Archive for the ‘john travolta’ Tag

06/26/2025 “ODD FACTS”   2 comments

Here is a list of trivial items you’ve always wished you knew.

  • You could swim through the veins of a blue whale.
  • The white-throated snapping turtle of Australia breathes through it butt.
  • In order for Earth to become a black hole, its entire mass would have to be compressed into a space less than 1 inch in diameter.
  • In 1929, the famous television dog Rin-Tin-Tin received the most votes for the Academy Award for best actor but didn’t win.
  • The leading role in the movie Forest Gump, was originally offered to John Travolta.
Deviant Artistry

  • John Wayne was offered the lead role in Blazing Saddles by Mel Brooks but turned it down.
  • The famous Dr. children’s book Green Eggs and Ham contained just 50 different words.
  • At various points in history the Olympics included competitions in categories such as painting, engraving, architecture, literature, and town planning.
  • During World War II, so many NFL players were fighting in the war that the rival Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers temporarily teamed up to form a team called the “Steagles“.
  • Until recently, Russia did not consider beer an alcoholic drink. Anything containing less than 10% alcohol is considered a soft drink in Russia until 2011.

ONE OF MY FAVS

More people are killed by vending machines each year than sharks.

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HOPE YOU’RE ENJOYING THE HEAT

06/22/2024 “TV & Cinema v. Actual Books”   Leave a comment

Being retired has had one advantage I never bargained on and that was “streaming”. I retired in 2008 and “streaming” hadn’t really come into its own just yet. Today I’m even more hooked on television than ever before due in part to another new term of the 21st century, “bingeing.” I’ve watched hundreds of newly produced shows from Netflix and others as well as thousands of the old shows. I rediscovered just how much I truly disliked most of them back in the day. I’ve now gotten to the point where I’ve seen all I want to see of most of the more familiar streaming services and watching all those old shows is just pure torture. I really don’t need to see a once young, buxom and sexy Suzanne Somers romping around or reruns of All in the Family. The attraction there is still watching Sally Struthers strutting her stuff before a few of her things (two in particular) had begun to sag. I’ve been spending more and more of my time reading my Kindle or rummaging through my library to read actual books. I decided today’s trivia facts about the Cinema were more than a little appropriate for all you cinephiles out there.

  • What was the name of the mechanical shark in the 1975 smash hit Jaws? Bruce
  • Robert Redford was paid $6 million for his role in the 1985 film Out of Africa. How much was leading lady Meryl Streep paid? She received $3 million.
  • At an MGM option in 1970, two items went for the top price of $1500. One was the full-size boat used in the musical Showboat. What was the other? Judy Garland’s size 4 1/2 red shoes from the Wizard of Oz.
  • Who coined the phrase “cameo role” to describe the appearance of a top movie star in a bit part? Showmen Mike Todd, when he produced the Oscar-winning Around the World in 80 days in 1955.
OMG – YUM!!
  • What two tough guy actors turned down the role of the avenging “Man with No Name” in Sergio Leone’s spaghetti western A Fistful of Dollars before Clint Eastwood was offered the part? James Coburn and Charles Bronson. Henry Fonda was the first choice, but he was too expensive.
  • In 1980, who were the Top 10 box office stars in Hollywood, according to the nation’s film exhibitor? From 1 to 10: Bert Reynolds, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, Jane Fonda, Dustin Hoffman, John Travolta, Sally Field, Sissy Spacek, Barbra Streisand and Steve Martin.
  • Why was popcorn not permitted in most movie theaters in the 1920’s? It was deemed to be too noisy.
  • How old was actor Jeff Bridges when he made his screen debut? Four months. He appeared as a crying baby in the 1950’s film The Company She Keeps.

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WHERE’S MY EFFING KINDLE?

10/10/2023 “SO TRUE . . . SO TRUE.”   Leave a comment

The internet has become famous for anonymous facts claiming to be true as well and out-and-out fake news and scams of all kinds. Here are ten facts that are surprising and amazingly TRUE.

  • More tickets were sold to see the movie Gone With the Wind in theaters than people living in America at its release.
  • John Lennon signed the official paperwork formalizing the split of the Beatles while staying at a Disney World hotel.
  • Yoda from the movie Star Wars, cookie monster from Sesame Street, and Miss Piggy from the Muppet Show were all voiced by the same person.
  • The leading role in the movie Forrest Gump was originally offered to John Travolta.
  • Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t draw the sketch of Kate Winslet in Titanic, but director James Cameron did.

  • Gene Roddenberry originally wanted Patrick Stewart to wear a wig for his iconic Star Trek role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
  • Stephen Spielberg submitted Schindler’s List as his final project for film school.
  • Brad Pitt’s first acting gig was dressing up as a giant chicken.
  • The NFL, NBA, and MLB have all had one player win the championship MVP while playing for the losing team.
  • Violet Jessop was the one passenger who was aboard both the Titanic and its sister ship the Britannic when they were sunk.

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE SWEARING