› added 7 months ago

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TIL that during the filming of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in 1939, asbestos was used in several elements of the production, including the snow effects and the Scarecrow’s costume. Despite being aware of the health risks associated with asbestos, it was still utilized in the movie.

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R5V67 TIL in 1842, PT Barnum, a.k.a The Great Showman, showed off a "Fiji Mermaid". Barnum insisted it was an authentic skeleton from a mermaid, but on his death bed, admitted what folks saw was the skeleton of a monkey torso and fishtail sewed together made by Japanese sailors in 1822
gr0Pb TIL that in 1814, a London brewery experienced a "beer flood" when a giant vat containing over 300,000 gallons of beer burst. The explosion caused a domino effect, breaking open other vats, and led to a tidal wave of beer flooding the streets of St. Giles. Tragically, nine people lost their lives.
4XgVR TIL that Mr. Rogers responded to every fan letter he received. He would wake up 5 every morning, pray, and begin answering letters as part of his daily routine. Many children wrote to him about their personal issues, such as family members dying. He received between 50 and 100 letters every day.
4XWwR TIL the Battle of Agincourt, when King Henry V led his army into France and came up head to head with a larger army. However, the commander of the French army really screwed up his advantage. He attacked the English army in a very muddy field, so the heavily-armored French became sitting ducks.
6KvY TIL that Mel Brooks is one of twelve people to ever win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony (an EGOT) and the only person to ever receive those four plus awards from the American Film Institute and the Kennedy Center