October was full of surprising discoveries, and as I looked back through all the facts I shared this month, a few stood out above the rest. From pop culture tidbits to the unexpected original use of a ubiquitous app, these are the facts that made me say, “Wait… really?!!!” So, here’s a roundup of my favorite facts I learned:
3.
When Alec Guinness agreed to play Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: A New Hope, he wasn’t particularly excited about the project. The role would ultimately earn him close to $100 million during his lifetime.
5.
During World War II, Boeing built a large fake neighborhood on top of its factory in Seattle to hide it from possible Japanese air attacks.
9.
Red Lobster’s famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits didn’t exist when the restaurant first opened. They were introduced in 1992 as a simple snack to serve hungry guests while they waited for a table.
10.
Pearl Jam playing a concert at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in 1993, because they were boycotting venues controlled by Ticketmaster, was what inspired Coachella.
11.
The iconic lightning striking the clock tower scene in Back to the Future was only added because of budget cuts to the film.
12.
The US version of The Office was almost canceled after its first season due to low ratings and mixed reviews.
13.
The Michelin Guide and its stars were created by the Michelin tire company (yes, that Michelin!) in France.
16.
I Love Lucy was a groundbreaking TV series that unintentionally created how the TV industry works to this day.
17.
Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera’s iconic 2003 VMA opening performance was a direct response to the 2002 show, where Bruce Springsteen opened with a somber tribute song to 9/11.
18.
In 1993, Coca-Cola made OK Soda, a soda specifically aimed at Gen X-ers that was supposed to be unslick, cynical, and anti-corporate.
19.
Before the 1980s, many airports used to make a lot of their money from full-service restaurants that were built inside of them to attract locals (not travelers).