1

Movie etiquette slides: The "don’ts" of early cinema

Image: Alex Litvin

Long before "silence your phones" became a common phrase, the audience was advised to mind their manners with whimsical "movie etiquette" slides. These slides, from the early 1900s, reminded theatergoers to behave properly while in the establishment. Suggestions like "Applaud with hands only" were a gentle nudge to stay courteous—after all, what else would one applaud with, right?

Another classic recommendation: "If annoyed when here, please tell the management," a precursor to modern customer service advice.

2

America’s birth certificate: The map that named a continent

Image: Chris Lawton

Does America have a birth certificate? Not exactly, but something like that—hear this out. It’s actually a map that holds the unique honor of using the name "America" for the very first time . Created by Martin Waldseemüller in 1507, it has a lengthy Latin title and shows an emerging understanding of the globe, especially the newly discovered Western Hemisphere and Pacific Ocean.

For the first time, a cartographer separated the Americas from Europe and Asia, recognizing them as distinct continents. The Library of Congress acquired the map in 2003 and is often referred to as America’s "birth certificate."

3

A Monopoly prequel: The Office Boy

Image: Jaciel Melnik

Before Monopoly was monopolizing (pun intended) family game nights, Parker Brothers tested the waters with a lesser-known board game called "The Office Boy." Released in 1889, this early game was all about climbing the corporate ladder , reflecting the "American Dream" narrative popular at the time.

Players began as humble stock boys and had to work their way up to the head of the firm, with virtues like integrity and promptness helping them along, while carelessness could set them back. Pretty much like real life, huh?

Although "The Office Boy" never reached the same iconic status, it’s a fascinating precursor to Monopoly and you can take a look at it at the Library of Congress.

4

Locks of famous hair: A snip of history

Image: Taylor Smith

It might sound strange today, but saving locks of hair from notable figures was a common practice in the past. The Library of Congress holds strands from historical figures like Thomas Jefferson, Walt Whitman, and James Madison.

Along with the locks, you can also learn some interesting facts. For example, Jefferson’s hair was cut at his deathbed by his family, while Whitman’s came courtesy of his housekeeper, who took the liberty of snipping a few strands. These tiny, personal (maybe too personal) belongings have lost their shine over the years, but they still connect visitors to some of the most influential figures in history.

5

Bizarre health labels: Fat-Ten-U tablets, anyone?

Image: Jenelle

We might find it hard to believe at times, but societies do change. Want to see how? Take a look at advertisements from a certain era, and you’ll notice the early 20th century had its fair share of questionable health products—some of them can be found at the Library of Congress.

For example, one product you can take a look at is "Loring’s Fat-Ten-U Food Tablets," which promised to help skinny folks gain weight quickly . The accompanying ads featured dramatic before-and-after illustrations of people plumping up into "rosy" health with these tablets.

Compare that with today, and you’ll see that marketing, fads, and science have certainly come a long way, don’t you think?

6

The first road map: Paving the way for American travelers

Image: LouisMoto

We’ve mentioned the first map to name America as a continent, but have you ever wondered who the first person to draw a roadmap of the US was? Well, you can learn about that at the Library of Congress.

Back in 1789, when George Washington became president, Christopher Colles published what is now considered the first road map of the United States . His guide, titled A Survey of the Roads of the United States of America , helped travelers navigate the relatively new nation. Rather than displaying large swathes of territory, each page zoomed in on short stretches of road, making it much easier to navigate.

Of course, if you look at it today, it is outdated, but back then, it made traveling around the country a lot easier!

7

Culinary advice for motorists: Gourmet on the go

Image: Debby Hudson

One doesn’t usually—or immediately—place a motorist in a kitchen, right? But we guess this is here to prove us wrong!

When early motorists hit the road, there weren’t fast-food chains or convenience stores on every corner. This posed a problem, but the solution came around rather quickly: The Motorist’s Luncheon Book by May Southworth, published in 1923, provided travelers with the advice they needed to plan their meals on the go. The book suggested packing emergency supplies like sardines, canned frankfurters, and even "bacon in jars" and some recipes to cook on the road.

If you’re ever out of ideas in the kitchen, you might want to get a quick look at this book!

8

Jefferson’s vanilla ice cream recipe: Founding Father of desserts

Image: Hidden

Wait, Jefferson—as in the Founding Father? That’s right. Thomas Jefferson may have helped write the Declaration of Independence, but he also knew how to make a mean vanilla ice cream.

Among his vast collection of papers at the Library of Congress is his personal recipe for the classic dessert . The recipe is as simple as it gets: just "good cream," egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla. Jefferson, known for his love of French cuisine, likely picked up this ice cream-making skill while serving as a diplomat in Paris. While the recipe is quite detailed, it’s a reminder that even the most powerful figures in history had a sweet tooth. You could honor him by making this for your loved ones tonight!

9

The first known book printed in America: The Bay Psalm Book

Image: Aaron Burden

We all know what the first printed book in the world was, right? But what about the first printed book in America? Here’s what you need to know about it.

North America’s first printed book, The Whole Booke of Psalmes , also known as The Bay Psalm Book , dates back to 1640, just two decades after the Mayflower landed. This hymnal was created in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and contains psalms translated from Hebrew into English—but with a twist: the spelling and grammar were, well… creative by modern standards.

The book has no music notes, just the lyrics for worshippers to follow along with. Though simple in appearance, it pretty much marks a milestone in American printing and religious history.

10

Helen Keller’s plea to Alexander Bell: A message of hope

Image: Anne Nygård

As you probably already know, Hellen Keller was both deaf and blind. But that was never an obstacle to her journey of self-improvement and activism for the rights of the disabled. She is, still today, one of the most influential figures in history.

Now, concerning this article, here’s the fascinating artifact’s history: In 1907, Helen Keller sent a telegram to Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone and an advocate for the deaf. In it, Keller, who was both deaf and blind, asked Bell to join her in delivering a speech , hoping he would repeat her words aloud for the audience. This small but powerful telegram is now part of the Library of Congress’s collection and you can take a look at it to learn about the deep bonds formed between two icons of American history.

1

Roy Chapman Andrews - Indiana Jones

Image: Intricate Explorer

Roy Chapman Andrews was an American explorer, adventurer, naturalist, and paleontologist who made it out of brawls with pythons, a whale, and armed bandits. He was erroneously reported dead a couple of times and led expeditions across the deserts of China and Mongolia—despite having a fear of snakes . One might safely say that he was the real-life Indiana Jones.

Though neither George Lucas nor Steven Spielberg, the producers behind the franchise, have ever confirmed the claims, they are fully aware of the number of parallels between the movie hero and the former director of the American Museum of Natural History , who collected dinosaur eggs as a hobby. Even Andrews’ granddaughter, Sara Appelbee, believes that Indy was at least inspired by her grandpa.

2

Chuck Wepner - Rocky Balboa

Image: Luisa Frassier

A number of real-life pugilists are said to have inspired Silvester Stalone’s hero —or at least his iconic training methods, such as pulling carts or punching meat packs. Philly boxer Joe Frazier, who even had a cameo in the first movie, was one of them. Also, the nickname "Rocky" was taken from Rocco "Rocky" Francis Marchegiano, an Italian-American heavyweight champion who finished his career undefeated.

But the heart and soul of Rocky was the boxer, Chuck Wepner. Stalone has recounted many times that it was after watching Wepner give his all against the legendary Muhammed Ali that he got the idea for an underdog boxer who would never quit. Wepner’s career and his unyielding spirit later inspired other movies, like Chuck (2016) and The Brawler (2019).

3

Belva Gaertner & Beulah Annan - Velma Kelly & Roxie Hart

Image: tadah

In 1924, reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins covered courthouse stories for the Chicago Tribune . One day, she was asked to write about the trial cases of two women accused of shooting their partners. A few months later, she quit the Chicago Tribune and proceeded to publish a play she had written: Chicago .

The two women were Belva Gaertner and Beulah Annan, both by then acquitted of the charges of murdering their respective partners. The ever-changing accounts of their alibis for the crimes, as well as the audience’s fascination with them, was what inspired Watkins to write the characters of Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart , whose storylines closely resemble those of Gaertner and Annan. Watkins, who had described Gaertner and Annan as the "beauty of the cell block" and the "most stylish of Murderess Row," later sustained that she believed both women were guilty.

4

Draper Daniels & Mary Wells Lawrence - Don Draper & Peggy Olson

Image: S O C I A L . C U T

5

It is known that the multi-award-winning TV show Mad Men focused on showcasing the lifestyle and operations of grand advertising agencies from Madison Avenue, New York, in the mid-20th century. Although parts of the show were exaggerated for dramatic effect, some experts sustain that the anti-hero Don Draper was likely based on Draper Daniels—at least in terms of his career accomplishments.

Daniels was the creative director of the legendary agency Leo Burnett and led famous campaigns for Marlboro, a leading cigarette company in the 1950s. One can only hope that his personal life was less turbulent than that of the fictional character, but the show perfectly transmitted the ingenuity of a big-buck creative director . Did you know that his apprentice, Peggy Olson, was also based on a real-life publicist? It is believed that Mary Wells Lawrence , an advertising legend and pioneering female leader in the industry, inspired the character of Peggy, a hungry and charismatic young writer who is only at the beginning of a brilliant career.

6

William Randolph Hearst - Charles Foster Kane

Image: Zoe

Citizen Kane (1941), widely considered one of the best films ever made, was famously inspired by the life of media mogul William Randolph Hearst. Charles Foster Kane, just like his real-life counterpart, rose from humble beginnings to immense wealth by building a newspaper empire . In this case, the history of personal scandal depicted in the movie did match reality.

Like Kane, Hearst had a mansion complete with private zoos and priceless art collections. Both men had political careers and a heavy presence in the press and media. Hearst did not take the movie lightly; the portrayal was so thinly veiled that the story offended him greatly, particularly the inclusion of a doomed romance that paralleled his relationship with actress Marion Davies.

7

Pocahontas

Image: EricThriller

We know that Disney's Pocahontas (1995) is a highly romanticized version of historical accounts, but Pocahontas indeed was a real-life Native American woman in the 1600s. The movie took great liberties with facts. For example, Pocahontas was only 10 or 11 years old when she met English newcomers, not the young woman suggested in the film.

She was indeed the daughter of Powhatan , their tribe chief, and early accounts claim that she intervened to prevent the execution of English sailor John Smith, though these tales have been disputed over the centuries. The story of her life, captivity, transformation to Christianism and marriage to John Rolfe have been represented in several films, plays, books, and paintings throughout time, even though historical records of her life are scarce.

8

Howard Hughes - Tony Stark

Image: Igor Bumba

Sure, perhaps Iron Man never existed. But Tony Stark might have, in a way. The billionaire genius who became Marvel's icon was heavily inspired by real-life American industrialist and aviator Howard Hughes. Both Stark and Hughes were visionary inventors, known for their technological prowess, complex personal lives, and eccentric personalities.

During his lifetime, Hughes was one of the richest and most influential people in the world, and, like Tony Stark, he behaved accordingly. Hughes had romantic entanglements with Hollywood stars and led a luxurious lifestyle. This was parodied in Stark’s playboy personality and his interactions with the press. Interestingly, Hughes, an enthusiastic pilot, carried several injuries he had sustained from being in four different plane crashes. These wounds were paralleled by those in Stark, who carried a literal gap in his body after an accident caused by a malfunction of his own technology.

9

Peggy Lee - Miss Piggy

Image: cottonbro studio

Yes, even Miss Piggy drew inspiration from a real person. That person was none other than Peggy Lee, the legendary jazz singer , songwriter, and actress with a 70-year-long career. Lee was known for her sultry voice and sassy but commanding stage presence, a diva superstar personality. Does that remind you of a certain Muppet?

Miss Piggy’s signature traits include her charm and her conviction that she is destined for stardom . Many of Peggy Lee's qualities, even physical traits like her blond hair, were gracefully taken in by Miss Piggy’s creators, but not all. For instance, the tendency to karate-chop Kermit the Frog when she is mad at him might have been ad-libbed.

10

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Image: Jean-Christophe André

Molly Brown survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic, and her persona even made it to the 1997 James Cameron film. In it, Kathy Bates played Margaret Brown, aka "The Unsinkable" Molly Brown. A socialite, activist, and philanthropist, she showed stellar leadership and bravery during the disaster as a first-class passenger who helped several people into lifeboats before being forced to board one herself.

In the movie, she is portrayed as a strong, outspoken woman ready to defy social conventions and eager to make space for more people in the lifeboats. Reportedly, that night in 1912, she insisted that the boat return to save others, but her pleas were ignored. Real-life Molly Brown was known for her flamboyant personality ; she spoke several languages and traveled extensively. She even tried her hand at acting.

11

Buzz Aldrin - Buzz Lightyear

Image: Kindel Media

Finally, it must be said: Buzz Lightyear was named and designed in honor of none other than Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon . Of course, as one of the faces and emblems of space exploration, Aldrin served as a direct inspiration for the beloved space ranger from the Toy Story franchise.

Sure, Buzz Lightyear was just a toy, but the yearning in his eyes when he looked at the stars was powerful enough to represent any astronaut. Was Aldrin honored by this nod to him? Yes, he even participated in several Disney events where both Buzzes discussed space travel, and the real astronaut gave the character advice about venturing "to infinity and beyond."

1

Levi Strauss

Image: Eric Prouzet

Although his name will forever be associated with American business pioneers, Levi Strauss was not born in the United States. That's right! The inventor of the iconic blue jeans was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1829. In 1847, he came to America along with his siblings in search of new opportunities, settling in New York. Eventually, he moved to San Francisco, where his famous company would be founded.

2

Irving Berlin

Image: Sandra Grünewald

While he can be considered one of the most American of Americans, Irving Berlin was actually born in Russia. That's right; the legendary composer and lyricist was born in 1888 in what was then the Russian Empire, and his family immigrated to the US when he was just a child. How lucky for us! Can you imagine life without classics like "White Christmas," "God Bless America," and "There's No Business Like Show Business"? Neither can we!

3

Alexander Graham Bell

Image: Carlos Eduardo

Although he became a naturalized US citizen in 1882, Alexander Graham Bell was born in 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He arrived in the United States in 1871, where he worked as a teacher and researcher. It was in America, in 1876, that he made his most famous invention: the telephone.

4

Elizabeth Taylor

Image: Color Crescent

Elizabeth Taylor, our Cleopatra, wasn't born in the United States. As you probably know, she saw the world for the first time in England in 1932 and moved to America in 1939, just before World War II started. But here's an important detail: Her parents were American! So, she was a US citizen from birth; she just happened to be born overseas.

5

Alfred Hitchcock

Image: Usha Kiran

Yes, Alfred Hitchcock was born in England, but we probably wouldn't have had the pleasure of enjoying cinema classics like Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958), Psycho (1960), and The Birds (1963) if he hadn't come to live and work in America. Although he was already a successful director in his home country, Hitchcock decided to come to the United States in 1939, drawn by the promise of Hollywood's growing film industry.

6

Audrey Hepburn

Image: Paige Johnson

Although she became an American citizen in the 1950s and won our hearts on the big screen, the legendary Audrey Hepburn was actually born in 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. In 1945, she settled in England, where she began taking ballet classes and started landing modeling and acting roles. Finally, in 1951, she came to America to star in the Broadway production of Gigi .

7

Isaac Asimov

Image: Phillip Glickman

Science fiction as we know it wouldn't be the same without the incredible work of Isaac Asimov. However, we may never have had the opportunity to enjoy his brilliant writing if his family hadn't immigrated to America. Asimov was born in 1920 in Petrovichi, Russia. His parents decided to move in 1923, just a year after the Soviet Union was established. At only 3 years old, he arrived in the US, and by the age of 8, he was a full American citizen.

8

Charles Chaplin

Image: Mimi Di Cianni

The unforgettable Charlie Chaplin was born in London in 1889. Before he turned 20, he arrived in the US as a young performer with a vaudeville company. Here, he found fame and became a global icon of silent film. Surprisingly, even after living and working here for over 40 years, he never officially became an American citizen, but Americans embraced him wholeheartedly all the same.

9

Albert Einstein

Image: WikiImages

Albert Einstein, one of the most famous scientists in the world, was born in Germany. And he chose to be American! He was born in Ulm, Germany, on March 14, 1879, and later became a US citizen in 1940.

His first trip to America was in 1921, when he came to New York as a renowned scientist. Then, in 1933, he returned for good and accepted a position at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where his former house still stands.

10

Joseph Pulitzer

Image: Jorien Loman

Joseph Pulitzer revolutionized the press in America and around the world, but before becoming a renowned US citizen, he lived in Hungary, the place where he was born in 1847. At the age of 17, he left Europe in search of greater opportunities and arrived in the US in 1864. Here, he went on to become a pioneering journalist and newspaper publisher, even giving his name to the prestigious awards honoring excellence in journalism and the arts.