Topic

Biography & Personal Stories

A collection of 183 issues

One Artist, Five Charts, Zero Competition: The Unprecedented Record of Sheena Easton

Scottish singer Sheena Easton holds a unique Billboard record no one else has matched: she is the only artist ever to score a top-5 hit on the five primary singles charts—Pop, R&B, Country, Adult Contemporary, and Dance. This is a testament to her incredible vocal versatility.

The Nicotine Killer: How a Hungarian Housewife's Poisoned Brandy Exposed Her Secret Murders

Erzsébet Papp, Hungary's "Nicotine Killer," murdered four people with homemade nicotine from 1957-1958. Initially sentenced to life for one crime, a series of accidental poisonings exposed her full killing spree, leading to a retrial and her eventual execution by hanging in 1962.

The Blonde Holly: Why Truman Capote Believed Marilyn Monroe Was the Only Choice for Breakfast at Tiffany's

Before Audrey Hepburn's iconic portrayal, Truman Capote had one star in mind for his Holly Golightly: Marilyn Monroe. He felt betrayed by the casting, believing Monroe alone could capture the fragile, tragic truth of the character he wrote, a truth sanitized for Hepburn's classic film.

From a Fiery Box to Freedom: The Incredible True Story of Clarissa Davis

In 1854, an enslaved woman named Clarissa Davis orchestrated a daring escape from Virginia. Disguised as a man and aided by an ally, she spent 75 days in hiding before being nailed into a box and shipped to freedom aboard a steamship, enduring a fiery ordeal to reunite with her family.

The Other Ronald McDonald: How a Small-Town Restaurateur Defeated the Fast-Food Giant

In a classic David vs. Goliath tale, fast-food giant McDonald's sued a small Illinois restaurant named 'McDonald's,' which opened in 1956. In a twist of fate, the owner, an actual man named Ronald McDonald, won the 1996 lawsuit, defending his family's legacy against the corporation.

Flame On! The Story of Bill Murray's Forgotten Role as the Human Torch

Long before his iconic movie roles, comedy legend Bill Murray voiced Johnny Storm in a 1975 Marvel radio drama. Narrated by Stan Lee, this forgotten 'Fantastic Four' series marks one of the earliest screen-to-audio adaptations of the famous superhero team.

The First Lady Who Faced the Guillotine: Elizabeth Monroe's Daring Rescue in Revolutionary France

During the French Revolution's deadly Reign of Terror, Elizabeth Monroe, wife of the U.S. Minister, staged a bold public visit to the imprisoned Adrienne de Lafayette. This single act of soft power highlighted America's interest and saved the French hero's wife from certain execution.

The Bone Wars: How Petty Rivalry, Sabotage, and Ego Fueled America's Greatest Dinosaur Rush

In the late 1800s, paleontologists Edward Cope and Othniel Marsh engaged in the 'Bone Wars,' a bitter feud of sabotage and slander. Despite destroying fossils and careers, their obsessive rivalry incredibly led to the discovery of over 130 new dinosaur species.