Andrew Jackson, proprietor of the Hermitage, was the subject of the first Presidential assassination attempt in U.S. history. When the would-be assassin’s pistols, incredibly, both misfired, Jackson charged the man and beat him with his cane.
The 2002 movie Russian Arkby director Alexander Sokurov, filmed at The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, was a critical smash (mostly). The movie has more than 2,000 extras, 3 orchestras, spans 33 rooms of the Hermitage with each containing ghosts (or shades or scenes) from more than 200 years of Russian history. It is most famous for the fact the entire 96 minute movie was filmed in one continuous shot using a Steadicam.
The movie * Gandhi * holds the record for most extras used.
Though the two of them were instrumental in guiding 20th century history in the UK and India, Winston Churchill and Mohandas Gandhi met only once, when Gandhi was a young lawyer living in South Africa. However, during the Boer War, both men were present at the battle of Spion Kop and happened by the same location within 20 minutes of each other.
While recuperating from an ailment during WW II, Winston Churchill read George Eliot’s Silas Marner, because he had heard good things about it (is that trivial enough?).
Fascinating film. We have it on DVD.
While escaping from a POW camp during the Second Boer War, Morning Post war correspondent Winston Churchill – who would become the only British prime minister to receive a Nobel Prize for literature – read Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped, another tale of escape.
Robert Louis Stevenson got the idea for Treasure Island- per local legend anyway- while staying in Savannah, Georgia at a still surviving 18th century restaurant and tavern* now called The Pirate’s House. (If you’re ever there, try the pulled pork egg rolls- really good.)
*Only one room actually dates to the 18th century.
The Serengeti savanna hosts the largest mammal migration in the world, which is one of the ten natural travel wonders of the world. I’ve been there to see it and it’s pretty damn spectacular.
Australia is home to many mammals who can glide, including flying phalangers, the greater glider and Feather-tailed possums.
The “It’s” man (Michael Palin) at the beginning of the credits for Monty Python’s Flying Circus never got to finish a sentence.
In the Mel Brooks film Blazing Saddles, Gabby Johnson (Jack Starrett) tries to tell the townspeople that Sheriff Bart (Cleavon Little) is black. He keeps being interrupted by the ringing of a bell and never gets to finish the sentence, “The sheriff is a ni-” This leads to the surprised reaction by Howard Johnson (John Hillerman).
The pseudonyms Currer, Acton, and Ellis Bell were used by Charlotte, Anne, and Emily Bronte.
John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton (generally known as Lord Acton) was a historian most noted for his observation that “All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
John Edwards served just a single term in elective office, as a U.S. senator from North Carolina. His campaigns for President in both 2004 and 2008 failed.
Jonathan Edwards was a one hit wonder with “Sunshine.”
Aaron Burr’s grandfather was the noted early American theologian Jonathan Edwards.
Aaron Burr’s beloved daughter Theodosia disappeared at sea. His political foes had long hinted that their very close relationship was actually incestuous.
Theodosia Burr Goodman was the original name of Theda Bara, the silent film actress known as “The Vamp” for her sexually predatory (in a vampiric fashion) roles.
A completely false rumor about Theda Bara was that she was a Zionist and chose her name because it was an anagram of Arab Death.
Pakistani-American actor Iqbal Theba incongruously plays McKinley High School Principal Figgins (first name unknown) on “Glee”. Figgins once did a preflight video for Mumbai Air, showing how to put on elastic support stockings.