Entertainment Archives - Useless Information

Useless Information

Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

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Podcasting Since January 2008

The Eddie Cantor Peace Prize – Podcast #166

Published on February 15, 2022

Posted in: Entertainment, Forgotten History, Fraud & Deception, Podcast

In 1936, superstar Eddie Cantor asked his radio listeners to write an essay describing how the United States could avoid war. The prize was a full college scholarship. With no set rules, something was certain to go wrong. And it did...

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The Glass House Girl – Podcast #164

Published on January 13, 2022

Posted in: Entertainment, Podcast

Edna Kirby spent more than a decade in Hollywood appearing in silent movies for Paramount Studios. While she never became a movie star, Edna drew large crowds in nearly every town that she visited. That’s because Edna Kirby lived in a glass house.

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Girls Crash Circus

Published on March 17, 2021

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus turned down Bri Murphy and Kay Mitchell's desire to work as clowns. They found another solution.

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Rock Group Heart Should Have a Heart Attack

Published on January 10, 2019

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

An April 6, 1976 review of the rock group Heart by Ian Haysom was titled “Call them Vancouver superflops." He ripped the group to shreds.

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The Carpenters are the Disney Version of Music

Published on January 5, 2019

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

James D. Dilts offered up a review of a Carpenters concert in the August 3, 1972 issue of the Baltimore Sun comparing their music to that of Disney.

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Carole King Can Barely Sing

Published on December 28, 2018

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

A November 4, 1970 review of the album titled “Writer: Carole King” just tore into her singing ability.

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Twilight Zone Chooses to Keep Rod Serling

Published on May 21, 2017

Posted in: Entertainment, Money & Financial, Tidbits

Can you imagine The Twilight Zone television series with Orson Welles as the host? It almost happened...

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Topless Cellist

Published on July 12, 2016

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Entertainment, Law & Order, Tidbits

On May 9, 1967, NYC Judge Milton Shalleck handed down a ruling in the case of 28-year-old Charlotte Moorman who played her cello topless.

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Death Threat Against the Bee Gees

Published on February 18, 2016

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

The last two posts offered early criticism of Elvis and The Beatles. It would be just too easy to pick on this next group: The Bee Gees.

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Early Criticism of The Beatles

Published on February 11, 2016

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

Not everyone loved The Beatles. Here are three early criticisms of their music from the newspapers of the time.

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Early Criticism of Elvis Presley

Published on February 3, 2016

Posted in: Entertainment, Tidbits

Writer John Crosby hated Elvis and all of Rock 'n Roll music. He offered his theory as to why it was played on the radio in the 1950's.

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The Singing Mouse – Podcast #89

Published on December 24, 2015

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Entertainment, Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

The comical true story of a mouse that could sing. Next came a one-year contract with NBC radio and a contest to find the world's best singing mouse.

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One Too Many Kisses for Opera Star

Published on February 28, 2015

Posted in: Entertainment, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

In 1922 Rafaelo Diaz, a tenor for the Metropolitan Opera was giving kisses to his female fans. This angered one husband and he slugged Diaz.

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Lost Coat Found

Published on November 4, 2014

Posted in: Entertainment, Fashion & Design, Tidbits

Imagine the surprise of Alexis Davidoff when a coat he donated in 1920 in Russia showed up on a Hollywood movie set that he was working on.

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Apple Annie – Podcast #56

Published on August 21, 2012

Posted in: Entertainment, Fashion & Design, Money & Financial, Podcast

The long forgotten story about a poor woman named Helen McCarthy, also known as Apple Annie, who was able to live a fairytale life for 24 hours.

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