Stalin, prior to death and relocation You know you're a bad guy when people don't want your body around, even after you're dead. Our case in point is Joseph Stalin, who was kicked out of his resting place on October 31, 1961. After his death, Stalin's embalmed body had been put in Lenin's tomb, but eight years later, Khrushchev gave him the boot. As part of the new leader's De-Stalinization campaign, Stalin's corpse was moved to a burial ground outside the walls of the Kremlin. Stalin wasn't the first controversial person to have his corpse moved from its original resting place. In one of the more bizarre cases in history, John Wycliffe's body was dug out of its grave, burnt, and the ashes deposited into the Thames River in 1428 -- over forty years after he died. This posthumous condemnation was designed to prevent Wycliffe's Protestant supporters from using his body as a relic. People sure did get their knickers in a twist about religion back then: Wycliffe’s biggest offense was translating the Bible into English. As for Stalin, the removal of his body has spawned a generation of fantastic Soviet jokes, which I learned from Emil Draitser's book, "Taking Penguins to the Movies: Ethnic Humor in Russia." My personal favorite regards a conversation between an ethnic Russian and an ethnic Georgian, who's just noticed that Stalin's body has disappeared (note bene: Stalin was Georgian): "Listen, comrade! What's happened to such a handsome mustached man, his decorations all over him, who was lying over here? Where is he? Where did you take him?" In order not to embitter the Georgian, one of the guards begins to explain: "Well, you know, his relatives came over…They took him away." "They took him away?! Can it be? And what about him?" He points to Lenin, "Why didn't anyone take him away? Is he an orphan, or what?" Indeed, Stalin is gone from Red Square, while Lenin remains, even 50 years later. If you have a hankering to see the body of somebody who died in 1924 (an odd memorial, if you ask me), you can still pay your respects. You may, however, have to wait in line. Suggested Sites... Lenin Mausoleum Homepage - see visitor information, as well as historical photos. Stalin Internet Archive - read Stalin's bio, writings, and see pictures. Russian Tourist Board’s guide to Moscow - figure out what to visit in Moscow.

Directory categories: Joseph Stalin, 20th Century Soviet Leaders, 20th Century Soviet History, The Cold War

Archived under: 1920s, 1950s, 1960s, Dead Celebrities, Death, History, Joseph Stalin, Russia

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(Photo by zoomar) Halloween fast approaches. The costume panic is setting in. You look to recent events for ideas, trying to find that perfect balance -- recognizable, with a wide appeal, yet unique. "Aha!" you exclaim. "I've got it! I'll go as Michael Jackson!" We hate to tell you, but... er, you are not alone. Everyone and their sister will be dressed as MJ this year. Yes, Michael in "Bad." Michael in "Beat It." And hundreds upon hundreds of Michaels in "Thriller." Yes, we're sure. We know, it's a great costume. It's a great video. We love it, too. But... before you don the shiny red suit and zombie makeup, remember to always think twice. Do you want to be wearing the same costume as half of the Halloween revelers you see? What if they have better clothes, better makeup... an entourage of dancing zombies behind them? Wouldn't you feel a little silly being the second-best "Thriller" at the party? We're not saying you can't have a MJ-themed Halloween. It's hard to resist, we know. It's all anyone could talk about all summer and there's so much fodder for tribute, parody, and reference. But consider something a bit more obscure, more tangential. A twist perhaps.... Twenty ways to rock a Michael-themed costume without looking like a clone: Go as Bubbles. Go as Weird Al in "Eat It." Go as another Jackson sibling. Try Janet: Go shirtless with some strategically placed gloves (or get a friend to walk close behind you). ... or invest in some suspenders and a Jheri curl wig and go as Jermaine. ... or add some extra mascara and a long wig to a Michael mask and -- voila! -- you're La Toya. Enlist a Paul McCartney and go as the snake oil salesmen from the "Say Say Say" video. Gather a group of friends and go as Michael's celeb buddies: Elizabeth Taylor, Macaulay Culkin, Princess Di, Corey Feldman, etc. Get an even bigger group to go as "We Are the World." Go as young "Ben"-era Michael, carrying a pet rat. Go as Scarecrow Michael from "The Wiz." Go as knocked-up obsessive fan Billie Jean. Go as MJ filming the ill-fated, hair-burning Pepsi commercial. Attach a section of fence to your chest and dangle a blanket-covered baby doll over it. Go as a HIStory statue. Go as a can of soda with a crown. (We didn't say they were good suggestions.) Go as beer maven Michael "The Beer Hunter" Jackson. If you must go for a Thriller theme, go as Michael's date... ...or Vincent Price. ...or a Filipino inmate. Go as an astronaut. (You know, moonwalking. Get it?) Surely you can beat those. Share your costume ideas in the comments. Suggested Sites... Costume Watch: Halloween's "Thriller" Night - Yahoo!'s own Buzz Log reports on the interest in Michael Jackson costumes this year. Hot for Halloween: 2009 Halloween Costume Trends - which costumes will take the place of last year's Joker and Sarah Palin? Make a Michael Jackson Costume - ...and join the MJ army. How to Make a Michael Jackson Costume - if you insist on going as Michael, this Threadbanger tutorial will show you how to do it right.

Directory categories: Michael Jackson, MJ Memorials and Tributes, Halloween Costumes, Costumes for Sale, Costuming

Archived under: Clones, Clothing and Accessories, Costumes, Dead Celebrities, Halloween, Make-Up, Michael Jackson

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Groucho Marx in 1931 Thirty-two years ago this week, an icon of American entertainment died: a performer who was recognizable by his voice, his physicality, and his frequent appearances on television and in films. We refer, of course, to Julius Henry Marx -- better known as Groucho. Groucho Marx died on August 19, 1977, but with all the fuss over Elvis Presley's death three days earlier, his passing was virtually overlooked by the media. But for those with a taste for a sharp tongue and terrible puns, Groucho lives on. In a career that spanned almost all of the 20th century, Groucho and his brothers conquered vaudeville, Broadway, radio, the literary world, and motion pictures. After he retired from movies (more or less), Groucho hosted "You Bet Your Life," a game show that became known for Groucho's verbal byplay with civilian guests and its immortal catch phrase, "say the secret word and win $100." He made a "comeback" at the age of 82 (though he'd never really left), packing concert halls with his one-man show. While some may prefer the karate-chopping guy in the jumpsuit, we'll take the cigar-smoking con man in the greasepaint mustache waggling his eyebrows at the nearest blonde or trying to scam a wealthy dowager. Suggested Sites... Marx-Brothers.org: Groucho Marx - detailed biography of the life of Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx. Marx Brothers.org - information on every aspect of the lives and careers of the five Marx Brothers. The Smoking Gun: Groucho Marx's FBI File - investigating just what kind of a Marxist Groucho was. Clown Ministry: The Marx Brothers - letters, quotes, photos, and articles about Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Zeppo, and Gummo. Museum of Broadcast Communications: Groucho Marx - information about Groucho's television career.

Directory categories: Groucho Marx, The Marx Brothers, Comedians, Comedy Films, Television Game Shows

Archived under: 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, Actors, Anniversaries, Authors, Biographies, Broadway, Celebrities, Comedians, Dead Celebrities, Entertainment, Game Shows, Humor, Movies, Musicals, TV, Vaudeville

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"Psst! Did you hear that rumor about Cheeta? (Photo courtesy Photos8.com) Back in the Golden Age of Radio, there was a program called "I Love a Mystery." Even though it lasted only five years, there are any number of people who still subscribe to its title, and who will even create mysteries and conundrums where none exist. We call them "conspiracy theorists," and today we take note of them. Why? Well, August 5th marks the 47th anniversary of the death of Marilyn Monroe, and that occasion reminds us of the many conspiracy theories that have arisen in the decades since. Monroe, a troubled woman who had many personal problems in her final years, could not simply have either taken her own life or accidentally overdosed on barbiturates, these theorists insist. It's obvious to them that she was murdered because of her tenuous connections to organized crime or her romantic entanglements with John F. Kennedy or his brother Robert -- or both. Mentioning the Kennedys opens its own particular can of worms. Were they murdered by lone assassins, as the evidence suggests, or were they victims of a cabal that included -- solely, or in various combinations -- Lyndon B. Johnson, the Mafia, the CIA, Fidel Castro, the Soviet Union, or the military-industrial complex? You’d think a conspiracy that large would have leaked out somewhere over the past four decades, but so far, only rumor and innuendo have made it through the filter. Of course, that's the beauty of the conspiracy theory. Only a few random facts or inconsistencies can be knitted together to form a vast plot that would make even the most ambitious comic book supervillain blush. Let us assure you, though, that Dr. Doom wasn't behind the recent transition to digital TV, and Lex Luthor had nothing to do with killing the electric car. In some sense, conspiracy theories are fun. It's like something straight out of a movie to imagine that aliens did indeed crash land at Roswell, New Mexico, and that their technology is being studied at Area 51, or that water fluoridation was a plot by Communists to pollute the "precious bodily fluids" of Americans. But, on the other hand, some theories are too dark to laugh off. 9/11 "Truthers" have amassed much "evidence" that "proves" that the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were inside jobs, and a number of coups d’etat and overthrown governments that were alleged to be conspiracies turned out to be actual conspiracies (usually headed by the CIA). Lately, the most persistent conspiracy comes to us courtesy of the "Birthers," who are convinced, despite all logic and no actual evidence or proof, that President Obama was either born in Kenya or is somehow not a U.S. citizen. (Seems like Stephen Colbert's "truthiness" went further than he imagined.) Let it not be said, though, that just because something is dismissed as a crackpot conspiracy theory doesn’t mean it's not real. The men who gather in Northern California's Bohemian Grove every year to meet and plan their global domination? That one's legit. Suggested Sites... Above Top Secret - clearinghouse for all sorts of crazy -- and not so crazy -- theories. Seven Insane Conspiracies That Actually Happened - just because they're conspiracies doesn't mean they're not real. Snopes.com - debunker (and confirmer) of rumors and conspiracies. Is This Article on Conspiracies Part of a Conspiracy? - the Skeptical Inquirer inquires skeptically. Gawker: The Birthers: Who Are They and What Do They Want? - the latest in conspiracies.

Directory categories: Conspiracies, John F. Kennedy Assassination, Moon Landing Conspiracy Theories, Bohemian Grove, The Illuminati

Archived under: 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 9/11, Aliens, Anniversaries, Assassinations, Assassins, Astronauts, Barack Obama, CIA, Celebrities, Communism, Conspiracies, Counterculture, Cover Ups, Cultures, Dead Celebrities, Fanatics, History, Hoaxes, Illuminati, Issues and Causes, Marilyn Monroe, Murder, Mysteries, Organized Crime, Presidents, Suicide, Unsolved Crimes, Urban Legends, Villains

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Amelia Earhart in 1932 (No, it's not Hilary Swank.) One of the most fascinating women in history -- and one of the most elusive mysteries -- is the story of Amelia Earhart. From her early days as a tomboy in Kansas to her daring aviation adventures, Earhart was always someone who stood out. But in addition to being a pilot, she was also a nurse, a writer, a wife, and a sister, as well as a revolutionary whose life was cut short too soon. Earhart first experienced international life as a nurse in Canada during World War I. After the war, she moved to California, where she took her first airplane ride. Mentored by famed aviatrix Neta Snook, Amelia undertook the lengthy and difficult training being a pilot required. By 1923, she had not only received her pilot's license, but had set the record for the highest elevation reached by a female aviator. Charles Lindbergh's 1927 solo transatlantic flight (history's first) led to efforts to find a woman to duplicate the feat, and Earhart was a natural choice. She flew across the Atlantic as part of a team in 1928, becoming an instant celebrity in the U.S., and four years later, flew solo from Newfoundland to Ireland in just under fifteen hours, cementing her place in history. She received numerous international honors, and gained many famous friends, including First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She later became the first woman to fly solo across the continental United States, as well. Earhart's success on that voyage led her to seek out more exciting opportunities. Her next goal was to fly around the world. After years of planning, Earhart and her co-pilot Fred Noonan set out from Miami in June, 1937. They made numerous stops, eventually arriving in New Guinea in July. But somewhere between there and their next intended stop on Howland Island on Jully 2, 1937, radio contact between the pilots and the ship docked to meet them was lost. Earhart, Noonan, and their plane were never seen or heard from again, despite a massive and expensive search launched by the U.S. government and later financed by her husband, publishing magnate George Putnam. So what happened to Earhart and Noonan? The most likely (and least exciting) explanation is that the plane simply ran out of fuel or experienced mechanical problems and crashed, either into the Pacific Ocean or on a nearby island. But conspiracy theorists and Hollywood have their own ideas. The 1943 film "Flight for Freedom" depicts a fictionalized version of Earhart spying on the Japanese for the U.S. government (which propagated this myth in popular culture). Another theory posits that Earhart and Noonan landed on an island occupied by the Japanese, who then had the two aviators executed. Even more unlikely stories involve faked deaths and secret identities, castaways on a desert island, and (of course), alien abduction -- thanks, "Star Trek." Whatever the truth is, Earhart's life is certainly as fascinating as her disappearance. And now, with the 62nd anniversary of her disappearance, two award-winning actresses are bringing her to life on the big screen. Already this year, we've seen Amy Adams's fanciful and comedic take in "Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian," which earned her rave reviews. And come October, two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank will portray Earhart in "Amelia," which (based on the just-released trailer) looks like more Oscar-bait for Swank and her co-stars. These films will hopefully expose Earhart to a whole new generation, reminding all of us of extraordinary woman who should never be forgotten. Suggested Sites... Museum of Women Pilots - Oklahoma City museum dedicated to the lives of Earhart and other female aviators. In Search of ... Amelia Earhart - 1970s TV program hosted by Leonard Nimoy, focusing on Earhart’s disappearance. Amelia Earhart Papers - large collection of Earhart images and documents at Purdue University. The Earhart Project - organization dedicated to discovering the truth about Earhart's last flight.

Directory categories: Amelia Earhart, Aviation History, Conspiracies, Women's History, Biographic Movies

Archived under: 1930s, Adventure, Amelia Earhart, American History, Anniversaries, Aviation, Biographies, Celebrities, Dead Celebrities, Disappearances, Exploration, Explorers, History, Missing Persons, Movies, Mysteries, Urban Legends, Women

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