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TIL the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788 was even more destructive because the fire started on Good Friday, priests refused to allow church bells to be rung as a fire alarm. The fire destroyed virtually all major buildings in the city, including the church, municipal building and army barracks.

8rPa TIL Conrad Heyer (1749-1856) is one of the earliest-born people to ever be captured on a photograph, and is also one of the only Revolutionary War veterans to be photographed; he crossed the Delaware River with George Washington!
nelXG TIL there are female vampires in Jewish mythology known as estries. They feed on men, women, and children, can shapeshift into many forms, and can walk on holy ground.
BrV5D TIL when studio execs refused to release Brazil, Terry Gilliam took out a full-page ad in Variety, urging them to release it. He also conducted private screenings without their knowledge. They only released it after Brazil was awarded “Best Picture” by the LA Critics association.
kJWvE TIL that after the death of Shemp Howard (The Three Stooges) in 1955, black comedian Mantan Moreland was offered the job of the new 3rd stooge by Moe Howard. But Columbia Pictures demanded a actor already under contract with them... and Joe Besser was one of the few comedians still working for them.
yVW8w TIL that the world's largest desert is not the Sahara, but Antarctica. While the Sahara is the largest hot desert, Antarctica is the largest cold desert, spanning over 14 million square kilometers.