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4

TIL that James G. Watt, the Secretary of State under Reagan, banned acts like the Beach Boys from performing in the National Mall, as he believed that their music encouraged drug use.

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W7O7A TIL after Kevin Costner declined the lead role in the film Tombstone to develop what turned into the film Wyatt Earp instead, he attempted to "blacklist" Tombstone & commandeered every Western costume in Hollywood. Yet it was more well-received & made more money than Wyatt Earp on a smaller budget.
JYZW4 TIL that the three obelisks in London, Paris and New York that are known as “Cleopatra’s Needle” were actually a thousand years old by the time of the reign of the Ptolemaic pharaoh from whom they get their name.
nWLBY TIL The Taiping Rebellion was lead by Hong Xiuquan, who believed he was the brother of Jesus Christ.
rRLpx TIL the videocassette is credited for having ended the "Golden Age of Porn", as the rise of home video pornography in the 80s led to the genre becoming more low-budget and gratuitous.
M7GYW TIL that in ancient Rome, it was common to collect the blood of fallen gladiators in the arena and consume it. It was believed that drinking the blood provided vital strength and served as an effective medicine for various ailments like epilepsy and infertility.