Browsing: Arts & Entertainment

A Brief History On April 30, 1961, the Soviet Navy commissioned their first nuclear armed submarine, the K-19, later made famous in the 2002 movie, K-19: The Widowmaker.  Other ships have had movie titles featuring their name, and we have 10 prominent ones listed here. Digging Deeper 10. Battleship Potemkin, 1925. A silent film about the revolt on board the battleship in 1905 that eventually led to the Russian revolution and the overthrow of the Czar.  Considered a propaganda film, it was named by the Brussels World Fair in 1958 as the greatest movie of all time.  Many modern movies…

A Brief History On April 24, 1885, Phoebe Ann Moses, better known as Annie Oakley, joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and was a star attraction for the next 16 years. Digging Deeper Annie was born in North Star, Ohio in 1860, a somehow appropriate location considering her future stardom. Born into poverty in a log cabin, Annie took to trapping and shooting by the age of 8 years.  Even at an early age her marksmanship skills became well known and her ability to kill game animals considerably assisted the family finances.  When a traveling shooting show came to town…

A Brief History On April 23, 1985, Coca-Cola, that icon of American soft drinks, one of the  symbols of what stands for America, changed its formula! A mistake of epic proportions, eventually Coke had to bring back “Coca-Cola Classic.”  As idiotic as the decision may seem in hindsight, Coke had good reason to change the formula.  Pepsi-Cola had steadily been gaining market share, and blind taste tests proved that people preferred the sweeter Pepsi, and that people preferred an even sweeter alternative.  Still, even Fidel Castro was upset with the New Coke!  At times, otherwise smart executives make bad decisions.…

A Brief History On April 19, 1927, vaudevillian and stage actress Mae West was sentenced to 10 days in jail for “corrupting the morals of youth!” Digging Deeper Mae West, star of stage, movies and radio, started her performing career at age 5. Obviously meant for entertainment, West also wrote the play, Sex, for which she was jailed.  The arrest and jail time only gave her more good publicity which helped propel her to stardom, eventually being ranked the 15th biggest female star of all time. Known for her hourglass figure and sultry ways, she played the role of sexy…

A Brief History On April 10, 1953, moviegoers in the US were treated to the first 3D movie in color released by a major studio: The House of Wax, starring Vincent Price, a remake of the 1933 film, Mystery of the Wax Museum. Digging Deeper Although the industry had started to dabble in 3D technology and just 2 days before the premier of The House of Wax a black and white 3D film, Man in the Dark, had been released, The House of Wax was the first major color 3D movie.  (The 2005 movie House of Wax has no relation…