!

By |2024-12-07T20:55:31-05:00June 15, 2020|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , |
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