The Peculiar Truth about the Gay Miss America
Dr. Deidre Downs is an inspiring woman. At just 45 years of age as of this writing, she has an impressive list of accomplishments. After being selected as Miss Alabama 2004, she entered the Miss America contest the following year. In 2005 at age 25, she received the national crown in Atlantic City. Prior to that, though, she attended high school in Pelham, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. She won her high school’s beauty pageant as a senior. Upon graduation, Miss Downs receiv
May 123 min read
The Peculiar Truth about the Pulitzer Author’s Mother
In 1981, John Kennedy Toole’s first novel was released. One year later, A Confederacy of Dunces won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Toole personally didn’t receive the award, however. His mother, Thelma Toole, accepted on his behalf. He had tried to find a publisher for years with no success. His mother managed that feat for him, too. Aside from writing the manuscript - the main feat, of course - John Kennedy Toole had no input regarding the publication of A Confederacy of Du
May 53 min read
The Peculiar Truth about the Movie that Caused Cancer
Howard Hughes wanted an epic movie blockbuster and set out to produce a film about Genghis Khan. It was titled The Conqueror . Dick Powell was hired to direct. Actors considered for the lead role included Marlon Brando and Yul Brynner. However, to play the Mongol legend they selected All-American cowboy figure John Wayne. There was nothing remotely Asian about him. On the first day of rehearsal, he showed up drunk. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural. Wayne hated it. He su
Apr 282 min read
The Peculiar Truth about the Other SNL
September 20, 1975: Saturday Night Live premiered. The first episode aired at 8 pm. In primetime. On ABC. No, not that Saturday Night Live . The first one. That’s right. Three weeks before the original episode of Saturday Night Live on NBC (October 11, 1975), there was a show on the rival network that aired much earlier in the evening and had already claimed that same name. The SNL that has lasted for over 50 years was originally called NBC’s Saturday Night - hence the famo
Apr 213 min read