Neil Diamond’s early success was as a Brill Building songwriter. Several of his songs were hits for the Monkees, including “I’m a Believer” and “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You”.
Davy Jones of the Monkees was a child star on stage before the series, having portrayed The Artful Dodger in the hit musical Oliver on Broadway and in London; today he breeds racehorses on his farm in Pennsylvania.
In addition to being a postmaster, author, printer, diplomat and fire chief, Ben Franklin once served as state president of Pennsylvania.
Franklin and Marshall College, in Lancaster Pennsylvania, is named after Benjamin Franklin and fourth Chief Justice of the United States, John Marshall.
The two pro football teams in Pennsylvania – the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers – were forced by World War II to run as a joint franchise in 1943. Nicknamed “The Steagles,” the team finished 5-4-1, which was the first winning season for the Eagles and only the second for the Steelers at that point.
The Steelers are the only NFL team to wear its logo on only one side of its helmets. Owner Art Rooney wasn’t sold on the idea so he had it done that way to see how well it was accepted, and it never changed from there.
Actor Mickey Rooney was originally named Joseph Yule, Jr.
“Mickey” is a 1982 hit U.S. pop song recorded by singer and choreographer Toni Basil. Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn as “Kitty,” it was first recorded by UK pop group Racey in 1979.
Basil’s crush on actor and singer Monkee Micky Dolenz prompted her to change the lyrics to “Mickey” to better suit her real-life experience, and to change the gender from female to male.
Basil Rathbone, best known for playing Sherlock Holmes, won a Tony award on Broadway.
John Cleese, famous for Monty Python and playing Basil Fawlty, has a lucrative sideline making corporate training films
John Cleese (whose family name was originally Cheese until his grandfather changed it) used his recent divorce as a “reason gays should think it through before opting for marriage”; his third wife received $20 million plus $1 million per year for 7 years, meaning “that if we both died today, her children would get much more than mine would”.
Traditionally, true mozzarella cheese came from the milk of water buffalos.
Wallace and Gromit, the not-so-bright inventor and his silent, long-suffering but brilliant dog in the series of Aardman Animation films, go to the Moon for some green cheese in the Oscar-nominated short film A Grand Day Out.
When term limits prevented George Wallace from being re-elected as governor of Alabama, his wife Lurleen succeeded him.
The Doors covered Kurt Weill’s Alabama Song, originally written for the musical Mahogonny
Kurt Weill’s wife, Lotte Lenya, appeared in “From Russia With Love.” She played the SPECTRE operative who tried to kill James Bond by kicking him with a poison spike in her shoe.
Daniel Craig is the first actor under six feet tall who has portrayed the canonical James Bond character.
Comedian Craig Shoemaker was the sidekick for Magic Johnson’s disastrous, short-lived TV talk show. Prince’s old pal Sheila E. was Magic’s bandleader.
Prince’s co-star in Purple Rain was Apollonia Kotero who had a brief career as a single name actress (as Apollonia, not as Kotero) on Falcon Crest and various guest appearances.
The Prince of Wales has said that he might take the name George VII rather than Charles III upon ascending the throne. Royalty watchers say this would be both to honor his grandfather and because the Stuart kings, Charles I and Charles II, were not entirely savory characters.