She was born Norma Jean Mortenson. The head of new talent at Fox suggested the first name Marilyn because he looked like a Marilyn to him. Specifically, the actress Marilyn Miller. Norma chose Monroe as her last name to honor her grandmother. Her grandmother and mother both had mental issues. Read more…
Douglas Corrigan took a plane flight for $2.50 as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with flying. He got into aviation and became a pilot. He also worked as a mechanic. He was one of the mechanics who worked on Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis. In 1938, he Read more…
Historians messed up on her name. Her actual name is not clearly known, but it was not Joan of Arc. The candidates include: Jehanne d’Arc, Jehanne Tarc, Jehanne Romee, or Jehanne de Vouthon. She was called Jehannette when she was growing up. At her trial, she called herself “Joan la Read more…
Billy the Kid, probably named Henry McCarty or alias William Bonney, was killed on July 14, 1881. The events that led to the incident started in 1878 when Billy’s rancher boss was murdered in a range war. Billy vowed revenge and targeted a Sheriff and Deputy who were in Read more…
Today is Medal of Honor Day in honor of the award instituted on this day by Pres. Lincoln in 1861. There have been over 3,500 recipients. Here are some interesting facts: 1. It is simply called the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor. There are three versions Read more…
The bad blood began in 1790 when Burr defeated Hamilton’s father-in-law for the Senate. Hamilton considered Burr to be a dangerous opportunist and opposed him when he ran for Vice President in 1796. In 1800, Burr leaked a Hamilton letter criticizing John Adams. In the Election of 1800, Jefferson ended Read more…
The Butler Act had been passed earlier in 1925. It forbade the teaching of evolution in Tennessee schools. The American Civil Liberties Union immediately put out a press release asking for someone to challenge the law. George Rappelyea of Dayton, Tn. felt a trial would bring recognition to his city Read more…
He was born during a lightning storm in Serbia. When the midwife proclaimed this was a dark omen, his mother responded: “No, he will be a child of light.” After witnessing the death of his older brother, he started having visions. He had obsessive compulsive disorder. He was obsessed with Read more…
The flight was almost cancelled before the CIA decided to make it the last of 24 flights. It was determined that May 1 would be a good day because the Soviets would be celebrating May Day and the air defenses would thus be lax. Actually, the fact that there were Read more…
He was the son of a Baptist minister. He went to the California gold fields where he caught a disease and died, leaving his wife to bring up Frank, Jesse, and Susan. She remarried a couple of times and remained a staunch supporter of her boys. When the Civil War Read more…