› added 2 weeks ago

TIL Chris Kattan broke his neck while filming an SNL sketch parodying The Golden Girls, during which he threw himself backwards on a chair.

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7w0b TIL When Lena Horne entertained troops during WWII for the USO, German POW’s were given front row seats while black servicemen were relegated to the back of the theater. She walked off the stage to the row where the black troops were seated and performed with the Germans behind her.
e08L4 TIL in 1955, a local Sears store in Colorado Springs, CO, had an ad stating children can call Santa on Christmas Eve. The phone number listed was misprinted, and calls were directed to NORAD; thus starting a yearly tradition
rR8Ay TIL Russia has an (semi?) automatic system that can detect a nuclear attack and launch intercontinental ballistic missiles even if their entire government has collapsed and nobody is there to give the command
WkALA TIL of the SS Morro Castle, a cruise ship that suffered a disastrous fire during a nor'easter off NJ in 1934, killing 137. The cause of the fire was never discovered, but some believe it was intentionally started by the Chief Radio Operator, who was later convicted of two murders and a bombing.
69mP7 TIL that all London taxi drivers must take the Knowledge of London test. This involves memorizing nearly every street within a six-mile radius of central London. It also includes learning the blue book which lists 320 routes that must be memorized from start to finish. It takes up to 3 years to do.