Culture & entertainment
Discover facts about culture & entertainment. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Culture & entertainment
Impact of hitting the wrestling canvas
The wrestling ring’s canvas covers only a thin layer of foam over hard wooden planks and steel beams, so the landing isn’t as soft as it may look.
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Secret earpieces of event referees
A referee can receive time cues and match instructions through a discreet earpiece, then relay them to athletes.
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Pain of bouncing off wrestling ropes
In some rings, the ropes are steel cables wrapped in colored tape, so hitting them can feel more like striking a taut pipe than bouncing off soft cord.
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Unintentional finger biting sibling fame
The clip was uploaded for the boys' godfather because the file was too large to email—and then it became famous.
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Cutting aggressive backstage promos
Shouting through a high-energy monologue while sweating can leave even a very fit athlete winded.
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Miyamoto wanted Bond to shake hands with enemies
Miyamoto suggested an end-credits scene in which Bond visits a hospital and shakes hands with the guards he had shot, to show they were all okay.
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Star Trek's automatic doors had people pulling the strings
On the original series, hidden stagehands opened the sliding doors using wires and pulleys. A cue told them when to pull, making the entrance look as though…
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Steve Buscemi returned to firefighting after 9/11
He had been an FDNY firefighter in the 1980s, and after the attacks he worked 12-hour shifts at the World Trade Center site, avoiding cameras and interviews.
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Marilyn Monroe earned less than her makeup artist
Though she was the star of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Monroe was paid $500 a week under her contract—less than her personal makeup artist.
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A Magic 8-Ball’s prediction window holds blue alcohol
The prediction window contains alcohol dyed dark blue. If it spills, the liquid can stain surfaces, so keep it away from carpets.
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Play-Doh started as wallpaper cleaner
Play-Doh was first sold as a cleaner for coal soot on wallpaper. When vinyl wallpaper made that use obsolete, its makers added color and marketed the putty as…
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Blackjack card counting is mostly adding and subtracting
Card counting usually doesn’t require photographic memory: players track a running total as cards are dealt. Casinos may ban counters because the method can…
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Burger King's plastic mask is simply called The King
The King has no elaborate backstory or special powers: he’s a man in tights wearing an oversized monarch mask. His unsettling appearances in Burger King ads…
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Baccarat was restricted to arrogant French nobility
In the 19th century, the game was reserved for France’s upper class; today, players can bet on the player or banker without learning the rules.
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Tony the Tiger beat a kangaroo for the cereal box
When the cereal launched, consumers voted among four mascots, including Katy the Kangaroo and Elmo the elephant. Tony won the poll and secured his place on…
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Pai Gow Poker was born in a California casino
A California casino manager created Pai Gow Poker in the 1980s, combining American poker with the structure of a Chinese domino game to slow play and keep…
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The Michelin Man toasted drivers with nails and broken glass
In his 1898 debut advertisement, he raised a cup filled with road hazards. The image illustrated Michelin's claim that its pneumatic tires could absorb…
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A stolen casino chip can lose its value without changing its appearance
Casinos can track particular chip issues and refuse redemption after a theft; some high-value chips also contain RFID identifiers. The plastic object is only…
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PEZ was marketed as a cigarette alternative
The original dispenser was shaped like a lighter, and the candy was marketed to adults as an alternative to cigarettes.
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Tarot kept a knight that your poker deck doesn't have
Early Italian tarot suits included four court figures: king, queen, knight and knave. A familiar 52-card deck has only three face-card ranks. Tarot also added…
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Universal Studios opened with rides breaking down
When the Florida park opened, major attractions suffered mechanical failures. Guests were stranded for hours on the Jaws and Kong rides in the heat, prompting…
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The Energizer Bunny was created to mock Duracell
Duracell’s ad showed toy rabbits drumming until their batteries died; a rival battery maker answered with a sunglasses-wearing bunny that kept going.
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Poker was once played with just 20 cards
Early 19th-century riverboat poker variants used only 20 cards—the highest cards in the deck—dealt five apiece to four players.
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The Pringles mascot has a first name
The Pringles mascot is named Julius.
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