Sandbox World | The Stories Behind Pop Culture

Entertainment

Captain Kirk, wearing a Roman-style toga and laurel wreath, kisses Lieutenant Uhura, who is dressed in a white gown. Kirk's eyes are closed and his face is angled towards Uhura, whose dark hair is styled in a large bun. Their hands are clasped, and the mood is romantic.

The BBC Withheld Four Star Trek Episodes for 25 Years, and Big Bird Too

The BBC withheld four Star Trek episodes for years and rejected Sesame Street, even as British children watched the surreal favourite The Magic Roundabout.

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.

A Ripley's Believe It or Not! cartoon features a black and white Rockhopper penguin with a yellow crest on the left, looking right. Below it, a dark fish with a wide mouth swims in dark water with white specks. The text above reads: 'SCIENTISTS DEBATE WHETHER NORTHERN, EASTERN AND SOUTHERN ROCKHOPPER PENGUINS ARE SEPARATE SPECIES, SEPARATE SUBSPECIES OR JUST ONE SPECIES.'

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.

A cream-colored poster for a play titled "A Morning with Ernie Bushmiller." The title is in large, bold red letters at the top. Below it, in smaller black text, it reads: "A Play by TOM GAMMILL," "Starring TOM GAMMILL & LAUREN SERVIDEO," "Directed by OWEN KLINE," and "Produced by MARK & STEVE O'DONNELL." On the right side of the poster is a black-and-white cartoon drawing of a man from the chest up, smiling with a pencil tucked behind his ear. He wears a collared shirt and a polka-dotted tie. In the bottom left corner are two smaller black-and-white cartoon figures: a girl with a bow in her hair and a boy in a checkered cap, both smiling.

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?

Culture

The book cover for 'Unseen Places' by Anna Kodé features a light blue background. In the center, an orange sphere with a single black eye and a small orange band around it is encircled by a thick, spiraling orange line. The title 'Unseen Places' is in large blue letters at the top, followed by the subtitle 'Rediscovering the Art of Observation' in smaller black text, and the author's name 'Anna Kodé' in large black letters at the bottom.

Unseen Places: The Joy of Discovering Something New by Anna Kodé

Anna Kodé’s Unseen Places explores observation, curiosity and the hidden stories of everyday life, from Italian construction watchers to bonobo apes.

David Byrne, a man with short, wavy gray hair, looks directly at the viewer with a serious expression. He is wearing a blue and white striped suit jacket and is leaning forward with his arms crossed on a dark surface. Behind him, a large, bright red book titled "SLEEPING BEAUTIES: Why Good Ideas Go Dormant and How They Wake Up" by David Byrne is prominently displayed.

David Byrne’s Sleeping Beauties: When Great Ideas Wake Up

David Byrne’s Sleeping Beauties explores forgotten ideas, overlooked inventions and artists who waited decades or centuries to be rediscovered.

A black and white promotional poster for a Netflix documentary titled "Who Is Martin Mull?" features a man in a suit, but his lower body is replaced with a collage of images. The man, Martin Mull, has light hair and a mustache, wearing a patterned suit jacket and tie with a dog's face on it. He holds a small, decorated guitar in his left hand and rests his right hand on his hip. His legs are replaced with various images, including a dog's head, a woman's legs in boots, and a chair. The title "WHO IS Martin Mull?" is in a yellow and red retro font at the bottom, with "ONLY ON NETFLIX" below it.

Martin Mull Took Every Job Except Being Ordinary

Martin Mull was more than a television actor. From comedy and music to painting, his unusual career made him impossible to put in one box.

A cheerful yellow smiley face keychain figure, wearing a red shirt with "Smile" written on it, sits prominently in the foreground. It is surrounded by many flat, round yellow smiley face discs, with a large, glowing red neon smiley face sign providing a warm backdrop.

The Secret Origin of the Smiley Face

Harvey Ball created the iconic smiley face in 10 minutes for $45. Here is how a simple insurance-company design became a global symbol and an Acid House icon.

A black and white still from the film 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' shows Gene Tierney as Mrs. Muir and Rex Harrison as Captain Gregg. Mrs. Muir, on the left, looks up and to the right with a thoughtful expression, wearing a light-colored dress with a lace collar. Captain Gregg, on the right, looks down at her with a serious expression, dressed in a dark coat and sporting a beard. They appear to be on a ship, with a window showing the ocean in the background.

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.

A vintage movie poster for "Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla" features a large, brown, furry gorilla with its arm around a smiling woman in a red floral bikini top and sarong. To the right, an older man with a stern expression, Bela Lugosi, looks forward, while the bottom left corner shows a close-up of a man in a green hat looking up in fear. The poster also includes smaller images of men in suits and a woman with a gorilla, along with the film's title and cast names in colorful text.

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.

A collage of black and white stills from various horror films featuring Bela Lugosi, surrounding a central graphic that reads "BELA LUGOSI'S STINKERS" in dripping green and yellow letters. The central graphic depicts a overflowing trash can with film reels, banana peels, and crushed cans, all covered in green slime. The surrounding stills show Lugosi in different roles, including a man in a suit and fedora looking menacing, a scientist with a woman on an operating table, a man with a werewolf, and Lugosi as Dracula. The overall mood is campy and humorous, celebrating Lugosi's lesser-known, B-movie horror roles.

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.

Ace in the Hole: The 1951 Movie That Feels Modern

Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole, starring Kirk Douglas, is a 1951 film about media greed, sensationalism and the public appetite for tragedy that feels remarkably modern.

Food & Life

A screenshot of the 'Don't Cook That' website, featuring a light background with dark red and yellow text. The main headline reads: 'Recipes people really printed. Recipes you really shouldn't make.' Below, a description mentions 'Beer brewed from sulphuric acid. Bread risen with hydrochloric acid.' On the right, a card titled 'TODAY'S TERRIBLE IDEA' displays 'Beer of Sulphuric Acid' with a skull and crossbones icon and a warning to 'CALL POISON CONTROL.' An elderly person with glasses and a winter hat sips from a glass of dark liquid, looking serious. The website's footer shows '144 RECIPES VERIFIED,' '48 REAL COOKBOOKS,' and '1831-1929' as the date range.

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.

A box of "Paris Zoo Buddies" chicken-shaped animal nuggets sits open on a wooden table next to a plate of seven cooked nuggets, a small bowl of ketchup, and a glass of milk. The red box features cartoon animals (giraffe, elephant, hippo) and a drawing of a man with a thumbs-up, advertising "Chicken-Shaped Zoo Animals" and "10g Protein." The nuggets on the plate are in various animal shapes, including a giraffe, elephant, and hippopotamus, with one partially eaten.

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.

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.

Why Did We Put Missing Kids on Milk Cartons?

Why did missing children’s faces appear on milk cartons? We look at the strange history behind the campaign, the kids who recognized themselves, Milk Carton 2.0 and Canada’s famous milk bags.

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?

Exploring Calvin and Hobbes

Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes was always about the art. Now, original artwork from the beloved comic strip is going on tour, giving fans a rare look behind the panels.

Working at Wayne Enterprises Must Be Exhausting

What would it really be like to work at Wayne Enterprises? Discover the ordinary employees quietly helping Batman protect Gotham.

The Odd & Curious

A vintage-style poster for Houdini, featuring multiple illustrations and text. The top left shows Houdini escaping handcuffs, with text 'EUROPE'S ECLIPSING SENSATION HOUDINI THE WORLD'S HANDCUFF KING & PRISON BREAKER'. The top right depicts spirits and a medium, with text 'Do Spirits Return?'. The center features a smiling portrait of Houdini and large text 'HOUDINI SAYS NO - AND PROVES IT 3 SHOWS IN ONE MAGIC - ILLUSIONS - ESCAPES - FRAUD EXPOSED'. The bottom shows a group of men pulling on chains and a large padlock, with text 'JESSE L. LASKY HOUDINI 'THE GRIM GAME' A PARAMOUNT-ARTCRAFT PICTURE'.

The Famous People Who Died on Halloween

Harry Houdini died on Halloween in 1926, but he wasn’t alone. Explore the famous figures who died on October 31 and Houdini’s final escape pact.

Three bottles of red wine stand on a wooden surface in front of a sunny vineyard. From left to right, the labels read: 'Old Old Coffin Dodger Cabernet Sauvignon,' 'Middle-Old Geezer Merlot,' and 'You So Old Fossil Cabernet Franc.' Each label features a different design related to aging, such as a skeleton running with a scythe, a vineyard landscape, and a cluster of grapes.

How Did 81 Suddenly Become Young?

When did 81 become young? A funny look at aging, retirement, baby boomers and how our idea of old age keeps changing.

Scratch-and-Sniff Is Making a Comeback

Scratch-and-sniff was once everywhere, from Raspberries albums and MAD Magazine to John Waters’ Odorama. Now the strange little fad is making a comeback.

Forget Book Burning, This Guy Wants You to Chop Your Books

Matt Kirkland has a strange solution for giant books: chop them into smaller, manageable volumes. Chop the biggest books and why it might make sense.

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.

A vintage red spherical stereo player with a silver handle on top sits on a wooden floor against a wooden wall. The front of the player features a black control panel with a radio tuner, volume and tone knobs, and a slot for an 8-track tape, which currently holds a 'Boston' tape.

The 8-Track Tape Died. Apparently Nobody Told It.

The 8-track tape ruled car stereos before cassettes killed it, but its strange legacy lives on in mixtapes, video-game cartridges and collectors.

A promotional image for 'Rocktober' by Rhino Records, featuring a black and white banner with 'ROCKTOBER' in a jagged, rock-style font and 'RHINO' below it. Below the banner, three colored vinyl records are displayed. From left to right: a red vinyl with the album cover 'Love' by Love, a red vinyl with the album cover 'Forever Changes' by Love, and a blue vinyl with the album cover 'The Monkees Present Micky, David, Michael' by The Monkees.

Show Us the LOVE! Rhino Gives Arthur Lee and Love Another Spin

Rhino's Rocktober gives Arthur Lee and Love another spin with three limited-edition albums, but the real Love story begins with Forever Changes.

A tall, precarious stack of music CDs in their jewel cases stands upright against a white background. The stack leans slightly to the right, with the top CDs appearing to be on the verge of toppling over. The spines of the CDs are visible, displaying various album titles and artist names in different colors and fonts.

We Killed the CD. Now We’re Bringing It Back From the Dead.

We killed the CD, dumped the evidence and moved on. Vinyl is growing, CDs are surging and a new generation is discovering the music we thought we'd left buried.

Taschen To Release Marvel Comics Library Avengers Volume One (1963–1965)

I love Taschen books, anytime I get a chance to buy them at second-hand bookstores, I will not hesitate to buy them. However, when big volumes such as Marvel Comics Library Avengers Vol. 1 come into circulation, I will fork out the big bucks. The Avengers is another book that will not disappoint. Taschen does it better than the original comic book publishing houses. This volume collects the first 20 issues of the Avengers. Better get some Charles Atlas muscles to read this big volume.

Jayne Mansfield: “The Girl Can’t Help It ” (The Criterion Collection)

In 1956, Frank Tashlin brought the talent for zany visual gags and absurdist pop-culture satire that he’d honed as a master of animation to the task of capturing, in glorious DeLuxe Color, a brand-new craze: rock and roll. The Girl Can’t Help It bops along to a parade of performances by rock-and-roll trailblazers—including Little Richard, Fats Domino, Julie London, Eddie Cochran, the Platters, and Gene Vincent—who light up the screen with the uniquely American sound that was about to conquer the world.

Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Eleventh Season

Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of those shows that is so addictive. With eleven seasons and a twelve one on the way, it’s like a drug for laughter. The predictability of Larry David is the driving force of this show. Season eleven once again delivered with regular cast members and some new ones. This is a great season to add to your collection.

Spider-Man: A History and Celebration of the Web-Slinger, Decade by Decade

My Spidey senses are tingling with anticipation. Spider-Man is celebrating 60 years since he was created by Stan Lee and Steve Diko in 1961. Look out for A History and Celebration of the Web-Slinger, Decade by Decade by Matthew K. Manning, Robert Greenberger, Peter A. David. This promises to be one great book about your favorite friendly neighborhood web-slinger.

Qwerkywriter retro typewriter computer keyboard

Nothing like the clickity-clackity of a metallic mechanical keyboard. This is where old meets new. I can see myself pounding a few pages like the old pulp writers. The Qwerkywriter chassis is constructed entirely out of a scratch-resistant aluminum alloy for an incredible feel of quality and durability.

Deadman Tells the Spooky Tales by Franco and a few of his fiendish friends!

It’s always a treat when there is a new Deadman book anthology. Deadman has always been a favorite of mine. A fugitive type of hero that you will never forget. They say Deadmen tell no tales, but this Deadman has 13 tales that will spook you. Get ready for Deadman Tells the Spooky Tales by Franco and a few of his fiendish friends!

Watch SKETCHBOOK on Disney+

Animators are unsung heroes, their collective work plays the most significant part in any animated movie but yet they get no recognition. These pencil-wielding magicians might just like working under the cloak of anonymity. Disney+ is celebrating the men and women who make the true magic come to life. This is the perfect time to subscribe to Disney+ to watch SKETCHBOOK. I am really pumped in watching legendary Disney animator Eric Goldberg unleashing his craft upon the world. Since its inception, Disney has always been about animation. It’s good to see these good folks being celebrated by Disney. SKETCHBOOK will start streaming on April 27.

The Surfrajettes

I came across The Surfrajettes by accident on YouTube. I got hooked instantly. I was surprised that the group originates from Toronto. Never knew there was great surfing on Ontario Lake. What else could a guy want, surfing music and go-go boots guitar-wielding girls? The Surfrajettes are taking it to another level with the release of their first full album. Roller Fink promises great things for the group.

Hunt-A-Killer’s Supernova is a mixture of tabletop puzzles, a comic book, and a sci-fi mystery

Get ready for The Cosmic Adventures of Supernova. Get the premium experience with this puzzle-driven adventure for comic book and sci-fi fans. Hunt-A-Killer has made a name for itself as the premier company for episodic mystery games. They are branching out with Supernova with comic book sci-fi elements. 2022’s Supernova, Hunt-A-Killer has expanded on these one-off games for an expansive and immersive puzzle-solving adventure.

Peanuts Merriest House in Town Keepsake Tabletop Decoration

The Peanuts Gang: The Merriest House in Town musical tabletop decoration

I know we just finished Christmas not that long ago. Hallmark has you covered for Christmas in 2022 with their new crop of new ornaments. This new Peanuts Gang tabletop decoration will bling the spirit of Christmas up the wazoo. It’s a pretty penny at $134.99 but worth every penny. The Hallmark Keepsake line of Christmas ornaments is always a hit with our family. The Peanuts Gang: The Merriest House in Town musical tabletop decoration is sure to fly off the shelves this year.

The Batman Blu-ray is to be released on May 24

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has officially announced that it will release on 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD of Matt Reeves’ The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, and John Turturro. They will be available for purchase on May 24.

Purple Haze: Jimi Hendrix Beauty Collection

Talk about cashing in. Collaboration between Authentic Hendrix, LLC; Sony Music’s merchandise wing, The Thread Shop; and retail platform Rock And Roll Beauty want you to be a Foxy Lady. The range includes the Voodoo Child Artistry Palette (which comes in a guitar-shaped compact), the Purple Haze candle, Foxy Lady matte lip duo (of lipstick and liner) and (seemingly, not quite done with the song name) the Purple Haze brush set.

Entertainment

The Mrs. Roper Romp gains momentum each year globally

Is Miffy Japanese? The Truth Behind This Iconic Bunny’s Origins

Culture

The Origin of Good Grief and Charlie Brown’s Famous Phrase

Who knew that the Maltese Falcon is worth 4.1 million

Food & Life

Who Is the Winking Chef on Pizza Boxes?

Halloween Watch: I Married a Witch

The Odd & Curious

Word of the Week:

SNACKSTUME