Erin McCann lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

Erin McCann - Lists at Ranker

Food History

People who grew up in the 1990s may feel some nostalgia when thinking about Surge, Shark Bites, or other <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-greatest-discontinued-1990s-foods-and-beverages/brian-gilmore">discontinued foods from the '90s</a>&nbsp;- and those of a certain age will remember Zima. The clear malt beverage was a huge hit when it debuted in 1993, but it wasn't long before Zima&nbsp;became&nbsp;a pop-culture punchline. Using an extreme marketing campaign directed toward&nbsp;young American men, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/coors-brewing-company-beer/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Coors Brewing Company</a> took advantage of the craze for clear products to target consumers who wanted alternatives to beer, wine coolers, and hard liquor. The company believed these people would enjoy the citrusy&nbsp;beverage.Zima was among the first mainstream "malternatives," paving the way for other notable bottled drinks, including Smirnoff Ice and Mike's Hard Lemonade. Coors spent millions on advertising in its attempt to attract young men toward&nbsp;the product. However, not many liked the taste, and many men didn't consider it manly enough to give their approval. Coors tried to rebrand Zima several times, but American consumers were largely uninterested, and it was discontinued in the US in 2008. Nostalgia kept it in many consumers' minds, however, and re-releases proved people would buy it, even if they joked about drinking it at the same time. So why do people still remember Zima? The drink may not have won over consumers with its taste, but its influence on both alcohol and internet marketing is still seen today.

What Happened To Zima, The '90s Drink That Was Popular Until People Tasted It

For A Brief Moment In The '90s, Zima Was Popular - Until People Tasted It

United States

Erin McCann

A Christmas Story

The 24-hour marathon of the beloved classic&nbsp;A Christmas Story&nbsp;has become a staple of the holiday season. After watching the movie a few times, however, viewers may begin to notice historical&nbsp;mistakes in A Christmas Story&nbsp;they may have missed before. Remembered fondly for a leg lamp, a tongue frozen to a flag pole, and many <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-christmas-story-a-quotes/movie-and-tv-quotes">classic Christmas Story quotes</a>, the story of young Ralphie Parker and his family is a tradition for many. And while the movie&nbsp;nails a lot of authentic details of its time period, the filmmakers did get a few things wrong.The film was based on several short stories by Jean Shepherd that were fictional accounts of his time as a boy growing up in Indiana. Although the film's era is never specifically mentioned, it's believed the movie takes place in 1939 or 1940 due to the fact no one mentions WWII, and characters from 1939's The Wizard of Oz are prominently included.&nbsp;A Christmas Story's period-accurate details include displays for&nbsp;Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs&nbsp;(which premiered in 1937) and radio shows such as&nbsp;Little Orphan Annie&nbsp;(which really&nbsp;was&nbsp;sponsored by Ovaltine). Real-life department stores like Higbee's were all the rage, as the movie depicts, and people often gathered there to view the lavish holiday window displays and meet Santa.Of course, the most important and endearing aspects of the film revolve around nostalgia and family, so a few historical errors are more than forgivable. But when you're watching it for the hundredth time this holiday season, you might want to keep an eye out for the occasional details that are historically out of place.

Every Inaccuracy In 'A Christmas Story’s' Version Of The '40s

Every Inaccuracy In 'A Christmas Story''s Version Of The '40s

Classic Movies

Despite the lighthearted material, some&nbsp;of the stories from the set of The Wizard Of Oz are quite dark.&nbsp;For such a beloved, ostensibly whimsical film, the production of&nbsp;The Wizard of Oz was a never-ending carnival of misery for those who worked&nbsp;behind the scenes. Made in 1939, it&#39;s still widely appreciated&nbsp;by both children and adults in modern times. Still, there&#39;s a lot people <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/wizard-of-oz-facts/philgibbons">don&#39;t know about the making of&nbsp;The Wizard of Oz</a>. While some of the production details are relatively harmless, and at times even charming, you have to remember the movie was produced during the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/classic-old-hollywood-studio-system-abuses/anncasano">dark days of the old Hollywood studio</a> system.&nbsp;&nbsp;

So, what&nbsp;makes the The Wizard Of Oz behind-the-scenes stories so dark? Mix&nbsp;heavy drinking&nbsp;and depravity with a few&nbsp;unfortunate on-set&nbsp;catastrophes, add some early&nbsp;movie-making naivety, and divide among five different film directors. Of all <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/behind-the-scenes-movie-feuds/anncasano">behind-the-scenes movie stories</a>,&nbsp;The Wizard Of Oz has some of the most bizarre and shocking.&nbsp;There&#39;s a lot more to worry about than lions and tigers and bears.&nbsp;The <a href="https://vimeo.com/46682047">Pink Floyd sync up</a> may be coincidence, but these stories truly show the dark side of the rainbow. Now, take a look at these Wizard of Oz facts and see for yourself just how treacherous filming was at times.

Nightmare Stories Behind The Scenes Of The Wizard Of Oz

15 Nightmare Stories From Behind The Scenes Of 'The Wizard of Oz'

Reddit

Portraying a real person in a movie can create a good amount of pressure for actors, but that pressure is even more intense when the person they&#39;re portraying is literally sitting there on the set watching them. Some actors are cast in biopics about living people because there&#39;s a physical resemblance, especially when <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-pictures-of-actors-and-people-they-played-in-biopics/hoserusc" target="_blank">viewed side by side</a>. Others are cast due to their abilities as an actor, dancer, or singer. But either way, actors playing living or very-recently-living public figures are faced with the added dilemma of choosing between doing a direct impression of that person or doing some interpretation of their essence, and either one of those choices can be extremely difficult if they&#39;re &#39;pretending&#39; to be a living legend.

Plus, if they don&#39;t do a great job, they&#39;ll have to hear about it from the literal person they&#39;re pretending to be. It&#39;s not something that <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-batman-actors/ranker-entertainment?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors playing Batman</a> or <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/harry-potter-characters?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Harry Potter characters</a> will ever have to deal with. Not to mention, they might also have to go through a <a href="https://twitter.com/Stewartandchill/status/1499485657546305546" target="_blank">grueling &quot;Madonna Boot Camp&quot; to land the role</a>.

Actors Who Portrayed Living People Describe How Hard It Was

Warner Bros

The beloved Looney Tunes may hold a cherished place in animation history, but it's important to explore the darker aspects of this iconic series, specifically the presence of racist Looney Tunes. While these cartoons entertained millions, they also propagated harmful stereotypes that mirrored the prejudices of their time.One such example is a Bugs Bunny cartoon where Elmer Fudd appears in blackface, perpetuating offensive racial stereotypes under the guise of humor. Another troubling instance can be found in The Isle of Pingo Pongo, where Pacific islanders and Native Africans are depicted as dumb savages, reinforcing damaging caricatures that dehumanized entire cultures. Additionally, Tokio Jokio presents racist imagery targeting Japanese people during World War II, with crude representations that underscore the xenophobic sentiments of that era.While these examples are uncomfortable to confront, they offer a crucial opportunity to understand how media from the past has influenced societal views. Recognizing these issues allows for reflection on how far we've come and how far we still have to go. Our post delves deeper into these controversial cartoons, exploring how they were created and why their examination is essential in today's conversations about race and representation in media.

12 Horribly Racist Looney Tunes: Blackface, Stereotypes, and More

Horribly Racist Moments From Looney Tunes You Missed Growing Up

Shel Silverstein

Many children grew up reading Shel&nbsp;Silverstein's poetry, but stories about the poet's darker side&nbsp;depict him in a completely different light. Silverstein, beloved by many for his whimsical children's books and quirky poems, wasn't always the friendly-faced literary icon we imagine. In fact, his life is filled with tales that might surprise his younger audience and shed a different light on the author. We're exploring the darkest and most controversial stories about Shel Silverstein, delving into the side of Silverstein that adds complexity to his legendary status.Before Silverstein was weaving fanciful tales for kids, he was gaining attention at an unlikely venue: Playboy. That's right, he got his big break as a cartoonist for the magazine, a gig that showcased his edgy and adult-themed work. And although he became famous for his children's books, Silverstein reportedly 'hated' the genre, feeling constrained by its limitations. Add to that a cartoon he penned during his time in the military, which nearly got him court-martialed, and you've got a portrait of an artist who thrived on pushing boundaries.These stories merely scratch the surface of Silverstein’s fascinating and sometimes shadowy life. Intrigued by this other side of the man behind The Giving Tree? We've uncovered more dark Shel Silverstein stories and controversies that promise to captivate and challenge your perception of this enigmatic literary figure.

13 Dark And Controversial Stories About Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein Has Pretty Much Lived The Most Kid-Unfriendly Life Imaginable

The Mamas & the Papas

The Mamas &amp; The Papas were a band marked by a blend of groundbreaking music and equally dramatic personal lives. While their harmonious tunes captured the spirit of a generation, the most controversial Mamas &amp; the Papas stories behind the curtain often involved dramatic twists worthy of their own Hollywood scripts. The band's legacy, infused with both musical brilliance and turbulent tales, offers a fascinating look at the price of fame during an era of expressive freedom and experimental lifestyles.One of the most shocking claims came years later when John Phillips' daughter, Mackenzie Phillips, alleged an incestuous relationship initiated by her father at the height of his drug use. Adding to the psychedelic mix, the group lived on the Virgin Islands, infamously experimenting with liquid LSD as part of their creative and hedonistic adventures. Notorious filmmaker Roman Polanski once threatened John Phillips with a knife during a turbulent period, adding yet another dark chapter to the band’s storied past.For those curious about the gritty details that defined this iconic band’s life, check out more controversial stories about the Mamas &amp; the Papas below. These accounts reveal a group whose real-life drama was as complex and captivating as their enduring musical legacy.

12 Controversial Stories About The Mamas & The Papas

The Most Controversial Stories About The Mamas & The Papas

Most Dangerous

The world includes many&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/centralia-mine-fire-history/christopher-myers" target="_blank">uninhabitable places</a>, and humans are sometimes the cause.&nbsp;Places like <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/chernobyl-conspiracy-theories/colleen-conroy" target="_blank">Chernobyl</a> or <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/photos-of-fukushima-after-nuclear-disaster/mariel-loveland" target="_blank">Fukushima</a> are known for their lingering radiation,&nbsp;but dangerously toxic towns exist in the United States, as well. Pollution might affect the air, while hazardous chemicals and toxic waste may&nbsp;lurk&nbsp;in the&nbsp;soil and groundwater. Saturated with dangerous materials like lead, arsenic, or DDT, the most poisonous places in the US remain risky spots to call home.

For many years, people disposed of&nbsp;hazardous waste indiscriminately. But in 1980, Congress created the <a href="http://time.com/4695109/superfund-sites-toxic-waste-locations/" target="_blank">Superfund&nbsp;program</a> to help the Environmental Protection Agency&nbsp;identify toxic areas and properly cleanse them.&nbsp;More than 1,300 Superfund sites dot the country, so be careful. You never know which&nbsp;dangerous areas you&#39;ll stumble upon during your next trip out of town.

The 9 Most Toxic and Polluted US Towns That Are Dangerous To Live In

These US Towns Are So Toxic And Polluted, It's Dangerous To Live In Them

Weird Nature

Located deep under the Pacific Ocean, the Mariana Trench harbors some of the most enigmatic and creepy creatures known to science. This mysterious ocean abyss stretches nearly 36,000 feet below the surface, a realm where sunlight never penetrates. It is in this murky darkness that scientists have discovered a variety of unusual animals known as Mariana Trench creatures. These Mariana Trench ocean creatures have adapted in extraordinary ways to the crushing pressure and perpetual darkness, making this underwater frontier a hotbed of biological marvels.

From bioluminescent predators to gelatinous giants, the animals in the Mariana Trench are astounding. The list of these Mariana Trench animals is as diverse as it is fascinating. Each species boasts individual adaptations that make survival in such a hostile environment possible. Some of these creatures have peculiarities like transparent skulls or mouths lined with sharp, needle-like teeth. Their unsettling appearances are only matched by their intriguing survival strategies. For instance, some Mariana Trench creatures utilize bioluminescence to lure prey, creating a ghostly glow that pierces through the eternal night of the deep ocean.

Consider the barre-leye fish, a creature that seems plucked straight from a <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-science-fiction-novels-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">science fiction novel</a>. With its transparent, fluid-filled head and upward-facing eyes, it can spot prey from below without being detected. Equally bizarre is the fanfin seadevilf, a tiny angler fish adorned with filamentous, tendril-like fins and a bioluminescent lure on its head to attract unsuspecting victims. Lastly, the granrojo jellyfish, with its red, bell-shaped body and pumping, gelatinous movements, adds an ethereal touch to the enigmatic biodiversity of the trench. These are just a few examples of the creatures that make the Mariana Trench a subject worthy of fascination.

The diversity and unusual adaptations of the Mariana Trench animals paint a captivating picture of life in the ocean&#39;s deepest chasms. These creepy creatures not only underscore the complexity and resilience of life but also highlight the continuous wonders waiting to be discovered in our planet&#39;s unexplored depths.

The 17 Creepiest Creatures Who Live In The Mariana Trench

The Creepy Creatures Who Live In The Mariana Trench

What It's Like

Although cleanliness in the Middle Ages was primitive compared to what modern people enjoy, it doesn&#39;t mean medieval hygiene didn&#39;t exist. Despite living in an era long before indoor plumbing, shampoo, and nail salons, people used the best <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-was-hygiene-like-medieval-castle/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">hygiene practices</a> they could. Unfortunately, they didn&#39;t have a lot to work with. Peasants had it especially bad and weren&#39;t often able to afford luxuries like more than one set of clothing. For the lower classes,&nbsp;personal hygiene in the Middle Ages meant keeping clean however you could, even if it wasn&#39;t easy.

Overall, hygiene in Medieval Europe was an upward battle. The abundance of waste and inefficient methods of dealing with it resulted in disease. Such waste&nbsp;added to an abundance of vermin, fleas, and lice, which in turn caused sickness <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-was-hygiene-like-during-black-death/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">and even plague</a>. Hygiene in medieval times relied on washing often and utilizing herbs and flowers to deter pesticides and provide pleasant odors. Peasants who couldn&#39;t afford these things bathed less often and lived&nbsp;closely surrounded by filth. Feminine hygiene in the Middle Ages led women to use a variety of everyday objects during their periods. Although living in the Middle Ages had obvious and often uncomfortable differences from&nbsp;the modern world, these medieval hygiene facts show peasants tried their best to stay clean.

What Was Hygiene Like For Medieval Peasants?

Graveyard Shift

New Orleans may be famous for stories about ghosts and vampires, but the surrounding swamps&nbsp;hold some pretty creepy legends too. Thanks to cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss, dense forests that only allow a little light in, and folktales from Cajun and Creole legends, the spooky creatures and ghosts of the bayou could frighten almost anybody. Taking up an area along the Gulf Coast that&nbsp;runs through the southern parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the&nbsp;Florida Everglades, bayou country encompasses a wide swath&nbsp;of America. With the notoriously spooky New Orleans almost in the epicenter, it&#39;s no wonder so many creepy Louisiana bayou legends exist.

You may be familiar with New Orleans&#39;s twisted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-madame-lalaurie-facts/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">Madame LaLaurie</a>,&nbsp;but the bayou has its own share of horrifying secrets. If you know about <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-everglades-stories/jacobybancroft" target="_blank">creepy stories from the Everglades</a>, you&#39;ve probably heard of skunk apes. Louisiana bayous have those hairy beasts too, as well as several other cryptids and the spirits of unbaptized kids floating around. There are even some werewolves allegedly running amok. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-people-from-louisiana/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">People from Louisiana</a> may warn visitors about alligators or getting lost in murky, remote areas, but those dangers are&nbsp;relatively tame compared to the&nbsp;creepy stories from the state&#39;s swamps.

Creepy Legends From The Swamps Of Louisiana 

12 Creepy Legends From The Swamps Of Louisiana

Cary Grant

Cary&nbsp;Grant&#39;s public persona was that of a charming,&nbsp;sophisticated, and just plain <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-coolest-actors-ever">cool leading man</a>. But in reality, &quot;Cary Grant&quot; was just another character he played on film. Even Cary Grant&#39;s name was a part of his well-crafted and carefully maintained&nbsp;image; fans who know about his personal life will tell you he was born Archibald Alexander Leach. A&nbsp;look at any Cary&nbsp;Grant biography reveals a troubled and conflicted man underneath that polished exterior.

Grant was British by birth&nbsp;and became an American citizen in 1942. He&nbsp;propelled himself to stardom by using his comedic skills,&nbsp;eventually&nbsp;transforming&nbsp;himself into a romantic lead who starred opposite screen beauties like Ingrid Bergman and&nbsp;Grace Kelly. <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/cary-grant-movies-and-films-and-filmography/reference">Cary&nbsp;Grant&nbsp;movies</a>&nbsp;are often remembered for the actor&#39;s easygoing charm&nbsp;and tendency to allow the woman to be the sexual aggressor. This unique quality&nbsp;made&nbsp;him appealing to all audiences.&nbsp;

Who was the real Cary Grant, and what kind of facts and trivia surround&nbsp;a man who was known to the world by a stage name? Sometimes, the star himself became lost in <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/cary-grant-9318103">his public versus private persona</a>, saying, &quot;I&#39;ve often been accused by the critics of being myself on the screen. But being oneself is more difficult than you&#39;d suppose.&quot;

18 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Cary Grant

18 Extremely Weird Facts Most People Don't Know About Cary Grant

Jesus Christ

People spent years searching&nbsp;Leonardo da Vinci&#39;s Last Supper painting for hidden clues. And whether or not any conspiracies exist, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/renaissance-art-symbols-and-codes/kellen-perry" target="_blank">Renaissance symbols</a> in da Vinci&#39;s&nbsp;Last Supper prove the artwork portrays events differently than how they may have actually happened. Instead of being historically accurate, the artist&#39;s piece&nbsp;reflects the time in which he lived. He reinterpreted a famous scene&nbsp;for his audience.

Considered one of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-painters-of-all-time/ranker-art" target="_blank">best painters of all time</a>, da Vinci finished the piece in 1498 as a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Last-Supper-fresco-by-Leonardo-da-Vinci" target="_blank">fresco painted directly on&nbsp;the wall</a>&nbsp;of an Italian monastery. Painting on&nbsp;dry plaster was a flawed technique, however,&nbsp;and the painting started disintegrating only years later.

Numerous anachronisms in the Last Supper exist, showing the artist took&nbsp;comfort in 15th-century culture. But many of those inaccuracies come from da Vinci&#39;s desire to play with and expand Renaissance art styles like naturalism and perspective. Still, though,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Last Supper&nbsp;demonstrates his skill as an artist,&nbsp;if not a great historian.

Inaccuracies in 'The Last Supper' Painting By Leonardo Da Vinci

Fact Checking Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'

H. R. Giger

When most people dream about horrific monsters, they laugh it off. But for artist Hans Rudolf Giger, those nightmares inspired his work. Many know him as the designer of the titular creatures from the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/alien-trivia-facts/coy-jandreau">Alien</a>&nbsp;movie franchise, but the H.R. Giger&nbsp;biography includes a career as an artist prior to his work on the film. Influenced by everything from his childhood to his own personal&nbsp;fears and terrors, the work of H.R.&nbsp;Giger&nbsp;blends science fiction and surrealism into a reality that's horrifying from afar, but oddly beautiful up close - and sometimes vice versa.Born in 1940 in Chur, Switzerland, H.R.&nbsp;Giger attended the School of Applied Arts in Zurich. After staging a solo exhibition of his work, Giger discovered the airbrush, which gave his work the unique, smooth style that became his trademark. It was <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/h-r-giger-books-list/reference">Necronomicon</a>, a collection of his works published in 1977, that got him noticed and hired to design <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/scifi-movie-concept-art/whitneysmoore">monsters and more</a>&nbsp;for Alien. Although he made the transition from fine artist to film design superstar (and Oscar winner), Giger never wavered in his visions of horror. He passed away after a fall in 2014, but fans in Switzerland can visit the <a href="http://www.hrgigermuseum.com/">Giger Museum</a> or have a beer at the immersive&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gigerbar.com/">Giger Bar</a>.H.R.&nbsp;Giger was once <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/danieldalton/original-alien-concept-art-h-r-giger?utm_term=.aiyZqGy4E#.rlvrW0Alb">quoted</a> as saying, &quot;Some people say my work is often depressing and pessimistic, with the emphasis on death, blood, overcrowding, strange beings and so on, but I don't really think it is. There is hope and a kind of beauty in there somewhere, if you look for it.&quot; H.R. Giger's inspirations and life seem to confirm that view.

The Creepy Real-Life Inspirations For Visionary Nightmare Artist HR Giger

12 Creepy Facts About H.R. Giger, The Artist Who Designed The Alien From 'Alien'

Interesting

Although 99-cent&nbsp;stores and extra value menus would seem to disagree, a person with only a dollar doesn't have a whole lot of purchasing power&nbsp;these days. If they could time travel backwards to 1900, though, they'd find far more things that used to cost one dollar. While many of the&nbsp;items on display in 1900 were probably quite different from those&nbsp;today, turn-of-the-century&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/photos-of-grocery-stores-then-and-now/kellen-perry">grocery stores</a> and catalogs sold lots of&nbsp;goods we still use, but at far cheaper prices.Local grocery stores, the Sears Roebuck catalog, and general stores (that later&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/photos-of-popular-storefronts-and-businesses-then-and-now/kellen-perry">evolved</a> into big-box establishments&nbsp;like Wal-Mart)&nbsp;provided shoppers with the&nbsp;items they needed for their daily lives. The first official shopping mall was still a little over 20 years away.&nbsp;Things that cost a dollar at the turn of the century&nbsp;included food, clothing, and many household items. One could even get a night of entertainment for a single buck.&nbsp;So&nbsp;exactly what could you buy for one dollar in 1900?

18 Shocking Things You Could Buy For A Dollar in 1900

18 Things You Could Buy For One Dollar In 1900

The Rolling Stones

Most Americans&nbsp;remember 1969 for many things:&nbsp;Woodstock, the Stonewall riots, and the moon landing, among other notable moments in history. But when the Rolling Stones hired the Hells Angels as security for <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/altamont-free-concert-facts/jen-jeffers?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the Altamont Free Concert</a> in December of that year, brutality and tragedy marked the end to the Summer of Love.&nbsp;Altamont also served as a turning point for the public reception of the notorious biker group. Although many already knew the Angels&nbsp;as tough and always ready for a brawl, the concert cemented their reputation as an outlaw organization. Until that point, the Angels shared a resentment of the police and the establishment with other 1960s counterculture groups; however, Altamont separated the Angels&#39; underworld activity&nbsp;from the peaceful defiance of other protestors.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/altamont-free-concert-facts/jen-jeffers" target="_blank">Altamont Free Concert</a> took place on December 6 at a remote race track in Northern California. Planned to be the West Coast&#39;s answer to Woodstock, organizers recruited some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-popular-broadway-musicals-ever/constance-bennet?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most popular musical</a> acts of the time, including the Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills &amp; Nash, Jefferson Airplane, and Santana. As one of the primary organizers, the Rolling Stones planned to make a come back after a long break&nbsp;and hired the Hells Angels as security for the festival.

While there are many people to blame for the disasters that took place, the Angels having the&nbsp;authority to police the venue undeniably spearheaded the chaos. Meredith Hunter became the tragic face of the Altamont Free Concert, as the teen&#39;s&nbsp;untimely end exposed the prejudice and intolerance overshadowing the era of peace and love. Many things went wrong leading up to and during the show, and the presence of the Hells Angels cemented the event&#39;s legacy as a tragedy.

What Happened When The Rolling Stones Hired The Hells Angels To Run Security

Neil Gaiman

In 2002, renowned author Neil Gaiman released Coraline, his first work intended for children. The story follows a young girl who moves into an old house with her parents and discovers a hidden door leading to a similar -&nbsp;but much more sinister - world. The book quickly became one of his most beloved and won several literary awards. In 2009, stop-motion animation studio Laika adapted Coraline as their first full-length feature (check out more <a href="/list/what-to-watch-if-you-love-coraline/watchworthy" target="_blank">shows and movies like Coraline</a>).

Movie adaptations are often forced to cut things out or sometimes add new elements - in Coraline&#39;s case, the character of Wybie was added as a stand-in for the reader. Laika&#39;s filmmakers were&nbsp;probably justified in changing what they did, and many fans believe the movie conveys the same spirit and message as the book.

There were some big changes, however, and most of these came from the book&#39;s&nbsp;most terrifying moments and details. Whereas the movie is both whimsical and&nbsp;magical, the book is much, much darker. How much more horrifying is the book? That depends how terrified you are by dough monsters, severed hands scratching at your window, and daggers hurled at your head. These are the most frightening moments from the Coraline book that didn&#39;t make it into the movie.

The 'Coraline' Book Vs Movie: The Book Is Even More Horrifying

‘Coraline’ Is Even More Horrifying As A Book Than A Movie

Culture

Old Hollywood mansions may not be as large or lavish as many <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/celebrity-mansions/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">celebrities&#39; homes</a> today, but considering their size and cost during the time in which they were built, they&#39;re still impressive. Often located on acres of property, many featured amenities like swimming pools, tennis courts, and even golf courses. Residents and their guests could&nbsp;make use of dozens of bathrooms, bedrooms, and private screening rooms for their films. While ideas of living in&nbsp;excess have changed since Hollywood&#39;s silent film era, the need for successful Hollywood residents to live beyond the means of ordinary mortals is pretty much the same.

Old Hollywood estates aren&#39;t limited to the silent film era, however, and stars from the golden ages of the 1930s and 40s through the 1960s all used their wealth to create elaborate living spaces for themselves. Many became places for the famous to gather and hold parties. From acres of gardens and stables to garages large enough to hold an entire fleet of cars, these estates provided an appropriate setting for Hollywood&#39;s larger-than-life elite to spend their days and nights.&nbsp;

The Most Unbelievable Old Hollywood Estates

History

<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/important-figures-from-each-us-state/ella-talkin?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Important people from history</a> left&nbsp;behind art, innovative ideas, political change -&nbsp;and, on occasion, body parts. Placed for all to see in museums and mausoleums, historical figures&#39; remains provide&nbsp;strange yet intriguing forms of remembrance.

Body preservation&nbsp;<a href="http://broughttolife.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/techniques/preserving" target="_blank">isn&#39;t a new concept</a>; ancient&nbsp;Egyptians and Peruvian natives, for example, practiced&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/incan-mummy-sacrifices/rachel-souerbry" target="_blank">mummification</a>.&nbsp;During the Crusades from the 11th-13th centuries, people carefully preserved the bones of late members of the nobility. Embalming practices even allowed several world leaders to have&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/photos-of-historical-figures-lying-in-state/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">open-casket funerals</a>.&nbsp;

Body parts displayed in museums might seem creepy, but they also offer a glimpse into the past.

Historical Figures With Preserved Body Parts You Can Still Visit Today

22 Historical Figures With Preserved Body Parts You Can Still Visit Today

Weird

If you paid&nbsp;attention in school, you most likely know&nbsp;some of the animals that live in the Arctic. There are birds, seals, and of course, polar bears. But what about hairy crabs, horned whales, and creepy crawly bugs that also call the Arctic Circle home?And then there are the critters that inhabit Antarctica. It may be on the other side of the world, but it also features extreme climate conditions and some crazy animals.Just like <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/florida-animals/mariel-loveland" target="_blank">wild creatures found in Florida</a>&nbsp;or any other region, Antarctic and Arctic species are pretty varied. While some animals may also have relatives in other parts of the world, polar animals have adapted many physical abilities that allow them to thrive in their extreme environments. From being able to control their own heartbeats and metabolism&nbsp;to creating a body fluid that acts like antifreeze,&nbsp;scary animals in the Arctic and Antarctic are also pretty amazing.So what weird and&nbsp;creepy animals of the Arctic and Antarctic have you possibly missed learning about? You'll have to read on to find out.

15 Crazy Animals Of The Arctic & Antarctic

15 Crazy Animals Of The Polar Regions That Couldn't Exist Anywhere Else

This vibrant collection of&nbsp;pictures of colorful animals just might tickle you pink (or any other color that matches your outfit). Though jackalopes and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unicorns-were-real/erin-mccann" target="_blank">unicorns&nbsp;exist </a>only in fiction, rainbow animals exist on land, under rocks, and deep within the ocean.&nbsp;From fish, to birds, to frogs, these&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/colorful-animals/ashley-reign" target="_blank">colorful animal photos</a>&nbsp;make nature seem even more interesting and rich. Thanks to good genetics or an ability to <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/animals-that-can-change-color/katherine-ripley" target="_blank">change color</a>, multi-colored organisms act as the club kids of the animal kingdom, rocking more shades than a Covergirl palette. If anyone makes a great case for natural beauty, it&#39;s the vibrant-looking animals below.

Some animals&nbsp;actually reflect the colors of the rainbow while&nbsp;others just feature a wide range of&nbsp;pretty hues. But there&#39;s a reason these animals are colored this way. In the case of poison dart frogs, their color points reminds predators that a side effect of consuming them is&nbsp;death. Other creatures use rainbow colors to falsely advertise they are dangerous, when in fact the only thing dangerous about them is their commitment to bold&nbsp;fashion.&nbsp;Whatever the reason for the multitude of colors they wear, these photos of rainbow animals will leave you amazed and impressed with Mother Nature&#39;s paintbrush.

15 Stunning Photos Of Rainbow Animals Who Represent Every Color

15 Vibrant Rainbow Animals That Most People Don't Realize Exist

Stephen King

Stephen&nbsp;King&#39;s car accident seemed like a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/violence-in-stephen-king-books/jacobybancroft">violent story from one of the novelist&#39;s&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/violence-in-stephen-king-books/jacobybancroft">books</a>. It was so brutal, it&nbsp;almost killed&nbsp;him. The bestselling author was out for a walk near his home in 1999, when a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2000/sep/24/stephenking.fiction">distracted driver slammed into him</a> with enough force to send King over the top of the vehicle and into a ditch. He was lucky to survive, but he suffered serious injuries.

Who hit Stephen&nbsp;King, leaving&nbsp;him injured?&nbsp;Bryan Smith, the driver of the van, instantly became famous as &quot;the guy who almost killed Stephen King,&quot; unwillingly becoming a part of the canon of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/stephen-king-trivia-facts/coy-jandreau">Stephen King&nbsp;trivia</a>. Charges were brought against Smith and he made a heartfelt apology,&nbsp;but many accused King of abusing his celebrity status in his treatment of Smith&nbsp;during the court case.

The time Stephen King almost died has <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/christine-stephen-king-underrated-adaptation/orrin-grey" target="_blank">as many strange details as one of his novels</a>. In fact, this <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/true-stephen-king-stories/juliet-bennett-rylah">true Stephen King story</a> has been adapted into several his works already. So&nbsp;what happened to the guy who ran over Stephen&nbsp;King? And did Stephen&nbsp;King really buy the van that hit him? The answers to these questions, along with other strange details, will keep you on the edge of your seat.

14 Strange Details About Stephen King's Car Accident

14 Details About The Horrible Accident That Almost Killed Stephen King

Hair

Ever since they were living in caves and hunting for their meals, men have cycled through trends of growing facial hair and shaving it all off. Edgy facial hair often emerged to counter mainstream trends, resulting in some of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/strange-facial-hair-history/machk">strangest facial hair</a> ever seen. Whether men grew goatees, sported mustaches, or went clean-shaven, facial hair trends changed every decade of the 20th century. Some of these styles reemerged on men's faces years later, either through reinvention, embracing nostalgia, or expressing oneself through irony.If one looks at edgy facial hair by decade, it becomes clear that men's facial hair is an important part of their identity. While the length and styles of facial hair during previous centuries largely depended upon the need for warmth and to keep dirt and the sun away from one's mouth, beards and mustaches later evolved to demonstrate one's class and level of manliness. Throughout the 20th century, styling facial hair also became a method for men to assert their individuality and show their distaste for the mainstream styles that&nbsp;followed changes in society's beliefs. While facial hair styles went back and forth between having hair on one's face or not, edgy styles emerged to make things more interesting, both for men's faces and for history.

What ‘Edgy’ Facial Hair Looked Like In Every Decade Of The 20th Century

Entertainment

If you&#39;ve ever been watching a movie when a sudden <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-with-twist-endings/anncasano" target="_blank">plot twist</a> left you feeling you&#39;re watching an entirely different film, you may have been the victim of a&nbsp;movie&nbsp;that totally changed genre. While there are many&nbsp;movies that took hard left turns, most of the&nbsp;movies that have totally different second halves use the twist&nbsp;for a good reason.

When The Sound of Music switches from feel-good musical to escaping-from-evil-suspense, the audience roots for the protagonists since we&#39;ve developed a relationship with them. And when Titanic shifts from love story to action film, the romance between Jack and Rose has been set up enough that viewers aren&#39;t sunk along with the ship.

But not all movies are able to shift tone or genre so easily and many&nbsp;movies that shifted tones partway through lost their audience&#39;s attention as well as any understanding of the film&#39;s story. So, what makes some&nbsp;movies that made dramatic <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/movies-you-didnt-realize-have-bleak-endings/eric-conner" target="_blank">tonal changes</a> work and others not? It depends how the first part of the movie is set up, as well as how different the two halves of the film really are. Here are the best examples of films that left viewers spinning after a dramatic story shift.

Sometimes, The Plot Zigs When You Were Ready For It To Zag

16 Movies That Took A Hard Turn And Left Audiences Baffled

Movies That Took A Hard Turn And Left Audiences Completely Baffled

A Nightmare on Elm Street

<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-movies-based-on-true-stories/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Horror movies based on true events</a> are even creepier after you hear the real-life tale, and&nbsp;Nightmare on Elm Street is no exception. The story of the&nbsp;infamous, striped-sweater-wearing maniac was not just the invention of writer/director West Craven; the movie is&nbsp;actually based on real-life events. As is often the case with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/crime-movies-based-on-true-stories/anncasano" target="_blank">violent movies based on true stories</a>, the real inspiration for Freddy Krueger is pretty disturbing.In 1977, well over 100&nbsp;<a href="https://vanwinkles.com/sudden-and-unexplained-the-sleep-deaths-that-inspired-freddy-krueger" target="_blank">Laos refugees inexplicably died in their sleep</a>. The deaths of these perfectly healthy&nbsp;Hmong men have&nbsp;since been attributed to cardiac arrhythmia, but&nbsp;superstitious Lao people&nbsp;blame&nbsp;dab tsuam,&nbsp;an evil spirit&nbsp;that kills you in your sleep, and&nbsp;who appears in the form of&nbsp;a jealous woman.The phenomenon was labeled &quot;Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome&quot; (SUNDS),&nbsp;a term that was coined after healthy men all over the world began mysteriously dying in their sleep. If Freddy gives you nightmares, you don't even want to begin thinking about dab tsuam.&nbsp;

The Mysterious Deaths of Laotian Refugees Who Died In Their Sleep

Freddy Krueger Is Based On The Disturbing True Tale Of 18 People Inexplicably Dying In Their Sleep

Human Body

When we sleep, some of us curl up and some of us sprawl out. These&nbsp;different sleeping positions may not seem like a big deal, but some people believe&nbsp;the way you sleep reveals your character traits and personality.&nbsp;Professor <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3112170.stm">Chris Idzikowski</a>, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service of the&nbsp;Edinburgh Sleep Centre,&nbsp;believes&nbsp;he&nbsp;discovered the&nbsp;personality traits of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-is-the-best-mattress-for-side-sleepers/bradsmith" target="_blank">sleeping positions</a> after analyzing six different sleep positions among 1,000 survey participants.&nbsp;With regards to his research, he stated,&nbsp;&quot;We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us.&quot;&nbsp;

Because it&#39;s such an important function, maybe the position you snooze in actually matters. From postures like &quot;The Soldier&quot; to &quot;The Yearner,&quot; what does your sleeping position reveal about you?&nbsp;

Who Knew Sleeping Could Tell You So Much?

What Your Sleeping Positions Say About Who You Really Are

Power Rangers (FOX Kids)

While the Power Rangers, stars of&nbsp;the beloved TV series from the 1990s,&nbsp;may be known as protectors of the Earth, the cast&nbsp;of the American series and its various spin-offs have sadly endured a number of tragedies. In what has&nbsp;come to be known as the Power Rangers death curse, people with ties to the franchise&nbsp;have either passed unnaturally or fallen into serious hard times. If you&#39;re wondering <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/where-are-they-now-power-rangers/shamus-kelley" target="_blank">where your favorite Power Ranger&nbsp;is today,</a>&nbsp;the answer may be more disheartening than you realize. Because of this, some fans insist there was a perhaps something sinister&nbsp;hanging over the show&#39;s production. Whether or not you believe in curses, the number of unfortunate events surrounding the cast and crew is staggering.

Tragedies That Lead Some People To Believe There Is A Power Rangers Curse

12 Tragedies That Lead People To Believe In The Power Rangers Curse

Fact vs. Fiction

Imagine surfacing from an ocean dive only to discover your boat is gone and you&#39;re completely alone. This scary situation actually happened to Tom and Eileen Lonergan&nbsp;on January 25,&nbsp;1998. Tom and Eileen Lonergan were experienced divers on a trip to Australia&#39;s Great Barrier Reef when their dive boat crew left them behind. Two days passed before anyone realized they were missing, and rescue teams searched for the married couple unsuccessfully for days. The two were never seen again, their cadavers assumed to be <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/lost-at-sea-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">lost at sea</a>.&nbsp;

Like other nightmarish experiences, Tom and Eileen Lonergan&#39;s dreadful&nbsp;fate turned into a film, Open Water.&nbsp;The 2003 film was a critical darling and depicted the couple meeting their end being circled by sharks. The <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-based-on-true-stories/ranker-film" target="_blank">true story</a> behind the&nbsp;Open Water movie, however, is much scarier simply because no one knows what really happened to Tom and Eileen Lonergan.

The True Story Behind 'Open Water' Is Far More Unnerving Than The Movie

The True Story Behind 'Open Water' Is A Dark Mystery That Goes Way Beyond The Horror Of The Film

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

A movie about a candy factory where anything is possible is definitely crazy, but some of the strange Willy Wonka&nbsp;And The Chocolate Factory behind-the-scenes stories make it even weirder. Although the 1971 movie -&nbsp;adapted from the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-roald-dahl-books/dad-of-the-year" target="_blank">Roald Dahl book</a>, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -&nbsp;was a commercial disappointment when it premiered, later television showings and its release on VHS turned it into a colorful cult classic beloved by children and adults, and fans are <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/grandpa-joe-worst-part-willy-wonka/crystal-brackett" target="_blank">still talking about it today</a>.

Some of the weirdest Willy Wonka stories come from the unique ideas of director Mel Stuart and the&nbsp;quirky creativity of Gene Wilder, who reportedly only took the part after being allowed to perform in the style of&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/buster-keaton-facts/erin-mccann" target="_blank">Buster </a><a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/buster-keaton-facts/erin-mccann" target="_blank">Keaton</a>&nbsp;physical comedy gag.&nbsp;Even the all-singing, all-dancing squad of Oompa Loompas have a few crazy tales.&nbsp;

There are freaky behind-the-scenes stories about The Wizard Of Oz, but these tidbits from&nbsp;Willy Wonka&nbsp;And The Chocolate Factory&nbsp;are both&nbsp;strange and a little sweet. Break out the chocolate because you&#39;re going to want to curl up and watch the movie all over again.

Strange Stories From Behind The Scenes Of Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory

Shocking Behavior

When a person realizes they are about to pass, they often have regrets or even guilt, which may result in some truly&nbsp;shocking deathbed confessions. Most people don&#39;t want to carry their burdens into the afterlife and will take the opportunity to share their most intimate (and sometimes disturbing) stories with others.

To <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/shocking-secrets-stories/amandasedlakhevener" target="_blank">live with a shockingly&nbsp;secret story</a> one&#39;s entire life can be troublesome, but when truths suddenly come out on a loved one&#39;s last breaths, the people affected are&nbsp;often&nbsp;shocked. Stories may even be so revealing that the lives of their entire family are changed forever.

True stories of deathbed confessions can include affairs, secret children, terrible acts that no one knows about, or even their true feelings toward&nbsp;loved ones. In fact, these stories from Reddit about deathbed confessions include all of the aforementioned&nbsp;and more. Some of these tales&nbsp;are even&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-secret-stories/lea-rose-emery" target="_blank">downright creepy</a>&nbsp;&ndash; stories&nbsp;their families may have preferred not to know.

Redditors share deathbed stories in these shocking confessions from their loved ones, and the results are often beyond imagination. Read on at your own peril, and vote up the admissions of guilt&nbsp;you are glad were not confessed to your family.&nbsp;

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