Every state harbors unpleasant secrets—here are 50 of the strangest ones from around the country, and why we may never learn the real truth.

Alabama: The Brasher-Dye Disappearance

The Dye brothers, Billy Howard and Robert, disappeared in 1956 along with their cousin, Dan Brasher. They were last seen leaving a relative’s house in rural Jefferson County in a 1947 green Ford, but no one even noticed they were missing because they were known to be heavy drinkers and often disappeared for days while sleeping off a binge. When a missing person’s report was filed, investigators’ questions were met with silence or tall tales—for example, of a bulldozer burying a car under a highway. The case remains unsolved.

Alaska: The Investor murders

In 1982, an $850,000 fishing boat named the Investor was seen burning off of the coast of Craig. Inside, eight bodies were found (the owner, his pregnant wife, their two daughters, and four crewmen) They’d been shot to death and left to burn. One possible suspect was tried, but he’s been acquitted due to a lack of hard evidence. Authorities still haven’t determined a motive. The case is Alaska’s biggest and most famous unsolved mystery.

Arizona: Searching for Robert Fisher

Robert William Fisher (born 1961) is one of the FBI’s ten most wanted fugitives. He’s wanted for the murder of his wife and two kids and for blowing up the house in which they lived in Scottsdale on April 10, 2001. Fisher, the only suspect in the case, disappeared the night of the fire and hasn’t been seen since. It’s possible he committed suicide, but equally possible he’s living under an assumed identity. The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Arkansas: The Gurdon Light

Ever since the 1930s, a floating light appears above the railroad tracks near Gurdon sometime in late October. It’s not in dispute whether the light appears because thousands of people have seen it. What remains a mystery is what causes the light. Some believe it’s the ghost of William McClain, a railroad worker murdered in 1931, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Others believe it’s a natural phenomenon caused by swamp gas or rock quartz beneath the land. It was featured on television’s Unsolved Mysteries in 1994 and remains unsolved to this day.

California: Did anyone survive the “Escape From Alcatraz”?

The supposedly escape-proof prison named for Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay claimed the lives of 33 prisoners who attempted to flee. But not necessarily John Anglin, Clarence Anglin, and Frank Morris: In 1962, they escaped from their cells through holes they’d drilled in the wall of their cell. Unfortunately, that’s where the story ends. “What happened next remains a mystery,” reads a portion of an FBI history of the investigation, according to NBC News. The case was closed in 1979, but people (including the families of the escapees) still wonder.

Colorado: The Black Forest haunting

Within weeks of moving into their home in the Black Forest area of Colorado Springs, “all hell broke loose” for the Lee family, according to Our Community Now. There were flashing lights, footsteps, orchestra music, strange smells, and even sightings of ghostly faces. The Lee family lives there to this day, still reporting the same phenomena. No one can explain what it is, although a Hopi shaman who was called in to consult claims the house is located on a “rip in the space-time continuum,” where spirits can move freely between worlds.

Connecticut: The shallow graves beneath New Haven Green

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused a tree to fall on New Haven Green. Tangled in the roots was a human skull, dating back around 200 years. An archeological dig followed, yielding more body fragments, as well as coffin nails. It’s suspected more than 5,000 bodies are buried under the Green and that they may have been “dragged out in the middle of the night, wrapped in a sheet, and buried in shallow, unmarked graves.” Some theorize the people died during a terrible epidemic—though no one’s sure of what.

Delaware: The inexplicable murder of Jane Marie Prichard

Jane Marie Prichard was conducting botany experiments in Blackbird State Forest in September 1986 when she was shot to death; campers stumbled across her body later. Many hunters were in the forest that day, but investigators quickly ruled out an accidental shooting, according to Delaware Online. What they couldn’t figure out and still haven’t, is why someone wanted Prichard dead, and who might have killed her. The case remains cold to this day.

Florida: The spontaneous combustion of Mary Reeser

In July of 1951, authorities found the body of 67-year-old Mary Reeser in her St. Petersburg apartment. Or more accurately, the pile of mostly ash that once was Mary Reeser’s body (part of her lower leg and some of her spine remained). Apparently, her body had been almost entirely cremated, which is mind-boggling when you consider that cremation requires three hours of burning in a 3,000-degree fire. Even more bizarre—only Reeser’s body had burned: The rest of her apartment was intact, even a pile of newspapers beside her body.

Georgia: The Bleeding House

One night in 1987, Minnie Winston saw blood on the floor of her Atlanta house. Terrified, she ran to find her husband. He was fine, but there was more blood… everywhere. On the walls, oozing from the floor, seeping up from under kitchen appliances. She and her husband called the police, who found no evidence of a break-in. What they were able to surmise was that the blood had come from a living human. No one has ever figured out where or whom the blood came from. 

Hawaii: What happened to Lisa Au

More than 35 years ago, 19-year-old Lisa Au disappeared without a trace, her car abandoned along a highway in Kailua. Her body turned up ten days later, naked and decomposing. The coroner couldn’t determine the cause of death, but police consider the case a homicide—perhaps Hawaii’s most notorious since the police believe that Lisa may have been abducted by someone posing as a police officer.

Idaho: Strange mutilations

The towns of Jerome and Bliss have been plagued by bizarre mutilations since the 1970s—human, cattle, and deer (genitals removed, the bodies drained entirely of blood, and no discernable footprints or other forensic evidence left at the scene). The official explanation by law enforcement is “cult killings,” but no arrest has ever been made, and no cult has ever been identified.

Illinois: The Mad Gasser of Mattoon

During the 1940s, law enforcement received more than two dozen cases of “gassings,” in which the victims reported paralysis, coughing, nausea, and vomiting after smelling a strange, noxious odor in their homes. No physical evidence was ever found, however, and the victims always survived. Some believe the “attacks” were a case of mass hysteria. Others believe the “Mad Gasser” actually existed or that the “attacks” were really the result of paranormal activity. The truth may or may not be “out there.”

Indiana: The mysterious fire poltergeist

In 1941, a farmer in Odon had breakfast with his family and then headed out to his barn to begin his chores. Then he noticed smoke coming out of an upstairs window in his house. He ran back, and with the help of the volunteer fire department put out the fire in an upstairs bedroom—only to have another fire break out in another room. All day long, as soon as they put out one fire, another would start elsewhere in the house—28 in all. Believing his house to be haunted by poltergeists, the farmer tore it down and built a new one. The cause of the fires has never been determined.

Iowa: The boy with no appetite

In Cedar Falls, there lives a boy who never gets hungry or thirsty. It all started in 2013, when the boy, Landon Jones, who’d been completely fine up until then, came down with a bacterial infection in his left lung. Ever since then, he’s never felt hunger or thirst. He only eats and drinks because he is reminded to do so. No one knows what caused this affliction.

Kansas: The baffling disappearance of Randy Leach

In 1988, Randy Leach, a teenager from Leavenworth County, disappeared from a high school party and has never been found. What makes the case stranger is there’d been rumors of satanic cult activity in the county in the days before Randy’s disappearance, and the party site had been cleaned meticulously before investigators arrived; soon after, it burned to the ground. Most people who’ve cooperated in the investigation have turned up dead, and county officials decline to pursue further leads. There are theories about what really happened that night, but we may never know the truth.

Kentucky: The meat shower

Not a meteor shower—a meat shower. One day in 1876 over a farm in Kentucky, the sky rained down chunks of meat of indeterminate origin (was it bear? mutton? No one knew). The only explanation anyone has ever been able to offer is that the meat was the prey of vultures, who had gorged themselves and then vomited while flying overhead.

Louisiana: The Unknowable Marie Laveau

Marie Laveau lived in New Orleans at the turn of the 19th century, and charmed, titillated, and unnerved the community with her practice of voodoo. Laveau told fortunes and created potions and charms on request. She held spiritual ceremonies that led people to become possessed; she also could magically heal the sick. However, stories of her feats have been passed along from one generation of voodoo practitioners to the next, making it impossible to know the truth behind the tales.

Maine: What happened to Sarah Ware?

In 1898, the brutally beaten body of 52-year-old Sarah Ware was discovered in a wooded area of Bucksport. She’d been missing for two weeks. Her killer is believed to have been a neighbor, but when the blood-stained hammer believed to be the murder weapon disappeared, the neighbor was acquitted. The case still haunts the town to this day, not just because the case was never solved, but also because the circumstances of her burial are so strange: her head and body are buried separately, with no gravestone.

Maryland: House of horrors

In 2017, a Bethesda house fire revealed a disturbing find: The body of a man in the basement. Further investigation revealed a mysterious network of tunnels below the foundation of the house that extended all the way to the street. The house owner, Daniel Beckwitt, has since been charged with the death of Askia Khafra (the body in the basement); investigators allege that Beckwitt hired Khafra to dig the tunnels but put him in danger due to the unsafe work environment. But the purpose of the tunnels and Beckwitt’s motives remain a mystery.

Massachusetts: The Black Flash of Provincetown

From 1939 to 1945, the people of Provincetown were terrorized by a being they called the “Black Flash.” The figure first appeared to a group of children—tall, dressed in black, and growling ominously. In 1945, a group of policemen actually reported seeing the figure leap a 10-foot fence. About a month later, a man threw boiling water at the figure, sending it screaming into the night. It was never seen again.

Michigan: What exactly is the Paulding Light?

In 1966, a group of teens reported having seen a mysterious light above a valley in Paulding. Scientific explanations such as swamp gas have been rejected in favor of the more popular paranormal theory that the light is from the lantern belonging to local brakeman who was killed while attempting to stop an oncoming train. Michigan Tech students believe it’s a phenomenon created by headlights from a nearby road, but the mystery remains officially unsolved.

Minnesota: The frozen girl, defrosted

In 1981, Jean Hillard’s car went off the road near Langby, and the next day, her frozen body was discovered, her eyes wide open, her flesh frozen so solid that doctors couldn’t pierce it with a hypodermic needle. Her body temperature was too low to register on a thermometer. But when Hillard thawed, she was very much alive and made a full recovery.

Mississippi: Phantom Barber of Pascagoula

In 1942, Pascagoula was plagued by a series of peculiar home invasions: “The intruder took locks of hair from each of the people whose homes he broke into,” according to Southern Living. Although one man became a suspect, he was never formally charged and passed a lie-detector test; no one has ever figured out who the Phantom Barber really was or why he did what he did.

Missouri: How Robert Rayford contracted AIDS

In 1969, 16-year-old Robert Rayford was hospitalized in St. Louis for extreme, unintended weight loss and a host of infections. The doctors had no answers, and Rayford died. A few years later, HIV, the virus that causes AIDS was discovered in this country; subsequently, medical testing of Rayford’s blood revealed that he had the virus. Somehow, Rayford, who’d never been out of the country and never had a transfusion, had died of AIDS nearly a decade before it was discovered.

SOURCE: READERS DIGEST

Lauren Cahn Updated: Feb. 02, 2023

Marisa Tomei’s birthday is this month, so I thought I’d look at little known facts about My Cousin Vinny, which I think is her breakout movie.

From Mental Floss:

My Cousin Vinny was inspired by an encounter with a guy hoping to pass the bar.

My Cousin Vinny was one of the earliest ideas screenwriter Dale Launer ever had. “In the very early ’70s, I met a guy who … was waiting the bar exam results,” he told ABA Journal in 2012. Launer asked what would happen if he didn’t pass, and the guy said he could just take it again, and if he didn’t pass that time, he’d just take it again. And again. Until he passed. “So I said, ‘What’s the most times somebody has taken and failed and finally passed?’” Launer recalled. “He said, ‘Thirteen times.’ … I always thought that guy who took 13 times to pass the bar, or girl, is probably out there practicing law in some capacity. Now, how would you feel if suddenly you learned that guy is your lawyer? … What if you have been accused of a crime and clearly, you have what appears to be the worst lawyer in the country?”

Robert De Niro was Launer’s first choice to play Vinny Gambini.

After the script was written, a casting meeting was called and Launer met with Fox’s president, vice president, and CEO. When Launer suggested Robert De Niro for the part of Vincent LaGuardia Gambini, “the prez looked uncomfortable, embarrassed that I would suggest such an actor,” Launer told Writer Unboxed. “‘De Niro, uh … well … he’s not funny. And … his movies don’t make money.’ … Now … the only movies De Niro acts in that make money? Comedies! So, I feel vindicated. But I wish I could’ve been given a big fat check when I [ended up] being proved right.”

Joe Pesci based Vinny on guys from his neighborhood.

“There’s a lot of people around like that in smaller neighborhoods, so I put a few of them together and [came] up with Vinny,” Pesci, who grew up in New Jersey, told The Movie Show in 1992.

The studio initially wanted to cut Mona Lisa Vito from My Cousin Vinny.

n 2007, Launer told Writer Unboxed that the studio had wanted to get rid of Vinny’s Chinese-food-loving, unemployed hairdresser/car expert girlfriend. To keep the character, Launer reluctantly added a scene, requested by the studio president, to the second draft: “He wanted Vinny’s girlfriend to complain that he’s not giving her enough attention,” Launer said. “You often see movies where some guy is hell bent on accomplishing something, and you’re on the ride with him—and his wife/girlfriend/mother is feeling neglected. And she complains. And I HATE this! … Watching those scenes is simply boring. You want to fast forward it. Awful.”

Eventually, he said he “figured out a way where they’d HAVE to keep her and embellished her character … she does complain, but at least apologizes for bringing it up, and you don’t hate her for bringing it up largely because it’s funny. … Now, I thought if she brought this up at this point where he is simply going through hell—he should be pissed off. And he is. So he kinda tears into her.” Mona Lisa’s “biological clock” rant (above) became one of his favorite scenes in the script.

The studio took a chance on Marisa Tomei.

Tomei didn’t have a lot of film experience when she landed the part of Mona Lisa Vito. “I’d seen her [on the set of Oscar] working with John Landis and [had] gone with [him] to the cutting room to look at her performance,” Lynn said in DVD commentary.” She was playing a 1920s blonde flapper, very different, but I could see how funny and talented she was. And we got her in to read. She read wonderfully and we persuaded the studio to let me go with this unknown actress in the role. It was the best decision I ever made.” Lynn said he knew they’d gotten the right actress for the part when he saw the dailies from the first scene they shot with her—Mona Lisa and Vinny’s arrival in Alabama, when she tells him, “Oh, yeah, you blend.”

Marisa Tomei is from Brooklyn, but she doesn’t sound like her My Cousin Vinny character.

Tomei grew up in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, so “I really knew the neighborhood,” she told The New York Times in 1992. But that doesn’t mean she sounded just like Mona Lisa. “I don’t think that extreme, but I could be wrong,” she told NPR’s Fresh Air in 2010. “My mom was an English teacher, and she was on my butt about that kind of thing and correcting my speech from a young age.”

The legal system is portrayed very accurately in My Cousin Vinny.

Lynn has a law degree from Cambridge University, and, he said in DVD commentary, “I get terribly irritated when I see films in which the legal procedure is obviously wrong.” In addition to Launer’s research, Lynn made adjustments to make sure the legal proceedings were correct. “I’m very pleased with the fact that, although this is heightened for comedic purposes, everything you see legally in this film could happen and is approximately correct,” he said. “Which, by the way, makes it the more frightening.” Lynn even sat in on a murder trial in the Monticello, Ga. courtroom that served as the inspiration for the Vinny courtroom set. “Some of the lines in the [Vinny trial] came directly from that trial,” he said, including Lane Smith’s pronunciation of heinous (“high-a-nus”) and his line about “our little old ancestors” in the opening remarks.

One scene in My Cousin Vinny was lifted from a book about comedy and the law.

The book featured real moments from actual courtrooms. Launer lifted the memorable voir dire scene of a potential juror for Vinny. The lawyers “ask them their opinion on capital punishment, and they said something like, ‘I think it should be left up to the victims’ families,’” Launer told Abnormal Use. “Then they then described exactly what the murderer did, and then that the juror actually said, ‘Fry them.’ So I put that right in the movie.”

My Cousin Vinny shot scenes in an actual prison.

The cast and crew shot for several days in a state prison in Gainesville, Georgia, in the wing where prisoners are kept in solitary confinement. “It does have a death row, right beside the wing where we were shooting, and I looked all around death row,” Lynn said in DVD commentary. “It was a very frightening building, and we were all pretty scared when we were there, even though we had guards with us at all times.”

It took up to 40 minutes to get from the outside of the building to where they were shooting inside. Whitfield told Abnormal Use that “When Ralph and I were walking through the prison the first time like holding our blankets and walking to our cell and you hear the prisoners screaming at us. Those are real prisoners, and they really were yelling at us. … They had to tone it down with what they put in the movie because they were saying some horrible stuff. Ralph and I were petrified.”

The prison guards in My Cousin Vinny aren’t actors.

The guards in the movie were real prison guards. The production used real prisoners as extras twice: once in the background when Stan and Bill are being brought into the prison, and during a short scene where the duo plays basketball during exercise time. “The prisoners were all extremely cooperative and did exactly what we asked,” Lynn said in DVD commentary. “I don’t know what incentives or threats were made in order to achieve that.”

Joe Pesci learned how to do a card trick for My Cousin Vinny.

In the scene where Vinny is convincing Bill to let him represent him, Vinny does a card trick. “It was important to me that the card trick wasn’t faked,” Lynn said in DVD commentary. “Of course you can fake anything by cutting and showing another shot, but I talked about this to Joe before we started shooting, and he learned how to do this card trick. So the scene in which he does it does not have any cuts in it. He actually fools the audience before their very eyes. He did it beautifully. I thought Vinny’s argument would be much less powerful if the audience could say oh well that was just faked by the way the scene was cut.”

The word yutes came from a real conversation with Joe Pesci.

The conversation between Vinny and Judge Chamberlain Haller about “two yutes” became “perhaps the most quoted piece of dialogue from the film,” Lynn said in DVD commentary. It was inspired by a conversation that Lynn and Pesci had when they were prepping the film at the Mayflower Hotel in New York City. “He said something about ‘these two yutes’ who were on trial and I said ‘what?’ and he said ‘what?’ and I said ‘what’s a yute?’” Lynn recalled. “I realized as we were having that conversation that that was something that ought to happen between Vinny and the judge, so I simply wrote it in the way it happened naturally.”

You can visit many locations from My Cousin Vinny.

Though the film is set in Alabama, the production actually shot in three separate small towns in Georgia. “Apart from the courtroom,” which was a set, “virtually everything was shot on location,” director Jonathan Lynn said in Vinny’s DVD commentary. “It wasn’t a very expensive movie, and that was the cheaper way to go. It also had more authenticity.” Which means you can visit a number of the film’s locations—including the Sac-O-Suds convenience store.

My Cousin Vinny was praised by the law community.

“The movie is close to reality even in its details,” lawyer Maxwell S. Kennerly wrote on his blog, Trial and Litigation. “Part of why the film has such staying power among lawyers is because, unlike, say, A Few Good Men, everything that happens in the movie could happen—and often does happen—at trial.” Professor Alberto Bernabe of The John Marshall Law School, who hands his students a list of law movies organized by category, puts Vinny under “Education,” not just because “it provides so much material you can use in the classroom. For example, you can use the movie to discuss criminal procedure, courtroom decorum, professional responsibility, unethical behavior, the role of the judge in a trial, efficient cross-examination, the role of expert witnesses and effective trial advocacy.”

The film has also been praised by a Seventh Circuit Court Judge; referenced by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia; and made it into a legal textbook.

Maria Tomei found out about her Oscar nomination for My Cousin Vinny in an unlikely place.

Tomei was sleeping on a friend’s couch—a friend who was pregnant and due at any moment—when she found out about her Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. Her friends were watching TV, and “there were shouts from the other room, and they awoke me,” she told David Letterman in 1993. “I didn’t know if she was going into labor or what.” Tomei would go on to win the Oscar—and yes, despite the urban legend that 74-year-old presenter Jack Palance announced the wrong name, the actress really did win.

There could have been a sequel to My Cousin Vinny.

In 2004, Lautner’s bio noted that “Joe wanted to do it, but Marisa didn’t. Now she does, and so does Joe, but the studio isn’t terribly interested in the remake, feeling too much time has passed since the initial release. Perhaps everyone who liked it has passed on. Or changed their minds. Launer hopes they will see the light.” According to Whitfield, the sequel might have involved Vinny going to Europe.

Joe Pesci made an album as Vinny Gambini.

Before he was an actor, Pesci was a lounge singer; six years after My Cousin Vinny came out, he released an album called Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You. It features the songs “Wise Guy,” “Take Your Love and Shove It,” “Yo Cousin Vinny,” and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” a duet with Tomei as Mona Lisa. It debuted at No. 36 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart.

Patriots coach Bill Belichik referenced My Cousin Vinny during Deflategate.

Rudy Guiliani isn’t the only person who has randomly referenced My Cousin Vinny during a press conference. “I would not say that I am Mona Lisa Vito of the football world,” Belichik said when asked what he knew about football pressure. When she heard, Tomei texted Pesci. “We thought it was pretty funny,” she told The Rich Eisen Show.

SOURCE: MENTAL FLOSS

Independent and strong-willed, Sagittarius personalities are all about going off the beaten path. Sagittarius isn’t afraid to step away from the pack, and is a natural born leader who goes after what he or she wants, regardless of what other people think. Sagittarius is a born adventurer, and loves solo travel and exploration. Sagittarius also loves exploring the inner workings of their minds, and love stretching their horizons through a good book or movie.

Sagittarius is open-hearted, generous, and big-spirited, but Sagittarius is always truthful. Because of this, they may hurt others’ feelings, or may be called out for not having tact or empathy. The latter is not true. With their keen imagination, Sagittarius is adept at putting themselves in another person’s shoes—that’s why so many Sagittarius are successful actors—but they do not feel the need to beat around the bush or lie. You can trust a Sagittarius to tell you what they really think. You can also trust a Sagittarius, period. Unlike other signs, they won’t spill any secrets.

In relationships, Sags are adventurous and giving, able to adeptly try new things or break down barriers. In relationships, Sags will be honest and true to themselves, and that may mean that they will move on from a relationship. If it’s not working, it’s not working, and a Sagittarius won’t stay for the sake of another person’s feelings. A Sagittarius will always be honest and in check with their emotions, and a Sagittarius will not engage in emotional blackmail.

Sagittarius is a steadfast friend and a creative thinker; a great person to have on a work team, as they have infectious energy and enthusiasm. They aren’t looking for constant feedback, and can take a project and run with it. A Sag can also be an adept entrepreneur or CEO. A Sagittarius is smart, capable, and a true trailblazer.

Sagittarius Love Style

Ruled by expansive Jupiter, Sagittarius is big-hearted, open, and always looking beyond a checklist. A Sagittarius rarely has a “type,”— they are always intrigued by the individual, and don’t make any assumptions about people until they’ve truly met and spoken with them.

Sagittarius Friendship Style

Sagittarius is loyal, loving, and the type of person you can feel has your back even if you’ve only known them for 24 hours. That said, a Sagittarius isn’t interested in your drama, and doesn’t have a lot of patience for friends who say one thing and do another.

Sagittarius Career, Money & Success Traits

Sagittarius’s greatest career strength: Work-life balance. A Sagittarius may work hard and push themselves to the max, but only because they love their job. A Sag instinctively knows that work can help them live their best life, and works hard so they can also play hard.

Sagittarius Greatest Gifts

Sagittarius is adept at blazing their own paths, and can always go it alone. Sagittarius doesn’t need a roadmap, and can easily conceptualize ideas and opportunities that others may not easily “see.” Sagittarius doesn’t need permission or approval, and has a strong sense of self that allows them to always feel sure-footed, even where others may be unsure or insecure.

Sagittarius Greatest Challenges

Sagittarius can sometimes be far too blunt, and put their own needs above others. You don’t need to veer from your values, but sometimes, a white lie saves all. It can also be helpful to be part of the pack now and then. Sagittarius is so good at doing things independently, but sometimes it can be faster, smarter, and more fun to do things as part of a group.

Sagittarius Secret Weapon

Their independence. Sags don’t need other people’s approval, opinions, or advice. A Sag loves hanging out with herself, and feels like doing things solo can only help her connect more to her deepest self. Sagittarius uses solo time as a much-needed reboot. While an hour stuck in traffic during a car commute could be untenable to anyone else, to a Sag it’s a form of self-care.

Famous Sagittarians

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!  I imagine I will be in and out all day, and there probably will not be a lot of news today, so how about some puzzles and giggles?

Spot the differences

definitely the cranberry sauce

AMEN TO THAT!!!

I like the “little known facts” article that are posted about older television series. I found this one on amomama website.

“Little House on the Prairie” aired for a total of nine seasons until it came to a halt in 1982. Viewers and fans spent their days watching the characters, Laura, Mary, Carrie, and Grace growing up, but avid watchers only noticed some behind the scenes facts.

THE THEME SONG WAS QUITE SIMILAR TO THAT OF ANOTHER SHOW

David Rose, the composer and songwriter of the hit series, was responsible for getting the theme song stuck in the heads of loyal fans. However, the tune is quite similar to that of the show “Bonanza,” which ended a year before “Little House on the Prairie” began. It turns out; Rose is also the man behind the “Bonanza’s” theme song; hence, the close themes. An additional connection between the two shows is Michael Landon, who both starred in “Bonanza” as “Little Joe” and in “Little House on the Prairie” as Chris Ingalls.

A CLOSE DISMISSAL

Hitting their ninth season called for a celebration after the show’s almost cancellation by the time season two aired. NBC decided to move its Wednesday night time slot to Monday nights to gain more ratings. However, come the fourth season, the network was once again debating of having it canceled. Thanks to the show’s good ratings, the management decided not to push through with their initial plan.

THE OLESONS SIBLINGS ARE REAL-LIFE SIBLINGS

If fans ever noticed the last name of the actors who play Willie and Laura Oleson are the same, that’s because they are real-life siblings. Willie, played by Jonathan Gilbert, is the adopted younger brother of Laura, played by Melissa Gilbert. (((I dispute this one—Melissa Gilbert played Laura Ingalls not Laura Oleson.)))

LAURA AND NELLIE WERE REAL-LIFE BEST FRIENDS

While Nellie and Laura started their relationship as enemies, their distinct personalities later brought them together, until forming a good friendship. In fact, Nellie’s bouquet was tossed to Laura during her wedding. In reality, Nellie, played by Alison Arngrim, became close friends with Gilbert and even played games together off-screen, to pass the time on set. The manipulative character Nellie portrayed on screen was nothing close to how she was in real life.

INTENSE ADDICTIONS

As filming can be a pretty tough job that just drains the employees the entire day, many cast and crew members turned to drugs and alcohol for solace and strength; hence, seeing both on set was nothing new. On average, the crew would finish two cases of Coors beer per day, and on hectic days, which they named “three-case days,” they would finish so much more and drown out the stress can after can.

CURSE OF THE CANCER

To say it was a curse may have been just an exaggeration, but unfortunately, several cast members of the show were diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, with others even passing away.  Among those with the said ailment were Michael Landon, who got pancreatic cancer, Victor French, Kevin Hagen, and Charlotte Stewart, who managed to survive. It is believed that the reason behind the disease was radioactively contaminated materials on set.

MICHAEL LANDON WAS A WORK OF ART – OR SO HE BELIEVED.

Michael had very high praise for his personal physique, making sure that he never passed on an opportunity for his character to appear shirtless for the audience. Sporting tight-fitting prairie trousers, the Pa Ingalls star believed the best way to go was always a natural look; free of cosmetics treatment.

NELLIE OLESON’S CURLS WAS THE RESULT OF A WIG.

The character played by Alison Arngrim sported a unique hairdo of fashionable curls. During the initial weeks of filming the show, Arngrim’s hair was masterfully styled using sausage curls coupled with heating irons. For cost and time efficiencies, it was decided that this hairdo had to be sourced from a wig. The wig had to be held in place by quite a number of hairpins, which, at times, caused Arngrim’s scalp to bleed.

MICHAEL LANDON HUMORED EVERYONE

Michael Landon was dubbed the show’s clown for his antics and constant pranks on the crew and cast members. His humor radiated a light atmosphere during taping, which made the set a little less exhausting.

LAURA AND MANLY’S WEDDING WAS NOT WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS

Although portraying a 17-year-old character in Laura, Melissa Gilbert was described to be an inexperienced 15-year-old, with all the innocence of the world. Her on-screen kiss with the character Almanzo Wilder, played by Dean Butler, was considered only the third time she has ever had a lips-to-lips with a boy, even startling her a bit with his beard stubble.  Romantic scenes were certainly not limited to kissing, as they also had to shoot one in bed. In an attempt to calm Gilbert down, Butler quietly sang the lyrics to “Strangers in the Night,” which resulted in a further unwanted effect. After such, Gilbert requested to limit the characters’ romantic scenes to mere hugs, and cheek pecks.

MICHAEL LANDON WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN

Despite Landon’s Christian-like character on the show, with a Christian message he was trying to get across, the actor was Jewish in real life. The different beliefs were never a setback for Landon as his mother was a Catholic.

MICHAEL LANDON WAS NOT A BRUNETTE

Landon’s perfect brown curls are not so perfect after all; In fact, they aren’t even real. His hair was dyed for the role, which covered up his bottle brunette hair. As he took the job seriously, Landon sought the help of a professional colorist to get the perfect look.

CHEMISTRY BECAME A PROBLEM ON THE SHOW

A growing cause for concern amongst the producers was the lack of sparks exhibited by couples on the show. A memo was circulating highlighting the lack of chemistry between the characters of Laura and Almanzo, a gap which could not be filled even by the actors themselves.  On the other hand, a memo also circulated pointing out the deranged love scenes by the characters of Nellie and Percival. While Steve Tracy (plays Percival) was, indeed, gay in real life, he and Alison Arngrim (plays Nellie) would make passionate on-screen kisses to annoy Melissa Gilbert.

WALNUT GROVE EXISTS

Walnut Grove is, in fact, a beautiful and real place. Laura Ingalls lived there for a while, and Laura Ingalls Wilder, the author of the book, lived in a place called Walnut Grove, Minnesota, when she was a child.

KAREN GRASSLE, WHO PLAYED ‘MA,’ DID NOT ALWAYS USE THE SAME NAME.

Grassle is also known for her stage name, Gabriel Tree. Upon her casting on the show, Michael Landon requested that she use her original name.

THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE CARRIE INGALLS.

In casting the youngest Ingalls daughter, producers had to bear in mind California child labor laws. Rachel and Sidney Bush were only three years of age. In the opening credits, it is Sidney shown running down the hill. Before shooting the scene, it was Rachel in front of the camera.

After the director requested for a “fresh twin,” an unfortunate mistake of lacing up Sidney with opposite pairs on each foot caused her to fall down the running scene. Michael Landon decided that it was too precious to remove from the final sequence.

THE SHOW SERVED AS AN ACTING DEBUT FOR SOME.

13-year-old Sean Penn played an uncredited schoolboy on the said show. With this father, Leo Penn, directing season one’s The Voice of Tinker Jones, Sean had the privilege of being cast, together with his mother.

CHARLES INGALLS HAD A SECRET WEAPON – HIS BOOTS.

With an official height measurement of 5-feet and 9-inches, Michael Landon faced a problem in not wanting any other characters to tower above his own. As a solution, he used 4-inch inserts for his boots, allowing him to gain some height advantage.  And if these insoles didn’t do the trick, Landon made sure his character was standing on something, may it be a ladder, a staircase, or just a bunch of dirt.

THE FOOD WAS ALWAYS DINTY BEEF STEW

A lot of scenes showed the family having dinner. Regardless of what Ma announced as the evening’s main course, whether chicken, rabbit, or squirrel, the correct answer was always Dinty Moore beef stew. You don’t just have to make the audience believe in the story, but with what the characters eat, as well.

CLOTHING WAS A TROUBLE ON SET

Some of the scenes were filmed in Simi Valley, California. A cool day in this place meant the temperature was in the low 90s. This reality became troublesome for some actors given that they were dressed from head to toe in heavy garments; from stockings, coats, and bonnets. Alison Arngrim, who plays Nellie passed out in the heat together with the assistant director.

The food at the Thanksgiving table is usually the star and focus of the event. But before the meal hits the table, guests usually arrive and the focus shifts momentarily to the table itself.  Some people love simple tables, some prefer elaborate settings.  But I think it’s a little over the top to have every place setting use 15 plates and attending silverware, because someone’s gotta do all those dishes and it’s usually me…so that’s a big NO for me!

Still some people prefer off the wall table decor…purple cornucopia and disco balls?

And nothing says Thanksgiving quite like blue pumpkins, right?

And THIS one? A definite NO from me.  I would never put lit candles near dried out grassy wheat (?) on a table where anyone can bump the table and start a 5 alarm fire.

There’s understated and then there’s laziness—letting the napkins drape off the table—like an afterthought. Another NO for me.

So, if you want to add some appeal to your Thanksgiving table, that’s cool, cute and easy to do…here’s a wonderful meme for folding your paper napkins into adorable turkeys.  And there’s plenty of time to practice before the big day!

PS: This is one idea I wished I had started years ago. You have every guest sign the tablecloth and then you stitch out the names.  This would have been an awesome keepsake. Sadly, our big Thanksgiving dinners are no more.

Today is the anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and I thought in honor of Gordon Lightfoot’s epic song about that tragedy and his birthday later this month, I’d present another Lightfoot favorite of mine…Sundown.

I can see her lyin’ back in her satin dress

In a room where ya do what ya don’t confess

Sundown you better take care

If I find you been creepin’ ’round my back stairs

Sundown ya better take care

If I find you been creepin’ ’round my back stairs

She’s been lookin’ like a queen in a sailor’s dream

And she don’t always say what she really means

Sometimes I think it’s a shame

When I get feelin’ better when I’m feelin’ no pain

Sometimes I think it’s a shame

When I get feelin’ better when I’m feelin’ no pain

I can picture every move that a man could make

Getting lost in her lovin’ is your first mistake

Sundown you better take care

If I find you been creepin’ ’round my back stairs

Sometimes I think it’s a sin

When I feel like I’m winnin’ when I’m losin’ again

I can see her lookin’ fast in her faded jeans

She’s a hard lovin’ woman, got me feelin’ mean

Sometimes I think it’s a shame

When I get feelin’ better when I’m feelin’ no pain

Sundown you better take care

If I find you been creepin’ ’round my back stairs

Sundown you better take care

If I find you been creepin’ ’round my back stairs

Sometimes I think it’s a sin

When I feel like I’m winnin’ when I’m losin’ again

I came across a long article detailing facts about Johnny Carson that surprised me.  I knew very little about a man I thought was truly funny. 

Magic John

Johnny Carson (born John William Carson) discovered his love for entertaining people when he found a book on magic at a friend’s house. He quickly ordered a magician’s kit through the mail and started practicing his skills on family members. His mother sewed him a cape and he got his first paid gig at the age of 14, when he performed as “The Great Carsoni” and was paid $3 for a show.

The Age of Innocence

Carson was born in Corning, Iowa and moved to Norfolk, Nebraska with his family when he was eight. He reportedly had a happy and peaceful childhood. Although he was a shy child, he was courageous enough to make his debut on the school stage and act as a bumblebee. Apart from school plays and his magic performances, Carson worked as a movie usher, sold newspaper subscriptions door-to-door, wrote a humor column in his high school newspaper, and contributed funny anecdotes in his school yearbook. Even before he hit it big, Carson was a busy guy!

Nautical Tales

Carson had been debating whether to become a psychiatrist or a journalist when he was accepted in the United States Navy’s V-12 training program at Columbia University. He eventually became a communications officer and was on the USS Pennsylvania “en route to the combat zone” when the war ended with the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

More Nautical Tales

While he was still in the Navy, Carson posted a 10-0 boxing record on board his ship the USS Pennsylvania. He claimed that the highest point in his Navy life was when he performed magic tricks for the United States Secretary of the Navy, James V. Forrestal. Forrestal asked Carson to perform for him after he said he would work as a magician when he was discharged. Carson was happy to have successfully entertained Forrestal despite the general’s cranky and sophisticated demeanor.

Life After Navy

Carson joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after being discharged from the Navy. He decided to major in journalism, hoping to become a comedy writer. In fact, his thesis was actually on “How to write Comedian Jokes.” He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Radio and Speech and a minor in Physics.

The Radio Years

In 1950, Carson started his broadcasting career at WOW Radio and Television in Omaha. His first TV show was titled The Squirrel’s Nest and his routine was to interview “pigeons” on the rooftops of the courthouse to comment on the shady dealings of the politicians they witnessed from their perch. He later started another show titled Carson’s Cellar on the CBS-owned KNXT. It was from this show that comic Red Skelton sought him out and asked him to work as a writer for his show on another channel.

 Mission Television

Skelton once knocked himself out during a rehearsal and Carson was asked to fill in for him. He did it so successfully that he was asked to host a variety show on CBS titled The Johnny Carson Show. And that’s when he made it big, right? Nope, the show bombed. He later moved to New York to host Who Do You Trust? on ABC. This show, on the other hand, did extremely well and became “the hottest item on daytime television” in the six years that Carson was host.

Meet the Parents

Carson was born to Homer Lloyd “Kit” Carson—a power company manager—and Ruth Elizabeth Carson (nee Hook). They passed away at the ages of 83 and 84, respectively, and reportedly gave their children a stable, secure life. Some of Ruth’s friends believed that Carson had inherited his sense of humor from his mother, who had a “fine mind” and was a “sharp lady.”

Mommy Issues

Unfortunately, despite the general belief that the Carsons were great people who gave their kids a happy childhood, Carson himself did not have a good relationship with his mother. His closest friends believe that this was the reason why he was unable to have meaningful relationships with anyone at all. After his death, Carson’s lawyer and confidante Henry Bushkin wrote a tell-all book, claiming that Carson’s mother never showed him any affection and remained unimpressed by anything he achieved in his whole life. Sounds like a wonderfully pleasant lady alright…on her death, Carson reportedly declared that the “wicked witch” was dead and did not attend her funeral.

Star Gazer

Carson was fascinated by stars and considered himself an amateur astronomer. He owned several telescopes and one of his friends was astronomer and astrophysicist Carl Sagan.

Jazz Lover

Carson was also a jazz enthusiast and supported many jazz musicians on his show, including his friend Buddy Rich. He loved playing the drums himself as well.

Award Haul

Carson received many awards during his long and illustrious career. He was the recipient of six Emmy Awards, the Television Academy’s Governor Award, and a Peabody Award. He was inducted in the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987, was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992, and was given a Kennedy Center Honor in 1993.

(Can’t) Stick ‘em with the Pointy End

Interestingly, Carson enjoyed fiddling with pencils on his show. To prevent the possibility of anyone getting hurt, the studio gave him pencils with erasers on both ends. This was also pointed out on the show by his sidekick Ed McMahon, who told him the authorities had taken away pointed objects because they were afraid Carson might hurt himself. “But how can I write with this?” Carson asked. “There’s no need,” replied McMahon. “You’re a talker. You’re not a writer.”

Sidekick Ed

Carson interviewed McMahon in 1957 for the role of an announcer on Who Do You Trust?, which Carson was hosting at the time. The “interview” lasted all of five minutes and consisted of them commenting on a Schubert Theater sign being changed across the street. McMahon was certain that he had blown it and was not getting the job. He was then very surprised when he got a call from the studio a couple of weeks later to confirm that he was in.

Here’s Johnny

McMahon would introduce Carson by belting out the phrase “Heerre’s Johnny!” This became a “cultural catchphrase,” with Jack Nicholson echoing it in The Shining. Interestingly, a manufacturer of portable toilets wanted to use this phrase as the brand name of his product, but Carson successfully sued the company and got them to stop.

(Un)Happily Married

Carson married his college sweetheart, Joan “Jody” Morrill Wolcott in 1948. The marriage was marked by infidelities on both sides and was a volatile, unhappy affair. They had three sons, Richard, Christopher, and Cory. They got divorced in 1963, and she lost her case for an increase in her alimony in 1990.

Private Demons

Carson battled alcoholism for most of his life. Initially, he was just considered to be fond of his drink, but later it became clear that he had a far more serious problem than had previously been believed. Unfortunately, his son Richard inherited this from his father and they had a rocky relationship because of it. They almost came to blows at the 25th anniversary of The Tonight Show onboard a cruise ship, and when Richard was admitted in a hospital for his mental health, Carson refused to go visit him.

Tragedy

The father-son story had a heartbreaking ending when Richard passed away while on a drive in California. He had reportedly stopped to take some pictures, and his car toppled over a ridge. He fell 125 feet to his death. Carson was understandably devastated and paid tribute to his son on The Tonight Show.

Mind Your Language

Carson taught himself Swahili, which he used to speak when he went on trips to Africa after his retirement.

Married Again

A few months after his divorce from his first wife, Carson remarried. His new wife was Joanne Copeland and he had reportedly been involved with her long before his divorce was finalized. This marriage did not last a full decade, and they were divorced in 1972. She ended up receiving $6,000 from Carson every month for the rest of his life—giving him even more opportunity to make alimony jokes.

Third Time’s (Not) The Charm

The same year as his second divorce, Carson married Joanna Holland. She was a former model, and the marriage took place secretly in the afternoon of The Tonight Show’s tenth-anniversary party. This marriage also ended in divorce around 11 years after they got together. Holland received almost $20 million in cash and property in the divorce.

The Final Wedding

Carson married Alexis Maas in 1987. This marriage lasted until his death in 2005, although there had been indications that it might not even last a few months in the beginning. Reportedly Carson took offense to something innocuous Maas said on their honeymoon and told her that they’d been married three weeks, but if she said something like that again “this marriage won’t last another three weeks.” She either never said anything to offend him again, or he learned to live with what she did say.

Twister Tempest

The original influencer, Carson made the board game “Twister” go viral when he played it on his show in 1966 with Eva Gabor. Sales of the game soared the very next day!

The Great Toilet Paper Crisis

Carson’s influence was so huge that he created a toilet paper crisis by just joking about it. In 1973, in jest, Carson alluded to an alleged toilet paper shortage in the markets. This created such panic in his viewers that people began to buy and stock up on toilet paper, creating an actual shortage in the market. Stores and manufacturers had to ration supplies until the alarm ended and Carson apologized for his role in starting the brouhaha.

Politically Yours

Carson was a Liberal but did not like talking about politics on his show. He felt it was a divisive conversation, and he did not want to lose any of his viewers because of his own political views. He felt strongly about racial equality and opposed the Vietnam War, but tried to keep things breezy and light on air. That in itself would be a political statement in today’s world.

No Fat Jokes

Raymond Burr was frequently a target of Carson’s “fat” jokes. While body-shaming was not as frowned upon then as it is now, Burr was unhappy with being the butt of such humor and boycotted the show.

Not Mr. Rogers! Anyone but Him!

Carson also played an evil Mr. Rogers on his show. His version of Mr. Rogers was teaching kids about the birds and the bees using dolls and wanted them to steal money from their parents to keep his show on air. The real Mr. Rogers was unimpressed by this act and Carson later apologized for making fun of him.

A Tale of Two Networks

At one point, Carson had some issues with NBC, and as soon as ABC realized, they offered to double his pay if he left NBC and joined them. NBC wouldn’t give up without a fight, so they courted Carson with an offer of $25 million a year, gave him ownership of his show, decreased its duration, and reduced the number of shows he had to do in a year. Talk about being an invaluable employee!

Guests, Hosts, and Guest Hosts

There were many guest hosts on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Most notable of these was Joey Bishop, who hosted the show more than anyone else—177 times! Joan Rivers was also a perennial guest host from 1983-1986, and icons like Jerry Lewis, David Letterman, and Frank Sinatra all took their turns behind Johnny’s desk.

Failed Investment

Carson was one of the main investors in the DeLorean Motor Company, which was famous for its time machine in the Back to the Future trilogy. Sadly, the company did not do well and lost all the money that had been invested in it.

Gues(t) Who?

Johnny’s first guest on The Tonight Show was Groucho Marx. His last guest—who sang him off—was Bette Midler. The guest he most wanted on the show was Cary Grant, but Grant never agreed to appear. Carson also desperately wanted Bill Boyd as a guest, but although Boyd was a big fan, he was uncomfortable coming on the show and feared it might hurt his image, so he never did either.

Hopelessly Difficult

Carson had an extremely rocky relationship with one of his biggest guests. Considering the 100 plus appearances Bob Hope made on The Tonight Show, one would imagine Carson was a big admirer of the comedy legend. On the contrary, he did not enjoy hosting Hope at all and resented that he could come on whenever he wanted. NBC had a long-running relationship with the comedian, which allowed him to “write his own ticket on the network.” The two men were very different, with Hope relying on his writers for all his jokes and Carson playing it by ear. The latter did not like following a script all the time but had to, especially when Hope grew hard of hearing and couldn’t tell if Carson changed a question, answering what had been scripted even if it did not make sense. Carson reportedly told his team that if he ever ended up like Hope he wanted them to shoot him. Slightly extreme, but the man does not sound like the most level-headed person you’d know.

From Manhattan to Burbank

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson started off from 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City and continued to be filmed there until 1972, after which production was moved to an NBC studio in Burbank, California. The show continued to be shot there until its end in 1992. Carson felt the facilities were much better in California and he liked living there because he enjoyed playing tennis and going to the beach whenever he wanted. He also appreciated having a house with yard, which wasn’t possible in New York.

Carson IRL

Although Carson displayed an extremely friendly, witty, and pleasant persona onscreen, he was actually a very shy and private person. He did not find it easy to socialize or make small talk, and his lavish Malibu residence only had a single bedroom. If any friends or family visited, they would stay in a guest house across the street.

Between Paar and Leno

Carson’s predecessor was Jack Paar, who hosted The Tonight Show for five years until 1962. Paar was a controversial figure because of his political leanings and sense of humor, and Carson’s apolitical stance led him to be viewed as very much Parr’s opposite. When Carson retired, he was succeeded by Jay Leno—but many people agree he wasn’t happy with the decision. It is believed that Carson felt David Letterman would have been a better choice, as he went on Letterman’s show twice, and would frequently send Letterman material for his monologues as well. He did none of this for Leno.

A Silent Affair

Once he retired, Carson mostly stayed away from the public eye. He did appear in a few cameo roles, the most famous of which was when he voiced himself on The Simpsons in 1993. His last appearance was on The Late Show with David Letterman, but although he came on stage to a standing ovation and sat behind Letterman’s desk, he left without addressing the audience at all. He later said he hadn’t spoken because of “acute laryngitis.” Talk about disappointing your fans. This episode surely must take the cake.

Au Revoir Johnny

Carson hosted his last show on May 22, 1992. His guests the night before—on his second last show—were Bette Midler and Robin Williams, but on his last night, he did not invite anyone from show business. The audience consisted only of friends, family, and crew members. Carson ended the show sitting on a stool at center stage. He thanked McMahon, Doc Severinsen, his crew, and his viewers and said he was very lucky that he got to do what he loved. He wrapped up the show with the words “I bid you a very heartfelt goodnight.” More than 50 million people tuned in to watch him say goodbye. That’s way more than the number of viewers who tuned in to HBO to watch the Game of Thrones series finale. In 2011, Johnny’s ultimate episode was ranked number 10 on the TV Guide Network Special: TV’s Most Unforgettable Finales.

Comedic Mentor

Carson introduced many iconic comedians on his show. If he found someone funny, he would invite them to join him for a chat on his couch. Almost every person who got called to the couch went on to become a famous comedian. Some examples are Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, and Ellen Degeneres. Carson was obviously a great judge of comic aptitude.

Smoking Kills

Carson was a heavy smoker. He often smoked on TV in the early episodes of his show. He reportedly smoked up to four packs a day for most of his life, and it eventually caught up to him. On January 23, 2005, Johnny Carson died due to respiratory failure at the age of 79.

Bombastic Bushkin

Henry Bushkin was Carson’s personal attorney for 18 years. He was also Carson’s friend, confidante, tennis and walking partner, and much more. He reportedly assisted Carson’s break-in of his second wife’s apartment to gather proof that she was cheating on him. Bushin drank with him, traveled with him, and basically enabled Carson in doing whatever he wanted…until he was fired over something minor in 1988. Until he was fired, Carson had referred to Bushkin as his closest friend, and would talk about him on his show as “bombastic Bushkin.”

The Bushkin Revelation

In 2013, Bushkin published a book about his former boss, titled Johnny Carson. He wrote about their time together and unveiled Carson as a cold, sullen, unhappy person who was unable to form meaningful relationships with anyone, and any women especially, because of his own relationship with his mother. Doc Severinsen, Carson’s bandleader, disagreed with Bushkin’s account and claimed that not only was Carson a good boss and a fair man, he was also always keenly aware of whatever was going on, and that was probably why he had dismissed Bushkin. He said that Bushkin had only written the scandalous book to make money.

The Rivers Fiasco

Carson disliked what he perceived as disloyalty, and he was famous for holding a grudge. He got extremely upset when Joan Rivers, whom he had single-handedly propelled to stardom and who was a frequent guest host on The Tonight Show for three years, was offered to host her own late-night show by Fox. The show only lasted a year, but was given the same time slot as Carson, and he saw her as a direct competitor. Rivers said he never talked to her again from the day he discovered she had accepted the offer, and she wondered if things might have been different if she had informed him herself and sought his blessings.

The Rivers’ Rumors

Rivers later mentioned that she and Carson had been involved in a short fling while they were working together. There is no proof to this story, which she admitted to after his death. However, if true, it might be a reason for his anger at her “betrayal.”

Producer Problems

Fred de Cordova started working as a producer on The Tonight Show in 1970 and stayed on until Carson’s last episode. However, his relationship with Carson had soured a year earlier after an incredibly callous moment from Cordova: While Carson was paying tribute to his son after his death in 1991, Cordova motioned to him that he needed to hurry up and speed things along.

Carson was absolutely furious, and things never went back to normal afterward—while he kept his title, Cordova wasn’t even allowed on set.

The One with Wayne Newton

Not everyone was a fan of Carson’s sense of humor—it can’t be denied he could be cruel and cutting when he wanted to. In 1980, Carson was interested in buying a hotel and resort in Vegas. However, he either backed out, or lost the deal to a group led by singer-entertainer Wayne Newton. The media portrayed this as a loss for Carson and win for Newton, which annoyed Carson so much that he started making jokes on his show targeting Newton’s masculinity. Newton was understandably upset, and after trying to get in touch with Carson several times, he walked into Carson’s office and threatened to beat him up if the jokes did not stop. Spoiler alert: they did. Years later, Newton opened up about the whole episode on Larry King Live, declaring: “Johnny Carson is a mean-spirited human being. And there are people that he has hurt that people will never know about.”

SOURCE: FACTINATE

Passionate, independent, and unafraid to blaze their own trail no matter what others think, Scorpio signs make a statement wherever they go. They love debates, aren’t afraid of controversy, and won’t back down from a debate. They also hate people who aren’t genuine, and are all about being authentic—even if authentic isn’t pretty.

Because of all of these traits, a Scorpio can seem intimidating and somewhat closed off to those who don’t know them well. But what people don’t realize is that even though Scorpio may seem brusque, as a water sign, they also are very in tune with their emotions, and sometimes may find themselves caught up in their feelings.

This leads to Scorpio’s central conflict: Their feelings are what drives them and strengthens them, but their mutability can scare them and make them feel vulnerable and out of control. Because of this conflict, Scorpios, like their namesake, the scorpion, put up an outer shell and may seem prickly.

But once people get beyond the shell, they find a loyal, loving person whose passion knows no bounds. Scorpio dives into all life has to offer with 110% enthusiasm. A Scorpio will be your most loyal friend, most dedicated employee—and your worst enemy, if they want to be.

In love, Scorpio can seem cautious at first, and may set up a series of “tests” for their potential partner, deciding to cross them off their list if they don’t meet their demands. The trouble is, they tend to keep their partner out of the loop on what, exactly, they want, making their partner feel like they have to play mind reader. If a Scorpio and their partner can get past this initial hurdle, the connection will be intense, in both highs and lows. A Scorpio will love harder and fight harder than any other sign, and wants their partner to be absolutely honest. They will be—even if it’s not what the partner wants to hear. In the bedroom, Scorpio is generous, imaginative, and always up for anything—all night long.

Scorpio in Love

Ruled by fiery Mars and destructive Pluto, a Scorpio in love has one mode for relationships—and that’s full-on. Scorpio loves romance and passion, including up-all-night fights. Scorpio never does anything halfway, and believes that true love comes with true fights.

Scorpio Friendship Style

What Are Scorpios Like As Friends? A Scorpio friend will tell you like it is, whether you want to know or not. The good news: You never have to worry about where you stand with a Scorpio; they will let you know.

Scorpio Career, Money & Success Traits

Scorpio’s greatest career strength: Intensity. Scorpio is much happier leading the pack or providing an authentic opinion than being a team player. When Scorpio goes in, they go all in.

Scorpio’s Greatest Gifts

So many other signs spend valuable time and energy beating around the bush, desperately trying to find an approach that makes the fewest waves when it comes to confronting a conflict. Not Scorpio. Blessed with a deep sense of self, Scorpio is always able to say exactly what’s on their mind, even if it’s not what people want to hear. Scorpio is forthright and honest, and those two characteristics commandeer a ton of respect, both at home and at work.

Scorpio’s Greatest Challenges

Repeat after us: It’s all right to cry. Scorpio tries to hard to seem tough that they sometimes cut off their vulnerable side entirely, seeming prickly, uncaring, and cold to outsiders. While expressing emotion is scary, learning how to do it is key for Scorpio, since presenting an “I don’t care” veneer can only work for so long before it gets exhausting!

Scorpio’s Secret Weapon

Their empathy. Also, it may not seem this way at first glance, watchful Scorpio can read a room very quickly and can clue into how everyone else is feeling. Because of this, they can immediately tune into someone who needs TLC and often knows the right thing to say or do to change the mood or tenor of a room when it needs to be changed.

Famous Scorpios

Find the differences…

ENJOY!