Topic

Biography & Personal Stories

A collection of 192 issues

What a View of the Hudson Today: The Ironic Prelude to a Miracle

Less than a minute before a bird strike disabled US Airways Flight 1549, Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger remarked, 'What a view of the Hudson today.' This calm observation became a chillingly ironic prelude to the 'Miracle on the Hudson,' where his skill saved all 155 people on board.

The Baroness Who Battled Fascism: Meet Helena Bonham Carter's Incredible Grandmother

TIL about Violet Bonham Carter, a formidable British politician, orator, and friend to Churchill. The grandmother of actress Helena Bonham Carter, she was a powerful early voice against Nazism and the policy of appeasement, leaving a legacy of courage and political conviction.

How Oprah, Michael Jordan, and Prince Saved Spike Lee's 'Malcolm X' From Hollywood's Grip

Spike Lee's epic 'Malcolm X' nearly died when Warner Bros. cut funding. The film was saved only after Lee's public appeal led to crucial donations from Black icons like Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Prince, ensuring his grand vision reached the screen.

The Factory Worker Who Ran 607 Marathons in 607 Days

Ricardo Abad Martínez holds the world record for running 607 marathons on 607 consecutive days, from 2010 to 2012. Incredibly, he accomplished this monumental feat while still working his full-time, 8-hour shift at a factory.

From Dictator to Democrat to Martyr: The Unbelievable Saga of Brazil's Getúlio Vargas

Getúlio Vargas, Brazil's authoritarian ruler from 1930-45, was ousted after WWII. In a stunning comeback, he was democratically elected president in 1951. Facing a military ultimatum in 1954, he committed suicide, leaving a note that transformed him into a political martyr.

The Web of Intrigue: How a 'Bad Back' Nearly Cost Tobey Maguire His Spider-Man Suit

Tobey Maguire's back pain nearly forced him out of Spider-Man 2. The studio hired Jake Gyllenhaal as his replacement, prompting a sudden recovery from Maguire, who reclaimed the role for the iconic sequel. The two actors later co-starred in the film Brothers (2009).

From Metropolis to Lucy's Living Room: The Unseen Genius of Karl Freund

Karl Freund, the visionary cinematographer behind German Expressionist masterpieces like Metropolis and Hollywood horrors like Dracula, was also the technical innovator who developed the multi-camera system for I Love Lucy, forever changing how television sitcoms were made and looked.

"Have You Heard My British Accent?": The Day Dick Van Dyke Hung Up on James Bond

In the late 1960s, after Sean Connery left the role of 007, producers shockingly offered the part to American comedy legend Dick Van Dyke. Famously self-aware of his terrible British accent from Mary Poppins, Van Dyke's hilarious one-question response ended the call immediately.