1

A rivalry becomes a business success

During the Great Depression, Harland Sanders ran a humble Shell station in Corbin, Kentucky. Back then, business was cutthroat, and Sanders found himself in a bitter feud with Matt Stewart, a rival gas station owner who kept painting over Sanders’ highway signs to redirect traffic. After several warnings went unheard, Sanders marched over to confront Stewart.

When Stewart was caught in the act, a physical confrontation quickly escalated. Stewart drew a pistol and shot a Shell manager who was accompanying Sanders, killing him on the spot. Sanders retaliated by firing back and wounding Stewart, who was later arrested and sentenced to prison for murder. With his main competitor safely behind bars, Sanders was able to expand his service station, perfect his pressure-frying method, and ultimately transform his business into a massive commercial success.

2

The KFC you know today exists thanks to Wendy’s

Although you may view KFC and Wendy’s as distinct competitors, the reality is that the chicken giant owes its structural identity to Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s. In the 1960s, Thomas worked as a head chef and regional manager for the Colonel’s franchises.

He was a marketing whiz who personally convinced Colonel Sanders to star in his own television commercials, cementing his status as a living mascot. Furthermore, Thomas created the iconic red and white striped bucket design. He became so wealthy from his shares and success at KFC that he used his payout to establish his own burger empire, Wendy’s, in 1969.

3

The secret recipe's security

The legendary blend of "11 herbs and spices" is one of the most famously guarded secrets. Did you know KFC keeps the recipe locked inside a top-secret vault at the corporate headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky?

The vault, encased in thick layers of concrete, is protected by motion sensors, security cameras, and 24/7 guards. To ensure the formula is never leaked, KFC splits the production pipeline: two different companies are hired to mix separate halves of the spice blend. Neither company knows the other's ingredients, and a computer system automatically combines the two halves before the seasoning is shipped out to individual franchises.

4

KFC for Christmas in Japan

In the United States, a Christmas dinner consists of roasted turkey or ham. In Japan, however, Nativity food comes in a cardboard bucket. This wild tradition dates back to 1974, sparked by Takeshi Okawara, the manager of the country's first KFC branch.

After overhearing homesick Western expats lamenting how difficult it was to source a holiday turkey in Japan, Okawara launched the national "Kentucky for Christmas" campaign, which exploded into a cultural phenomenon. Today, an estimated 3.6 million Japanese families celebrate Christmas Eve with KFC, with patrons placing their orders months in advance to avoid long lines.

5

Colonel Sanders hated KFC

By 1964, 73-year-old Colonel Snaders felt he was no longer cut out for the pace of corporate life. He sold the Kentucky Fried Chicken company to a group of investors for $2 million, under a contract that allowed the brand to continue using his likeness.

As executives changed the original recipes to cut costs, Sanders grew to hate the food KFC was serving. He began travelling the country, showing up unannounced at franchises to taste the food, throw public tantrums, and openly tell the media that the new gravy tasted like "wallpaper paste" or "sludge". He even attempted to open a rival restaurant and sued KFC for using his image, leading the company to counter-sue him. Eventually, KFC paid him an additional million dollars just to stop making public scenes.

6

KFC Double Down

KFC has never been afraid of pushing nutritional boundaries, but in 2010 they certainly hit another level. The Double Down features bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, and a Colonel's special sauce encased between two seasoned, crispy slabs of fried chicken breast instead of bread buns.

The item sparked a media frenzy, with health advocates calling it a dietary disaster and foodies treating it as a dare. Ultimately, it proved to be a commercial hit. As it turns out, when it comes to extreme fast food, consumers are more than willing to ignore the carbs in favor of deliciousness.

7

That time KFC ran out of chicken

A fried chicken restaurant running out of its main ingredient sounds like a nightmare, but in 2018, it became real for KFC in the United Kingdom. In an effort to optimize logistics and save money, management switched its delivery contract to DHL. The transition went completely wrong, resulting in a supply chain jam that left over 900 UK locations with no chicken to fry.

Hundreds of stores were forced to shut down temporarily, sparking nationwide outrage, with desperate citizens even calling the police to complain. KFC managed to restore its reputation by leaning into self-deprecating humor, purchasing newspaper advertisements that featured an empty bucket rearranged to read "FCK".

8

The problem with the slogan in Chinese

When international fast food brands began expanding into foreign territories in the late 1980s, errors were very common. KFC experienced this firsthand when it opened its first store in Beijing, China, in 1987. The company wanted to proudly display its world-famous catchphrase, "Finger-Lickin' Good", to tempt local diners.

Unfortunately, due to an oversight in Mandarin translation, the slogan was literally translated to "Eat Your Fingers Off". While the phrase initially startled and amused local consumers, the brand quickly corrected the translation mishap to something more culturally appropriate and appetizing.

9

KFC's video game

Decades after the Colonel’s passing, KFC’s marketing division decided to lean into modern internet subcultures. In 2019, the brand shocked the gaming community by releasing an official, anime-style video game titled I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator.

Developed as a visual novel, the free game places the player in a culinary school alongside a young and handsome romanticized version of Colonel Sanders. The goal of the game is to successfully navigate cooking school battles while attempting to woo the chicken chef. Against all odds, the game became a viral sensation.

10

KFC releases its own console

Following the unexpected success of their video game, KFC’s marketing team announced the KFConsole in 2020. Many assumed it was an April Fool’s joke, but it turned out to be a genuine gaming PC.

The most bizarre feature of the console is its custom "Chicken Chamber". This specialized compartment uses the heat generated by the computer’s internal components to keep pieces of fried chicken warm and crispy while you play video games.

1

Blockbuster

During the 1980s and 1990s, Friday night often meant one thing for American families: a trip to Blockbuster. Browsing the aisles for a movie, debating what to watch, and grabbing popcorn at the counter became a weekly routine. But nothing lasts forever.

Born in 1985, Blockbuster conquered the massive home-video market with thousands of stores by the late 1990s and early 2000s, catering to families with at-home VCRs. Then technology changed everything. First came DVD-by-mail services like Netflix, followed by streaming, which left Blockbuster struggling. Late fees and inconvenience only pushed more customers away. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2010. Today, just one official store remains in Bend, Oregon, where visitors still stop by for a dose of the video-store era.

2

Kodak

Back in the day, almost every vacation, birthday, wedding, or holiday gathering seemed to include a Kodak camera, or at least a roll of Kodak film. Founded in 1881, Kodak helped keep the moments that filled family photo albums for generations.

From the 1960s through the 1990s, Kodak dominated the world of film and photography. But that success also made the company slow to accept that technology was changing. Ironically, Kodak helped invent one of the first digital cameras in 1975, yet it hesitated to embrace the future. By the 1990s and 2000s, digital cameras (and later camera phones) quickly replaced traditional film. In 2012, the company declared bankruptcy.

3

Pan Am

Long before flying became an everyday experience, Pan American World Airways, better known as Pan Am, was already carrying Americans across the world. It was founded in 1927, and during the 1960s and 1970s, the airline became a symbol of glamorous air travel.

Its famous blue globe logo was instantly recognizable, even to those who rarely flew. But by the late 1970s, rising competition, fuel costs, and financial troubles began weakening the company. After years of mounting losses and debt, Pan Am shut down in 1991. Even so, its fame was such that even today, more than 30 years later, we still remember it.

4

Woolworth’s

Before Woolworth's made the "five-and-dime" famous, shopping in America looked very different. For decades, Americans visited Woolworth’s for everything from toys and school supplies to household goods and everyday essentials. By the 1960s, the brand had become a familiar part of American life.

Created in 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth, the chain grew into one of the country’s largest retailers. But in the 1970s, malls and discount giants like Walmart changed the way Americans shopped, and Woolworth struggled to keep up. By the 1980s, the iconic chain was slowly disappearing. Most stores closed during the 1990s, and the Woolworth retail chain officially ended in 1997.

5

Circuit City

Testing giant stereo systems, browsing rows of CDs and video games, and shopping for the newest TV were all part of the experience at Circuit City, once one of America’s biggest electronics chains.

Founded in 1949 by Samuel S. Wurtzel in Richmond, Virginia, as "Wards Company," the retailer adopted the Circuit City name in 1984. During the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, it became the go-to place for Americans buying a TV, stereo, computer, or any electronic device. But like many companies on this list, Circuit City struggled as shopping habits changed and online stores became more convenient. A controversial 2007 decision to lay off thousands of experienced employees further hurt the company’s reputation. Circuit City couldn’t survive mounting losses and closed all remaining stores in 2009.

6

Borders

Remember Borders? Born in 1971, its huge stores, filled with books, music, magazines, and cozy reading spaces, invited customers to spend entire afternoons there.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, the rise of large shopping malls actually helped Borders thrive, turning its bookstores into popular destinations inside malls across the US. But eventually, the company ran into a challenge it couldn’t overcome: online shopping and digital reading. Competitors like Amazon surged ahead, while Borders struggled to adapt and made costly business decisions, including outsourcing its online sales to Amazon for years. The company collapsed financially in 2011 and soon closed all remaining stores.

7

Bugle Boy

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, teenage fashion became almost synonymous with Bugle Boy. Famous across the country for its casual jeans and memorable TV commercials, the brand became a major part of American mall culture and was sold in department stores nationwide.

But fashion never stands still, and brands have to constantly adapt to survive. By the late 1990s, newer youth-oriented labels had taken over with fresh styles that quickly made Bugle Boy seem outdated. Sales began to fall, and after years of struggling to keep up with changing trends, the company closed its stores in 2001.

8

Howard Johnson’s restaurants

During the 1960s and 1970s, a stop at Howard Johnson's was part of the classic American road-trip experience for many families, and that was no accident.

Founded in 1925 in Quincy, Massachusetts, the famous orange-roofed chain reached its peak when America’s expanding highways and booming car culture made roadside travel more popular than ever. But by the late 1970s and early 1980s, the growing popularity of fast-food chains like McDonald's began changing the way Americans ate on the road. Drivers increasingly wanted meals that were faster, cheaper, and more standardized, while interstate highways also redirected traffic away from many older roadside locations. Unlike some other brands on this list, Howard Johnson’s faded away slowly over the decades. The last restaurant finally closed in 2022.

9

Burger Chef

In 1958, a name emerged as one of the pioneers of America’s growing fast-food industry: Burger Chef. By the late 1960s, the chain had more than 1,000 locations across the country and had become one of McDonald's’s biggest competitors.

Long before Happy Meals became famous, Burger Chef helped popularize the idea of marketing meals directly to children with toys and themed publicity. But during the fast-food wars of the 1970s, competition became fiercer than ever. While McDonald’s and Burger King expanded by leaps and bounds, Burger Chef struggled with financial problems and changing consumer tastes. In 1982, the company was sold to Hardee's, which gradually converted most Burger Chef locations into Hardee’s restaurants.

10

Sports Authority

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, many Americans looking for running shoes, gym shorts, and sports gear headed straight to Sports Authority.

Known for its huge stores packed with athletic apparel, exercise equipment, bicycles, camping gear, and team sports products, Sports Authority became the ideal shopping destination for families and athletes across the US. But as online shopping rapidly changed retail in the 2000s, the company struggled to adapt. Heavy debt from expansion efforts and a slow shift to e-commerce eventually caught up with the chain. Sports Authority declared bankruptcy in 2016 and closed all remaining stores later that year.

1

What are bills made of?

Unlike other currencies, dollar bills are not made of paper or plastic. U.S. dollar bills are made from a special fabric blend composed of 75% cotton and 25% linen. This mix makes the bills extremely durable and resistant, and they can be folded about 4000 times before tearing.

2

What bills are valid?

Any U.S. dollar bill that was legally printed is valid, no matter how old, as American currency does not have an expiration date. While some bills might not be accepted by businesses of foreign exchange services due to their condition or if they are a discontinued version of the bill, the bills themselves are still valid, and American banks will accept them, though they might take them out of circulation.

3

American leaders

Five bills have a depiction of an American president. The exceptions are the $10 bill, with Alexander Hamilton on the front, and the $100 bill, with Benjamin Franklin. The $1 bill, depicting George Washington, is extremely symbolic: several elements are repeated 13 times as a nod to the thirteen colonies, and it showcases the Bald Eagle and the Eye of Providence as a sign of God watching over America.

4

A change in size

Did you know that dollar bills used to be so big that they were nicknamed "horse blankets"? Original dollar bills were 7.4 × 3.1 inches. In 1929, the Treasury Department reduced the size of bills to 6.14 × 2.61 inches to reduce production costs and materials. Old bills, though still valid, are worth much more as collector items.

5

Uniformity

Besides their value and design, all dollar bills have the same size (6.14 × 2.61 inches), color, and weight (1 gram) , which sets American currency apart from other countries where bills of different values are differentiated by size, color, or both. Why doesn’t the U.S. implement differences among bills? The cost of adapting vending machines, bank drawers, and ATMs to new bill sizes would cost billions of dollars.

6

Hard to copy

Originally, dollars were not green, but black. As time passed, green ink was favored, as it was cheap and did not fade as much as black. The new color also prevented people from using black-and-white cameras to create counterfeit money. Currently, dollar bills are predominantly green, but newer versions also include extra colors, such as pink, orange, or purple.

7

A $100,000 bill?

Have you ever seen a $500 or 1,000 dollar bill? What about a $100,000? Up until 1945, the U.S. Treasury printed $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, and $100,000 notes , in addition to the values currently in use. These higher-value notes were mainly intended for bank and government use, but were sought by criminals as they made it easier to hide large amounts of money. Even though they were officially discontinued in 1969, these notes are still valid, though rare, and they have a high worth as collector's items.

8

No numbers

Unlike bills, American coins have different sizes and colors related to their value. Originally, gold, silver, and copper were used for coins, but modern coins are made of copper, zinc, or nickel. Besides their size and design, the value of each coin is printed in letters, not in numbers , alongside depictions of American presidents.

9

Liberty for all (the coins)

By law, all American coins must include six specific details : the word ‘Liberty’, the name of our country, the national motto "In God We Trust", the oldest American motto "E Pluribus Unum", the value of the coin, and the year. Each coin also includes a mint mark that shows where it was made: "P" for Philadelphia, "D" for Denver, "S" for San Francisco, and "W" for West Point.

10

A global currency

The American dollar is one of the most powerful currencies in the world, acting as a backbone for international trade and finances. It is estimated that two-thirds of the physical dollars in circulation are outside American territory. Besides the U.S. and its territories, eight sovereign nations have the U.S. dollar as their official currency, with several more accepting it as legal tender.