History History 4 min read

Dystopian spoilers ahead

No Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly? 12 films nearly turned out differently

Image: Roger Ce

It’s hard to imagine classic movies with different stories or characters than the ones we know today, but there are many examples of Hollywood blockbusters that were originally supposed to be very different—and, thanks to wise (or accidental) decisions, were changed for good. Imagine Back to the Future without Michael J. Fox, or a version of Jaws where the shark swims away. It sounds wild, but it nearly happened. Here are some surprising what-ifs from iconic films that just missed the cutting room floor.

1
More Jaws

Image: Karen Zhang

One early idea for the Jaws ending involved not one shark, but several . After the first was killed, Brody would’ve seen more fins approaching , hinting the threat wasn’t over.

Another scrapped version, closer to the novel, had the shark drift away after being harpooned, leaving Brody alone at sea. Both endings were dropped in favor of the explosive finale we know today.

2
Titanic’s Jack & Rose

Image: Edwin Petrus

Claire Danes, best known at the time for Romeo + Juliet , turned down the role of Rose in _Titanic_—and says she has "no regrets" today. It’s tough to picture anyone but Kate Winslet in that part.

Matthew McConaughey also came close to playing Jack. He was confident he had the role, but Leonardo DiCaprio ultimately got it.

3
Psycho, in Technicolor

Image: Maxime Roedel

These days, many assume Alfred Hitchcock shot Psycho in black and white for artistic or symbolic reasons. It turns out that it was just a budget issue .

Paramount found the concept too "distasteful," so Hitchcock financed the film himself. Despite its now-legendary status, the studio initially gave it only a limited release.

4
When Harry Almost Didn’t Meet Sally

Image: Nur Fadhillah Fajarudeen

Director Rob Reiner began When Harry Met Sally after his divorce, feeling cynical about love. Originally, the film was written so that Harry and Sally would remain just friends.

But during production, Reiner fell in love again—and changed his mind. The ending was rewritten so the two characters end up together , giving the rom-com its iconic, heartwarming finish.

5
Saturday Night Gump

Image: Yosuke Ota

Believe it or not, John Travolta was originally offered the role of Forrest Gump —but he turned it down, and the part went to Tom Hanks instead.

Still, Travolta went on to star in Pulp Fiction , which became a huge hit, so in the end, it worked out for everyone.

6
Pretty Sad Woman

Image: Krists Luhaers

The original Pretty Woman script—titled _3000_—was a dark drama about sex work, ending with Edward leaving Vivian. It had little romance or humor and was meant to serve as a cautionary tale.

Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer once auditioned, but things changed after Julia Roberts and Richard Gere were cast. Their charm shifted the tone, and rewrites led to the romantic ending we know today.

7
The Slaptrix

Image: Markus Spiske

Will Smith was originally offered the role of Neo but turned it down. He has since praised Keanu Reeves’s performance in The Matrix and admitted he would have ruined the film.

Smith's a great actor, but it's tough to picture anyone but Reeves as Neo, dodging bullets in slow motion.

8
Fatal Attraction

Image: Pawel Janiak

Screenwriter James Dearden disliked the altered ending to Fatal Attraction . Originally, Alex framed Dan for her murder, but test audiences didn’t like it .

As a result, the team reshot the film’s climax, giving Alex a more conclusive fate. The new version offered clearer consequences and closure, making it far more satisfying for viewers.

9
Ghost Smashers

Image: Viktor Forgacs

Dan Aykroyd’s original Ghostbusters concept—called _Ghost Smashers_—was a wild sci-fi adventure involving time travel and dimension-hopping .

Filmmakers simplified the story, shifting the focus to ghost-catching instead. That change transformed it into the hilarious, iconic classic we know today.

10
No Marty McFly

Image: Roger Ce

Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly in Back to the Future, and even filmed several scenes. However, director Robert Zemeckis and producer Steven Spielberg felt that Stoltz didn’t embody the comedic, fun-loving spirit they were looking for.

As a result, Michael J. Fox was brought in to play the iconic Marty—and the rest is history. It’s hard to imagine the film without Fox’s perfect balance of humor and charm.

11
No Michael Corleone

Image: Enrique Bancalari

Al Pacino nearly missed out on playing Michael Corleone in The Godfather . Director Francis Ford Coppola had doubts about Pacino’s fit for the powerful role, and stars like Jack Nicholson and Robert Redford were also considered .

Luckily, Pacino was cast, and his intense, layered performance became iconic. His portrayal added depth that helped make the film a lasting classic.

12
Gone With No Lead Actress

Image: micheile henderson

Gone With the Wind began filming without a lead actress, and Clark Gable was reportedly less than thrilled when Vivien Leigh was finally cast as Scarlett O’Hara.

The production faced creative clashes, including pushback on the film’s tone and even Rhett Butler’s famous line. Fortunately , "Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn" stayed in .

Geography Geography 6 min read

Lodgings that became landmarks

Ghosts, stars, and royalty: The most notorious hotels in the US

Image: Andreas Leindecker

If lobbies could speak, these 10 would tell countless stories. Of former presidents and political debates, legendary Hollywood icons, world-known scientists, terminally ill patients, and members of America’s wealthiest families. From the dazzling lights of Vegas to haunted halls in Eureka Springs, these notable hotels have evolved to be more than just places to stay: They are the setting of American legends that continue to receive guests even today. In this article, we explore some of the most notorious hotels in the U.S., which have housed luxury, scandal, and the supernatural.

1
The Plaza Hotel, New York

Image: Harri Nieminen

The Plaza Hotel, located at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South in Manhattan, New York City, is one of the most famous hotels in the world . It was opened in 1907 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Known for its luxury, iconic architecture, and high-society clientele, it has a past of having hosted figures like F. Scott Fitzgerald (who immortalized it in The Great Gatsby ) and Marilyn Monroe.

The Plaza’s featuring in several films has gained international fame. Scenes from Home Alone 2 or North by Northwest , and Eloise at the Plaza have the iconic backdrop of the hotel as its setting. It was also the lodging The Beatles chose for their first stay in the U.S. in 1964, but the hullabaloo of the fan craze was such that they chose lower-profile hotels for their subsequent visits.

2
Willard InterContinental, Washington

Image: Pixabay

Just two blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C. stands the Willard InterContinental. The same site has hosted a hotel since 1818, but the current building opened in 1901. It’s nicknamed the "Residence of Presidents" because nearly every U.S. president since Franklin Pierce has either stayed there or visited.

Its notable location granted the Willard other historical honors. For example, it’s said that President Ulysses S. Grant enjoyed spending calm moments in the opulent hotel’s lobby, but there he would be crowded by people who would seek favors or influence policy decisions. He coined the term "lobbyists" to refer to them. It was also where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. completed his famous "I Have a Dream" speech before delivering it.

3
The Stanley Hotel, Colorado

Image: Luke Scarpino

If the sight of The Stanley Hotel makes you a bit uncomfortable, you are not alone. It is the very building that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining (1977). After staying there in the 1970s, King had a dream about his son running through the hotel’s halls, which led to the idea of the haunted Overlook Hotel featured in the book. Though the Stanley itself is not the setting for either the novel or Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation, the myth surrounding this 1909 hotel has made it a hotspot for paranormal tourism.

The hotel is said to be haunted, after all. Reports of mysterious piano music, flickering lights, and strange apparitions keep drawing fans to it. Room 217, where Stephen King stayed, is the most famous of these "haunted" rooms . Guests and staff have reported seeing Mrs. Wilson, a housekeeper who worked at the hotel in the early 1900s, tidying up the room.

4
The Bellagio, Las Vegas

Image: Antonio Janeski

Las Vegas Strip, an area bright enough to be visible from space, holds in its heart many impressive hotels. But The Bellagio probably takes the crown. It was the most expensive hotel ever constructed when it opened in 1998, having cost $1.6 billion. Its facade features the famous Fountains of Bellagio , which perform water shows synchronized to music and lights daily.

In its boastful style, the hotel also has an upscale casino, five-star restaurants, and the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art , which features rotating expositions but once featured works from Picasso, Monet, and van Gogh, among others. The hotel has also, since its opening, been home to Cirque du Soleil’s show "O", aquatic-themed and occurring in and around an on-stage pool.

5
Palace Hotel, San Francisco

Image: Pixabay

San Francisco’s Palace Hotel opened in 1875, so it was already around for the 1906 earthquake, which damaged it and demanded renovations. But it always remained a stunning hotel, featuring a grand lobby with a stained-glass dome and chandeliers. Many prominent guests walked its halls, including Mark Twain, Frank Sinatra, and Queen Elizabeth II .

In its inauguration in the 19th century, it was the largest hotel in the world. 19 presidents of the U.S. have been esteemed visitors, and most notably President Woodrow Wilson hosted luncheons at the Palace Hotel when he was building support for the Treaty of Versailles to end World War I.

6
Crescent Hotel and Spa, Arkansas

Image: Evgenia Basyrova

Eureka Springs’ Crescent Hotel and Spa is a top tier in many lists of "most haunted hotels." Its old age and eerie story are enough to earn it this honor. Opened in 1886, the Victorian in the 1930s functioned as a hospital for treating cancer patients. It is said that a con doctor called Norman Baker took patients in to allegedly cure them, but caused some untreated guests to pass away as a result.

Legend has it, that one of his patients, as well as Baker, still haunts the rooms of Crescent Hotel. Some TV shows, like "Ghost Hunters" and "Ghost Adventures", have explored the venue. Of course, the hotel also offers ghost tours .

7
Jekyll Island Club Resort, Georgia

Image: Pixabay

The Jekyll Island Club Resort is located on Jekyll Island, one of the barrier islands off the coast of Georgia. It was founded in 1886 as a winter retreat for some of America’s wealthiest families , including the Morgans, Rockefellers, and Pulitzers. This earned the place the reputation for being one of the most exclusive and prestigious social clubs in American history.

The hotel houses the Historic Jekyll Island Museum, which showcases the island’s past in the Gilded Age. To this day it is still praised for its beautiful natural landscapes and trails. The island offers stunning natural surroundings , and the hotel prides itself on its commitment to preserving its environment.

8
Omni Parker House, Boston

Image: Patrick Foreman

The Omni Parker House from Boston, Massachusetts, opened in 1855 as the "Parker House", and is now the oldest continuously operating hotel in the United States. It has hosted many notable guests, like Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and John F. Kennedy. Babe Ruth and other baseball greats frequented its restaurant. The place also holds the separate honor of being the birthplace of the Boston Cream Pie , a chocolate-and-cream dessert that now symbolizes Massachusetts.

Of course, a hotel that is 169 years old cannot be free from haunted allegations. Reports of ghostly apparitions and unexplained noises are common for the Omni Parker House, particularly around its historic rooms.

9
Chateau Marmont, Hollywood

Image: Edgar Colomba

Chateau Marmont, from West Hollywood, California, has been operating since its opening in 1929. It was designed in a French Gothic style, inspired by the Château d'Amboise in France. Its location has granted it a long history of receiving a large celebrity clientele and fame associated with glamour, legend, and scandal.

James Dean and Judy Garland would find refuge in the hotel, which soon became known as a haven for stars for its strict privacy policies . The Chateau has also appeared in Hollywood self-referential films like The Player or A Star is Born .

10
Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Island

Image: Donhu Rickerby

The Hotel del Coronado, a.k.a. "The Del," is a historic beachfront hotel that opened in 1888. Its grand exterior with red-and-white striped roofs is easily recognizable, and it has been declared a National Historic Landmark. Many dignitaries have visited it, like Richard Nixon, Princess Grace of Monaco, and Thomas Edison, although, opposing popular belief, he had nothing to do with the early installation of electricity that the hotel boasted.

If you’ve seen Some Like It Hot , featuring Marilyn Monroe , you have spied places in the hotel. Many scenes were filmed there, which made it appear as the "Seminole Ritz Hotel" in Miami in the film.

History History 6 min read

LOOK HOW FAR THEY CAME!

These 10 Hollywood Stars Got Their Start Working These Regular Jobs!

Image: Carol Highsmith's America

We all remember our very first job —whether it was a part-time gig or an odd job—that helped us learn about responsibility, and time management, while still allowing us to save up a few bucks for the future. These entry-level positions are usually very demanding and require hard work, but they ultimately help us develop our resilience in the promise of greater things. In fact, an argument could be made that these 10 Hollywood legends featured in this article were deeply shaped in some way or another through the skills they learned in these side jobs. We hope the stories of these actors and actresses inspire you as much as they inspired us. Enjoy!

1
Harrison Ford - Carpenter

Image: Hunter Haley

Before the world got to know him as Han Solo or Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford was a struggling actor dissatisfied with the roles being offered to him. To support his wife and his two young sons, Ford started learning carpentry and worked as a professional carpenter for several years.

Had history taken a different turn and Harrison not achieved the stardom he deserved, we are sure he would have still managed to build an extremely impressive business. Fortunately for us, casting director Fred Roos introduced him to George Lucas, and the rest is history.

2
Rachel McAdams - McDonald’s

Image: Jurij Kenda

There’s a slim chance that in 2004, someone went into a movie theater to watch that summer’s blockbuster The Notebook and yelled, "Hey! That girl sold me a Big Mac once!" And, as crazy as it sounds, they wouldn’t be wrong: after all, Rachel McAdams did work at her local McDonald’s while attending high school.

As it turns out, McAdams was quite an overachiever during her teenage years. Although she wasn’t particularly interested in her school subjects, she was remarkably active in student life, playing several sports and participating in her student council. Not only that, she was an exceptional figure skater, competing until she turned 18.

3
George Clooney - Insurance salesman

Image: Scott Graham

Surely, the insurance firm George Clooney worked for must have been sorry to see him go. Can you honestly think of a more charming door-to-door salesman than him? Before landing his first major role in 1984, Clooney worked many odd jobs that included selling women's shoes, cutting tobacco, and working in construction. Not only that, he even attempted to become a professional baseball player and tried out for the Cincinnati Reds, but didn’t make it past the first round of player cuts.

Clooney landed his first role in a CBS comedy named, of all things, E/R . This show shouldn’t be confused with the now iconic medical drama ER , on which Clooney played Dr. Doug Ross for five seasons. A few years after his debut on this show, he starred in his first breakthrough role, the 1996 film From Dusk Till Dawn .

4
Jennifer Anniston - Bike Messenger

Image: Florian Kurrasch

Do you think that, during her years as a bike messenger, Jennifer Anniston wore a special helmet to keep her soon-to-be world-famous "Rachel" haircut intact? Probably not, since this stint happened years before her big break starring as Rachel Green in the groundbreaking sitcom Friends . However, thinking that this struggling actor was aware of the great future ahead of her is still an encouraging thought we’d like to hold on to.

Much like her character in Friends , Aniston worked a number of part-time jobs before her big break. Besides her aforementioned job as a bike messenger, she worked as a telemarketer and a waitress. She also had several small roles before Friends , which included the 1993 horror film Leprechaun .

5
Christopher Walken - Circus

Image: Becky Phan

From his strange dancing to his magnetic presence, Christopher Walken is no stranger to eccentricity. This iconic actor is known for his strange yet captivating mannerisms, which have resulted in a myriad of nominations and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. In that sense, it stands to reason that such a unique actor landed his first job in an equally unique place.

As a teenager, Christopher Walken worked in a circus as a lion tamer trainee. Much like with Harrison Ford, should history have been different, we are confident that Walken would have made a superb lion tamer, dazzling big cats with his delightfully odd ways.

6
Steve Carell - Mailman

Image: Ethan Hoover

For many Americans, our mail carrier is almost another neighbor, that familiar face that always greets us with a big smile and often takes those extra 5 seconds to wish us a good day. For a brief period in the ‘90s, some lucky residents of Littleton, Massachusetts had actor Steve Carell delivering their mail. We can be sure that these citizens began their days with a big laugh from this all-around comedian.

Granted, Carell wasn’t particularly good at his job as a USPS mail carrier. He left after seven months, partly because his boss told him that he needed to be faster. Regardless, shortly after quitting, Carell got his TV start in the 1996 short-lived series The Dana Carvey Show.

7
Melissa McCarthy - Starbucks

Image: kevs

At age 20, Melissa McCarthy left her hometown of Plainfield, Illinois to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. After a few years in New York City, she moved to Los Angeles hoping to make it in "La La Land." What followed were years of resilience and casting calls for this struggling actor, which were supported by part-time jobs in the local YMCA and as a barista at Starbucks.

Thankfully, McCarthy’s efforts paid off, her first break came with a recurring role in the 2000 drama Gilmore Girls . Not only that but she was catapulted into stardom after her role in the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, which eventually turned her into one of the highest-paid actresses in the world.

8
Ken Jeong - Doctor

Image: Online Marketing

If there’s one thing you’ll often see while flipping channels on your TV, is actors and actresses playing doctors, and for good reason. Medical dramas are extremely successful, in large part due to their compelling casts. However, seeing a doctor-turned actor playing a doctor is a rare sight (and a refreshing one at that), which is exactly what happened with Ken Jeong’s performance in the 2007 film Knocked Up .

Jeong is a fully licensed doctor, specializing in internal medicine, although he chose to stop practicing after becoming an actor. While working as a physician in Los Angeles, he began performing in comedy clubs, which led to some TV appearances. His big break occurred with the 2009 comedy The Hangover , which eventually led to a main role in the NBC sitcom Community .

9
Sandra Bullock - Bartender

Image: Daniel L

Can you imagine going to your local bar and being handed your drink by none other than Miss Congeniality herself? Well, if you lived in New York City in the late ‘80s then there’s a pretty good chance Sandra Bullock mixed your cocktails.

After receiving her BFA in Drama from East Carolina University in 1987, Bullock moved to the Big Apple, where she took on a number of part-time jobs while auditioning for roles, which included bartender, cocktail waitress, and coat checker. In 1989, Bullock was offered her first film role in the made-for-tv movie Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman .

10
Steve Buscemi - Firefighter

Image: Matt C

We’ll finish this article with a tale of heroism and selflessness. Years before playing his breakthrough role in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs , Steve Buscemi worked as a firefighter for the New York City Fire Department. During this time, he secretly took acting classes, which eventually led him to fully embrace an acting career in 1985 with his debut in the film The Way It Is .

However, Buscemi still looks proudly onto his firefighter days, often acting as a spokesperson and activist for firefighter rights. Not only that, after the September 11 attacks, he went back to New York and volunteered in his old firehouse to aid his fellow firefighters.

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