Interesting Things to Know
Cinema’s Sweetest Moments: The Ultimate Movie Pie Fights
Step into the world of classic movie pie fights, where laughter and pastry collide in delightful chaos.
Pie-Faced Legends: Stan and Ollie’s Triumph
The timeless appeal of a pie in the face dates back to the early days of cinema, where slapstick humor reigned supreme. Yet, one iconic pie fight, the brainchild of the legendary comic duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, stands out as the quintessential pie-tossing extravaganza.
In their silent film masterpiece, “Battle of the Century,” released on December 31, 1927, Laurel and Hardy embarked on a quest to create the ultimate pie fight. At the time, pies in the face had become a staple gag but were in danger of growing stale. Laurel, the creative genius, envisioned something grandiose. “Let’s give them so many pies that there never will be room for any more pie pictures in the history of movies,” he declared to a biographer.
The result? A spectacle of epic proportions, with 3,000 pies hurled in all directions. However, despite the grandeur of their pie fight, the film itself was lost to time, leaving only the memory of the legendary pastry showdown. That is, until 2013, when a collector unearthed a reel containing the historic battle, making it easily accessible on platforms like YouTube for modern audiences.
But as remarkable as Laurel and Hardy’s pie fight was, it wasn’t the grandest in cinematic history.
The Great Race: A Pioneering Pie Extravaganza
For baby boomers, “The Great Race” holds a special place in cinematic nostalgia. Released in 1965, this movie offered a thrilling story and a spectacular pie fight that left an indelible mark on film history.
The plot revolves around an international auto race featuring two daring rivals: Jack Lemmon as the villainous Professor Fate and Tony Curtis as the dashing hero known as The Great Leslie. The pie fight, an unforgettable moment, ignites when Lemmon’s character plunges into a towering two-story cake. Curtis miraculously remains un-pied until his love interest, portrayed by Natalie Wood, delivers a direct hit to cap off the chaos.
This four-minute pie battle required a staggering 4,000 pies flung over five days of intense filming. In today’s currency, it amounted to a sweet $1.5 million in production costs for the year 2023. As if that weren’t enough when director Blake Edwards finally yelled “cut,” the cast promptly reciprocated the pie-pelting by smothering him with several hundred pies.
While “The Great Race” may hold the title for the costliest and most pie-laden cinematic battle, it is worth noting that The Three Stooges, renowned for their slapstick comedy, also left their mark on pie fight history. In the 1941 classic “In The Sweet Pie and Pie,” the Stooges indulged in a messy pie-throwing spree, targeting society’s elite with their pastry projectiles.
In the annals of film history, these legendary pie fights continue to tickle our funny bones, proving that the simple joy of a well-aimed pie to the face transcends time and generations.
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The Mystical Origins of “Abracadabra”: A Journey Through Time and Magic
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The 1975 “No S” Roosevelt Dime: A Hidden Treasure Worth Half a Million Dollars
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The Return of Communal Tables: A Revival of Tradition in Modern Dining
The dining scene embraces an old tradition with a modern twist as communal tables make a comeback in restaurants nationwide. From the bustling streets of New York, Chicago, and Boston to smaller cities, these large tables that seat multiple parties are becoming increasingly popular.
Historically, communal tables were the norm in European inns and dining halls until the 19th century, when private tables began to emerge, first in Paris. Despite this shift in the West, communal seating continued to thrive in places like Japan and other parts of Asia. Today, as society grapples with the digital age’s isolating effects, these tables are reappearing in restaurants as spaces that foster social interaction and community building.
Sitting anywhere from 8 to 16 diners, communal tables are a nod to bygone eras and a smart business strategy for restaurateurs. They maximize seating capacity and provide a flexible option for accommodating larger groups, which might require complex arrangements of smaller tables.
For guests, the experience of dining at a communal table can be a leap out of their comfort zones. Yet, many find it a refreshing opportunity to engage with new people, turning what could be a simple meal into a memorable social event. The concept encourages diners to connect in an increasingly rare way in our screen-dominated lives, offering a chance to meet friends you never knew you had.
Whether you’re dining alone, with friends, or looking to make new ones, communal tables offer a unique culinary and social experience that combines the charm of historical dining practices with the dynamic needs of modern life. So next time you’re out, consider choosing the communal table—it might transform your dining experience.
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Celebrity May Birthdays!
Do you share a birthday with a celebrity?
1 – Judy Collins, 85, singer, Seattle, WA, 1939.
2 – Jenna Von Oy, 47, actress (Blossom), Newtown, CT, 1977.
3 – Engelbert Humperdinck, 88, singer, born Gerry Dorsey, Madras, India, 1936.
4 – David Guterson, 68, author (Snow Falling on Cedars), Seattle, WA, 1956.
5 – Henry Cavill, 41, actor (The Tudors), Jersey, Channel Islands, U.K., 1983.
6 – Roma Downey, 60, actress (Touched by an Angel), Derry, Northern Ireland, 1964.
7 – Peter Carey, 81, author (Oscar and Lucinda), born Bacchus Marsh, Australia, 1943.
8 – Stephen Amell, 43, actor (Arrow), Toronto, ON, Canada, 1981.
9 – Billy Joel, 75, singer, composer, born Hicksville, NY, 1949.
10 – Jason Brooks, 58, actor (Days of Our Lives), Colorado Springs, CO, 1966.
11 – Matt Leinart, 41, sports analyst, former football player, 2004 Heisman Trophy winner, Santa Ana, CA, 1983.
12 – Bruce Boxleitner, 73, actor (Babylon 5), Elgin, IL, 1951.
13 – Julianne Phillips, 62, actress (Allie & Me), Lake Oswego, OR, 1962.
14 – Mark Zuckerberg, 40, founder of Facebook, White Plains, NY, 1984.
15 – Chazz Palminteri, 73, actor (A Bronx Tale), playwright, the Bronx, NY, 1952.
16 – Pierce Brosnan, 71, actor (Remington Steele), County Meath, Ireland, 1953.
17 – Sendhil Ramamurthy, 50, actor (Heroes), Chicago, IL, 1974.
18 – James Stephens, 73, actor (The Paper Chase), Mount Kisco, NY, 1951.
19 – Lainey Wilson, 32, singer, Basken, LA., 1992,
20 – Timothy Olyphant, 56, actor (Justified), Honolulu, HI, 1968.
21 – Sarah Ramos, 33, actress (Parenthood), Los Angeles, CA, 1991.
22 – Naomi Campbell, 54, model, actress (Empire), London, U.K., 1970.
23 – Jewel, 47, singer (Pieces of You), born Jewel Kilcher, Payson, UT, 1974.
24 – Bob Dylan, 83, Rock and Roll and Songwriters halls of fame composer, singer, born Robert Zimmerman, Duluth, MN, 1941.
25 – Cillian Murphy, 48, actor (Oppenheimer), Douglas, Ireland, 1976.
26 – Lenny Kravitz, 60, actor (The Hunger Games), singer, musician, songwriter, New York, NY, 1964.
27 – Richard Schiff, 69, actor (The West Wing), Bethesda, MD, 1955.
28 – Gladys Knight, 80, singer, Atlanta, GA, 1944.
29 – Carmelo Anthony, 40, basketball player, New York, NY, 1984.
30 – CeeLo Green, 49, singer, rapper, record producer, born Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, Atlanta, GA, 1975.
31 – Chris Elliott, 64, writer, comedian, New York, NY, 1960.
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Crafting a Joyful Retirement Beyond the Finances
The financial aspect often takes center stage when the conversation turns to retirement. However, a critical component of retirement planning goes beyond the numbers: social connectivity. As careers wind down and the daily interactions of the workplace fade, maintaining relationships becomes a task that requires intention and effort. The importance of this aspect can’t be overstated, as highlighted by an extensive 85-year study by Harvard, which revealed that social fitness is paramount to achieving a happy retirement.
The study’s findings underscore that while retirees may not miss their former jobs, they deeply miss the social connections formed in the workplace. This suggests that a fulfilling retirement involves much more than pursuing hobbies or leisure activities; it hinges on the richness of our personal connections.
Psychologists Robert Waldinger, PhD, and Marc Schulz, PhD, emphasize the importance of nurturing these connections even before stepping into retirement. They encourage reflecting on the relationships that bring joy and fulfillment and taking steps to strengthen those bonds. Appreciating and valuing the people in our lives today lays the groundwork for a socially rich retirement tomorrow.
For those already in retirement and feeling a gap in their social lives, Waldinger and Schulz offer guiding questions to help identify what connections are missing and how to foster them. Whether reaching out to someone you’d like to know better, seeking out individuals with different perspectives, or even embarking on activities you never considered before retirement, the goal is to create a diverse and enriching social landscape.
Stanley Bing, a Forbes humorist, humorously suggested establishing a “daily grind” in retirement to appreciate the joy of vacations and advised maintaining a healthy distance from becoming too entangled in family members’ daily lives. His take, while humorous, underscores the idea that retirement should be a time of personal growth and exploration.
A happy retirement is multifaceted, encompassing financial stability, personal fulfillment, and, importantly, active engagement in a social network. Cultivating and maintaining these connections enriches our lives and ensures our retirement years are vibrant and joyful.
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The Heist of the Century: How an Aging Mobster’s Quest for Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers Went Awry
In a tale that seems pulled straight from a Hollywood script, Terry Jon Martin’s life took a turn towards the criminal when he set his sights on one of the most iconic pieces of film memorabilia: the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. Unbeknownst to Martin, who grew up far removed from the movie’s cultural impact, the slippers’ true value lay not in precious stones but in their irreplaceable cinematic history.
After a tumultuous life of crime and multiple prison sentences, the last of which ended in 1996, Martin sought a fresh start in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. This quiet town, coincidentally the birthplace of Judy Garland, hosts a museum dedicated to the actress, within which a pair of the famed ruby slippers were displayed. In 2005, driven by misinformation and the lure of what he believed to be a final, lucrative heist, Martin embarked on a daring smash-and-grab to claim the slippers, insured for a rumored million dollars.
However, the dream of a final big score quickly dissolved. Within days of the successful theft, Martin discovered the disappointing truth—the slippers’ “gems” were mere fakes, rendering the shoes nearly worthless on the black market. Discarding the slippers, he returned to his ordinary life, leaving the shoes hidden from the world.
The slippers’ disappearance remained a mystery until 2018 when they were recovered in an FBI sting operation. This closed a chapter on one of the most intriguing heists in film memorabilia history. Martin, now 76 and facing the end of his life in hospice care, confessed to his role in the theft in federal court last year. Due to his health and condition, he was spared prison and sentenced instead to supervised release for his remaining days.
It remains unclear whether Martin has ever watched the film that once inspired his criminal aspirations. What is certain, however, is that the legend of the ruby slippers—and the man who dared to steal them—will continue to captivate audiences, much like the movie that started it all.