The Doors: Unbound and Dangerous
A lifelong Doors fan revisits Unbound and Dangerous and explores seven standout concert albums, explaining why the band’s music keeps revealing something new.
Entertainment
Tex Avery: The Definitive Screwball Classics Collection Blu-ray
Growing up, a Tex Avery cartoon meant something special was about to happen. Discover the legendary animator’s outrageous humour and the MGM cartoon collection celebrating his enduring legacy.
Beyond Psycho: The Early Jazz Secret of Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins had a musical secret lurking beyond Psycho. Listen to his early jazz career, 1950s hit “Moon-Light Swim,” and rare recordings emerging from the shadows.
TCM and Criterion Go All In on Stanley Kubrick with The Complete Kubrick
A personal journey from Elwy Yost’s Kubrick introductions to The Plot Thickens: Stanley and Criterion’s ultimate Kubrick collection.
I Survived Just Fine Before Smartphones. So Why Does My Toaster Need an App?
August Lamm’s You Don’t Need a Smartphone sparks a funny, personal look at digital dependence, analog living, privacy and our obsession with apps.
Godzilla Stomp! When Fairy Tales Meet Monster-Sized Mayhem
Godzilla stomps into classic fairy tales in Katherine Locke and Nikolas Ilic’s Godzilla Stomp!, a monster-sized children's picture book full of chaos.
James Gleick’s Upcoming Book Explores How the Telephone Changed Everything
James Gleick’s upcoming The Telephone: A New History explores how the telephone transformed human connection, from Bell’s “ahoy” to the smartphone we can’t seem to silence.
Waldo or Wally? The Mystery Behind the Stripes Turns 40
Waldo or Wally? As the famous striped-shirt wanderer approaches his 40th anniversary in 2027, explore the name mystery and the curious history of his stripes.
The Night Jim Morrison and the Doors Saw 2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey changed cinema and art in 1968. Jim Morrison and the Doors were present at the world premiere in Los Angeles. Both Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison graduated as film students from UCLA. This was a big cinematic experience for them.
Bob Mankoff on AI and the Future of Human Creativity
Bob Mankoff shares why human judgment, empathy, and humor remain irreplaceable as AI transforms creativity for artists and creators.
Culture
Roy Lichtenstein: When Comic Books Became Art
Roy Lichtenstein’s Pop Art legacy takes center stage at the Whitney Museum’s Like New exhibition, exploring comic books, originality and today’s AI art debate.
The Great Pumpkin Carving: The Best Free Pumpkin Carving Stencils for Halloween
Find the best free pumpkin carving stencils for Halloween, from classic jack-o’-lantern faces to cats, monsters and printable pop culture designs.
The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: A Halloween Special That Gets Darker With Age
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown reveals a surprisingly dark Halloween story about disappointment, faith, childhood cruelty and the kindness that can make things better.
I Survived Just Fine Before Smartphones. So Why Does My Toaster Need an App?
August Lamm’s You Don’t Need a Smartphone sparks a funny, personal look at digital dependence, analog living, privacy and our obsession with apps.
TCM and Criterion Go All In on Stanley Kubrick with The Complete Kubrick
A personal journey from Elwy Yost’s Kubrick introductions to The Plot Thickens: Stanley and Criterion’s ultimate Kubrick collection.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir: What the Movie Changed
The 1947 classic The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is more than a romantic ghost story. Here's what the movie changed from the novel and why Captain Gregg may be more controlling than protective.
The Worst Movie You’ll Ever Find: Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla
Bela Lugosi, Jerry Lewis imitators, a gorilla suit and Hollywood controversy collide in this bizarre 1952 cult movie.
Bela Lugosi’s Worst Movies: When the Horror Legend Hit Rock Bottom
Bela Lugosi's worst movies reveal the strange, sad final chapter of the Dracula star's career, from Poverty Row productions to Ed Wood's films.
What If everything we think we know about Jim Morrison is wrong?
That question has haunted Jeff Finn since 1985 when he first researched the infamous vocalist and lyricist of the legendary 1960s rock band, The Doors. Finn is the writer, director and narrator of Before the End: Searching for Jim Morrison, a forthcoming limited film series that rips the hinges off Morrison's purported official story. Indie film production company Z-Machine has released a new extended preview of this hard-boiled but empathic documystery. What If everything we think we know about Jim Morrison is wrong?
The Secret of Wonder Woman’s Invisible Airplane
Why did Wonder Woman fly an Invisible Plane? Explore its Amazonian technology, mythic influences, alien tech and changing role across DC Comics history.
Food & Life
Don’t Cook That: When Old Recipes Got Seriously Dangerous
Old cookbooks weren’t always harmless. Some mixed food, medicine and household chemistry in ways that can make Grandma’s apple pie look downright safe.
When Paris Ate the Zoo: The Strangest Menu in History
During the Siege of Paris, starving Parisians ate zoo animals. Here’s the bizarre story behind elephant, camel and kangaroo appearing on a Paris menu.
We Buy Too Much Stuff. Then We Pay to Hide It.
America has so much stuff that we now pay to store it. A funny look at self-storage, consumerism, collecting, George Carlin and our obsession with stuff.
Why Does Your Jeans Pocket Have That Stupid Little Pocket?
That stupid little pocket in your jeans has a long history, from pocket watches and the real 5th pocket to its cheeky modern reputation as the condom pocket.
Did Casper Give Us Hot Stuff? The Little Devil’s Fiery Mystery
Did Casper inspire Harvey Comics’ Hot Stuff the Little Devil? Explore the curious connection, his fiery powers, the fictional asbestos diaper and a Hellboy twist.
MUTTS Sunday Funnies: Why Patrick McDonnell Belongs Among the Greats
Patrick McDonnell’s new MUTTS Sunday Funnies Volumes 1 and 2 collect his Sunday comic strips from 1994 to 1998 in beautifully presented hardcover editions.
The Pen Is Mightier Than Death: Believe It or Not!
Howie Noel, Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Dick Tracy and Charles Schulz reveal how legendary comic strips keep going after their original creators are gone.
Nancy Stole the Spotlight. Now Meet the Man Who Created Her.
You know Nancy. You might know Sluggo. But do you know Ernie Bushmiller, the cartoonist whose deceptively simple creation became bigger than its creator?
Who Is the Winking Chef on Pizza Boxes?
The winking chef on pizza boxes has a surprising origin. Learn how Gill Fox’s 1950s illustration became a timeless pizza industry icon.
Most People Play Monopoly Wrong: Official Rules Explained
Did you know most people play Monopoly wrong? Discover the official rules, avoid common mistakes, and master winning strategies to dominate every game. Next time do not just go through the motions. Stick to the official rules.
The Odd & Curious
Meet the Rascal Anime Raccoon Behind Japan’s Wildlife Crisis
A mischievous Montreal raccoon leads to the story of Rascal the Raccoon, the 1977 anime that helped fuel Japan’s real-world raccoon pet boom.
Avengers: Doomsday and the Never-Ending Torture of Movie End Credits
Marvel and DC have turned movie credits into a guessing game. But how many hours are we willing to spend waiting for one last scene.
Vampira: The Horror Host Who Made Halloween Television Magic
Meet Vampira, the iconic horror host who helped make monster movies television magic, alongside Elvira, Zacherley, Svengoolie and Count Floyd.
Angine de Poitrine Costumes Pulled After Legal Notice
Angine de Poitrine-inspired Halloween costumes were pulled from Party Expert stores after a reported legal threat.
The Doors: Unbound and Dangerous
A lifelong Doors fan revisits Unbound and Dangerous and explores seven standout concert albums, explaining why the band's music keeps revealing something new.
Beyond Psycho: The Early Jazz Secret of Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins had a musical secret lurking beyond Psycho. Listen to his early jazz career, 1950s hit “Moon-Light Swim,” and rare recordings emerging from the shadows.
Heavy Metal’s Big Four by Daniel Bukszpan
A personal look at Daniel Bukszpan’s Heavy Metal’s Big Four, exploring the music, rivalries and underground culture behind Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax.
The Weirdest Thing About Transformers: The Movie Was Its Soundtrack
Why was The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack so unusual? From Stan Bush and Weird Al to Orson Welles, its strange mix still works 40 years later.
The mystery of the Hardy Boys’ author is finally solved
The true writer of the popular boy series was Leslie McFarlane who used the pseudonym of Franklin W. Dixon with other writers. This American sleuth boy series was written not by a true blood American but by a Canadian. The Hardy Boys, a project on which Leslie was the main contributor, wrote 19 of the first 25 books between 1927 and 1946, and 21 overall. Just who was Leslie McFarlane? This seems like a mystery that only the Hardy Boys can solve. Ghost of the Hardy Boys: The Writer Behind the World’s Most Famous Boy Detectives explores the true origins of the writings of the Hardy Boys series.
Do you want a perfect Dad Bod?
The third Sunday in June is Father’s Day became a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972. The tie business went through the roof every June after that. Economists estimate that Americans spend more than $1 billion each year on Father’s Day gifts. Did you know? There are more than 70 million fathers in the United States. Author Cian Cruise celebrates fatherhood with, Dad Bod: Portraits of Pop Culture Papas. Let’s celebrate dads in pop culture!
Marvel Entertainment: 60 years of Planet of the Apes
La Planète des singes, known in English as Planet of the Apes in the US and Monkey Planet in the UK, is a 1963 science fiction novel by French author Pierre Boulle. The unsuspecting novel unleashed a franchise that still garnishes a fascination for the beloved book. There have been many variations of the main story. 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of the Pierre Boulle book, Marvel Entertainment is getting a head start with the announcement of acquiring the rights to Planet of the Apes.
Meet Murph, Nerf’s first and so far only mascot
Nerf, the company known for its blasters that fire soft, foam darts at targets, now has its very own mascot named Murph. Hasbro, Nerf’s parent company, unveiled a new mascot, which is supposed to embody the fun and active play brand.
The Twilight World by Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog’s The Twilight World revisits Hiroo Onoda’s 30-year war and asks whether we all cling to private jungles of belief in life’s twilight.
From Bean To Bee: It’s Man Vs Bee
To bee or not to bee. Rowan Atkinson is at it again. The bees of the world are no longer safe. It’s man vs bee. Only one can stand victorious. This new 9-episode series from Netflix is sure to be a smash. Let’s hope the bee does not get smashed. The series was created and written by Rowan Atkinson and William Davies, directed by David Kerr and starring Atkinson, Jing Lusi, Claudie Blakley, Tom Basden, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Greg McHugh and India Fowler. Man Vs Bee is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on 24 June 2022.
Pumpkin-shaped LP of Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack to “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”
On Halloween night, this pumpkin-shaped translucent orange LP will rise from sincere vinyl collections the world over and bring audible presents to all the good girls and boys. Previously thought lost to time: this album contains remasters from the original session reels for It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
U.S. Postal Service gives the stamp of approval featuring iconic Buzz Lightyear
“Go Beyond” is a pane of 20 stamps arranged in four horizontal rows of five stamps featuring the image of Buzz Lightyear, a Space Ranger marooned on a planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth. Greg Breeding was the art director using illustrations from Pixar Animation Studios.
Weird to Exist: Simple Comics About Complex Emotions by Alison Zai
Weird to Exist is divided into three intrinsic human acts—to exist, to love, to create—and ultimately touches on how weird it is to do all of that. Also included is Zai’s popular long-form comic Bee Real, which follows one little irritable bee’s enlightening mission to extinguish the sun. With sharp levity and emotional complexity, this colorful collection finds the fun in life’s hard truths.
LEGOLAND New York Resort celebrates the 90th Anniversary of LEGO
New York Resort kicks off a summer of epic celebrations today for the 90th anniversary of the LEGO Group. Awesome surprises include the arrival of a massive 20-foot-tall LEGO cake and exciting prize giveaways four days per week over the next two months. Families will have the opportunity to get the gift of building memories, with 90 surprise gifts per week ranging from LEGO Minifigures, to food, beverage, and retail discounts, to VIP experiences, to a free, all-inclusive stay at LEGOLAND Hotel!
Marvel Classic Black Light Collectible Posters Volume 2
The Marvel Super Heroes are back! Fans will light up with this second volume of the psychedelic, collectible portfolio featuring 12 frameable black light posters of celebrated Marvel Comics characters, such as Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Doctor Strange, and Black Bolt, illustrated by legendary artists including Jack Kirby, John Romita Sr., Gil Kane, and more.
The LEGO Story: How a Little Toy Sparked the World’s Imagination by Jens Andersen
The LEGO Story is the definitive story behind one of the most beloved brands on the planet, shown through the deeply personal lens of one singular family. Excellently written with ease and verve, it’s also a riveting cultural history of changing generations’ views of childhood and the importance of play. Richly illustrated with never-before-seen photos from the family’s private archive, this is the ultimate book for fans of LEGO, revealing everything you ever wanted to know about the brand.