Things You Probably Didn't Know

[IceWizard]

About Thanksgiving







The Original Thanksgiving Lasted for Three Days

When the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians celebrated the first Thanksgiving in
November 1621, they spent three glorious days feasting on venison, goose, duck,
oysters, fish, and eel with cranberries and pumpkin -- but no turkey. Only five
women are believed to have been present at the celebration among the 50 Pilgrims
and 90 Native Americans. Originally, the Pilgrims intended to make it a day of prayer
and fasting, but the arrival of the natives changed all that.



Thomas Jefferson Canceled Thanksgiving During His Presidency

George Washington was the first to declare Thanksgiving a holiday, but it was on a
year-to-year basis, so presidents had to re-declare it every year, according to
The Washington Post. Thomas Jefferson was so adamantly against Thanksgiving
that he refused to declare it a holiday during his presidency, and many say that
he called the holiday "the most ridiculous idea ever conceived." Most historians
agree that Jefferson really refused to declare the holiday because he believed in
the separation of church and state, and thought that the day of "prayer" violated
the First Amendment. It wasn’t until 1863, when Abraham Lincoln proclaimed
Thanksgiving a federal holiday, that it was officially scheduled to fall on the
fourth Thursday of every November.



The Origin of Turkey Pardons Is Fuzzy

The White House has a tradition of pardoning one lucky turkey each year. No one
actually knows when U.S. presidents began offering their turkeys a presidential
pardon. The annual tradition is believed to have begun in 1947 with President
Harry Truman. However some historians believe that it actually started in the
1860s with Abraham Lincoln after his son Tad begged him to spare his pet turkey's
life. Despite these two theories of the origins of the pardon, George H. W. Bush
was the first president to officially grant a turkey a presidential pardon,
according to The New York Times.




Macy’s First Parade on Thanksgiving Day Featured Live Animals

The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York took place in 1914 when
Macy’s employees dressed in vibrant costumes and marched to the flagship
store on 34th Street. The parade used floats instead of balloons, and it featured
monkeys, bears, camels, and elephants all borrowed from the Central Park Zoo.
It was also originally called the Macy’s Christmas Parade, but was renamed the
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1927.




Felix The Cat Was The First Balloon Used In The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

Felix the Cat was a star of the silent film era and had a comic strip in newspapers
around the nation when he made his Thanksgiving Day Parade debut in 1927, the
first year the event featured cartoon character balloons. Without a plan to deflate
this massive balloon, NYC parade organizers simply let Felix fly off into the sky.
Unfortunately, the Felix the Cat balloon got caught in some telephone wires and
caught fire. In 2016, after a nearly 90-year hiatus,
Felix made a triumphant return to the parade.


1927 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Felix the Cat

[IceWizard]

About The Vietnam War




On October 22, 1957, American forces suffered their first casualties in Vietnam
when 13 Advisory Americans were wounded in three terrorist bombings



American Troops Used People Sniffers

One of the weirder tools used by the Americans during the Vietnam War was
the "people sniffer", also know as Operation Snoopy. Northern troops on the
Ho Chi Minh Trail were notoriously difficult to find, so the Americans used
sensors to detect human sweat and urine. These sensors were deployed
when troops wanted to find anyone who might be hiding. While they frequently
turned up false results, leading to attacks on civilians and cattle, they did
prove to be somewhat effective. The North Vietnamese Army eventually
learned to hang buckets of mud mixed with urine from trees to throw
off the sensors.



Americans Played Ghost Noises In The Jungle

One of the ways American troops would try to weaken North Vietnamese troops
was to scare them into thinking they were surrounded by ghosts. American troops
would play recordings that sounded like ghosts were haunting the area. This was
called Operation Wandering Soul and was based on the Vietnamese belief that
dead people needed to have a proper burial ritual or they would become
wandering ghosts. Since many bodies didn’t get proper burials during the war,
there would’ve been plenty of upset ghosts. The Americans preyed on this fear
by playing ghost noises on hidden speakers in the jungles at night.



It Wasn't Technically A "War"

It looked like a war and affected people like a war would, so the battles that took
place in Vietnam are referred to and treated as a war. At least, unofficially speaking.
In official terms, the years of fighting and death are technically a conflict and not a
war because the U.S. never officially declared war on Vietnam or any of the forces
fighting there. This meant the war was technically a conflict, though neither side
actually thought of it this way.



The Death Toll Was Almost Entirely Vietnamese

In the Vietnam War, 58,220 Americans died. By comparison, including both north and
south, approximately 2 million Vietnamese civilians died. That doesn’t even include
soldiers, which would add another approximately 1.35 million Vietnamese deaths.
That puts Americans at less than 2% of the total deaths.



It’s Called The American War in Vietnam

Wars generally have names that distinguish them from other conflicts in the same country.
The Americans refer to the war in Vietnam as the Vietnam War. For the Vietnamese,
however, the war is called the American War
(or, in full, the “War Against the Americans to Save the Nation”).

[IceWizard]

About The Marines





On July 11, 1798, the U.S. Marine Corps was created by an act of Congress.
On the anniversary of its creation, here are five surprising facts about one
of the most storied branches of the armed forces.



The First Marine Corps Recruitments Took Place In a Bar

The Marine Corps was founded in a bar. The legend goes that in November 1775,
newly commissioned Captains Samuel Nicholas and Robert Mullan organized the
first Marine Corps enlistment at Tun Tavern, a popular watering hole in Philadelphia.
The two officers are said to have lured potential Marines with mugs of beer and
the promise of adventure on the high seas. Their recruits went on to become the
first five companies to serve on Continental Navy ships.
The Tun Tavern is considered the birthplace of the Marine Corps.



The Marines’ First Battle Took Place In The Bahamas

On March 3, 1776, Captain Samuel Nicholas and a force of 220 Marines stormed the
beaches of the British-held island of New Providence in the Bahamas to search for
military supplies. After they landed near Nassau unopposed, they captured the town
and took possession of its two forts. Although the governor shipped out most of the
gunpowder before the Marines' arrival, Nicholas and his troops seized mortars and
brass cannons used later by George Washington and the Continental Army.



A Fight Against Pirates Made The Marines Famous

Following a brief disbandment after the American Revolution, the Marine Corps was
revived in July 1798 and later sent into action against the Barbary pirates.
The Barbary pirates didn't stand a chance when a small group of Marines led by
Lt. Presley O'Bannon arrived in Egypt to overthrow the pirate leader at Tripoli.
With Navy ships as backup providing bombardment, the Marine assault seized the
city and its fortifications in Tripoli on April 27, 1805. This campaign in the
First Barbary War led to the inclusion of the words
"to the shores of Tripoli" in the "Marines' Hymn."




The Marine Corps Is Part of The Department of The Navy

While the Marine Corps is its own branch of the U.S. military, it falls under the
administration of the Department of the Navy. This close working relationship
dates back to the American Revolution and has been affirmed by several
acts of Congress. Marines serve aboard Navy ships and often train alongside
sailors, and many Marine officers attend the United States Naval Academy in
Annapolis. Marines have also served under Army command, most notably
during World War I in Europe, when the Fourth Marine Brigade was attached
to the Second Infantry Division.


There Are Some Pretty Famous Marines

With well over 200 years of service, the Marine Corps has trained hundreds of
thousands of men and women who embody honor, courage, and commitment.
Over the years, a handful of them have moved into civilian careers that catapulted
them into the glare of the American public. Before he became famous for
co-hosting The Tonight Show, Ed McMahon was a Marine fighter pilot with
six air medals and 85 combat missions under his belt.
Other well-known Marines include
Drew Carey,  Montel Williams, Steve McQueen, Gene Hackman, Ted Williams,
Rob Riggle, Harvey Keitel, Bob Keeshan, Lee Marvin, Don Imus, Steve Wilkos,
Bea Arthur, Orville Burrell AKA Shaggy, George C. Scott, Don Adams, James Carville,
to name but a few.... bigger list found here .

[IceWizard]

About I Love Lucy






On October 15, 1951, I Love Lucy premiered on television, and after its run,
it remained one of the most popular reruns in television history. To mark this
landmark event in TV history, here are lesser-know facts you surely didn't
know about one of the greatest sitcoms of all time... 




There Is a National I Love Lucy Day

October 15 is I Love Lucy Day. The unofficial holiday commemorates the day in 1951,
when the show, starring real-life couple at that time, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz,
debuted on CBS. The holiday is held just for fun and to commemorate the show.
I Love Lucy is the only show in television history that has never stopped broadcasting
since airing its first episode in 1951. Reruns of the show have been popular around the
world ever since the show ended on May 6, 1957.




It All Started With A Radio Program
In 1948, CBS went to Lucille Ball in hopes to turn her popular radio show called
"My Favorite Husband" into a television program. While the radio version originally
featured Richard Denning as Lucy's husband, she told the network she'd agree only
if her real-life husband (Desi Arnaz) was cast in the role. Originally, the network had
their doubts, but ultimately they agreed (and we bet they're glad they did!).




A Ghost Told Lucille Ball to Take The Job
Prior to I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball was working in the movies. When she was offered the job,
she was initially reluctant because she was concerned about the transition to television. 
She needed some encouragement, which came in the form of a dream in which she saw
her old friend Carole Lombard, who had died in a plane crash in 1942. In the dream,
Lombard told her to go for it -- why not?? Ball said that was the moment when she
knew she was making the right decision.




Smoking On Camera Was a Necessity
I Love Lucy almost didn’t make it onto television because CBS had problems finding a sponsor
for the series. At the last minute, the tobacco giant Philip Morris was secured as a sponsor for
the show. The conditions of this were that the characters were seen smoking the Philip Morris
brand of cigarettes and the name Philip Morris would be worked into the script as often as
possible. Therefore, smoking was a necessity for the show to retain its sponsor. 
Lucille Ball was a smoker, but she preferred Chesterfield cigarettes. In an effort to overcome
this hurdle, Ball would have a stagehand that would empty packs of Philip Morris cigarettes
and fill the package with Chesterfield cigarettes.




Vivian Vance Was Told to Keep Her Weight Up
There is a well-known tale about Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance that says Ball did not want to be
upstaged by a co-star and that she purposefully had Vance's character of Ethel decked out in
drab garb. Vivian Vance even claimed that she had a contract that stated that she must always
weigh more than Lucille Ball. If Lucille ever put on weight, then Vivian would have to do the
same. Although it was never confirmed that this was true, both Vivian and Lucille would often
bring this up on talk shows and laugh about the situation. The two woman remained friends
even after their time on the show ended.

[IceWizard]

About Johnny Carson





On October 23, 1925, Johnny Carson was born in Corning, Iowa and grew up to become
one of television's most-loved TV personalities of the 20th century. Here are secrets
you probably didn't know about Johnny Carson...



Early in His Career, He Hosted a Game Show

Carson was picked to host the game show Who Do You Trust in the late 1950s, which is
where he met Ed McMahon, who worked on the show as the announcer. It was a program
where couples competed, and the man would be asked if he wanted to answer the question
of whether his wife should. Carson spent a large part of the show interacting with the
contestants, which helped land him the job on
The Tonight Show after the retirement of Jack Paar.



Groucho Marx Introduced Carson as the New Host of the Show

On Carson’s first night as host of the show, replacing Jack Paar, he was introduced by
legendary comedian Groucho Marx, age 72. Six years later, Marx honored Carson at a
roast held at the Friars’ Club in New York. Guests appearing on Carson’s opening show
were Tony Bennett, Joan Crawford, Rudy Vallee and a new comedy writer, Mel Brooks.



The Tonight Show Theme Has Lyrics

A lot of those instrumental TV themes that you grew up humming actually had lyrics.
Among these were lyrics to the theme to Star Trek and the theme to the Tonight Show.
Carson actually wrote the lyrics to that theme, and the music was by Paul Anka
(who took one of his prior hits and reworked it for the show). While the lyrics were
never used, Carson still got a good deal and received 50 percent of the royalties.



He Assisted Orson Welles In A Magic Act During World War II

In 1943, Carson, 18, went into the U.S. Navy where he was assigned work in
communications decoding encrypted messages. He performed magic as a hobby,
usually for shipmates, but was invited to perform as an assistant to Orson Welles
during a performance to entertain the troops aboard the U.S.S. Pennsylvania.
Welles was also assisted by his beautiful wife, Rita Hayworth,
whom he cut in half during his magic act.




He Wrote Jokes For David Letterman's Show

Carson was known for criticizing other talk show hosts, except for David Letterman.
Carson was a big fan of Letterman and started sending jokes to Dave after he (Carson)
retired. He'd send them daily, and some would make it on air without crediting Carson.
A former Tonight Show producer said that he thought Carson missed the monologue
segment of his show and needed an outlet for the jokes he was still thinking up.

[IceWizard]

About Saturday Night Live





On October 11, 1975, Chevy Chase belted out the very first
"Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!"
and kicked off one of the most iconic TV shows in American history. 
Here are some things you didn't know about Saturday Night Live...



Jim Carrey Had Two Failed Attempts At Becoming A Cast Member

Despite being one of today's most famous comedians, Jim Carrey auditioned for "SNL" twice
and was denied both times. "I wasn't at the Jim Carrey audition," Lorne Michaels explained,
"but somebody who was there said, 'I don't think Lorne would like it,' and they were probably
wrong, but it doesn't matter. Or maybe they were right — who knows? No one gets it all right."
The actor has, however, had a few guest-hosting gigs since then.



Kenan Thompson Is The Show's Longest-Running Cast Member

Kenan Thompson was born May 10, 1978, making him the first "SNL" cast member who was
born after the show premiered. The comedic actor has been performing on the show since 2003,
and in 2018, after 15 seasons, he officially became the longest-running cast member.





Richard Belzer Warmed Up The SNL Audience During Season One

Richard Belzer began his career as a stand-up comedian before becoming the series-jumping
Sergeant John Munch of the Law & Order franchise. In the inaugural season of Saturday Night Live,
Belzer served as the show's warm-up comic, which led to a few performances on the show,
including a stint at the "Weekend Update" desk after Chevy Chase sustained a groin injury.
Belzer has long claimed that Lorne Michaels promised him a role in the show but then failed to
deliver. In 1993, Belzer told People Magazine, "Lorne betrayed me and lied to me—which he
denies—but I give you my word, he said, 'I'll work you into the show.'"







Fox News Once Used a Photo of Tina Fey on a Story About Sarah Palin

Not a joke—in June 2011, The Atlantic pointed out that Fox News used a photo of Tina Fey
dressed as Sarah Palin during an SNL sketch on a story about Palin. Management at Fox was
understandably unhappy, especially because this wasn't the first time people there had made
that mistake. The network adopted a zero-tolerance policy for on-air mistakes.




Darrell Hammond Has Said The Show's Opening Line The Most

Darrell Hammond holds the record at SNL by saying the “Live from New York” catchphrase
70 times. He also held the record for the longest consecutive tenure of any SNL cast member
in the show's history (14 seasons), until he was surpassed by Kenan Thompson in 2017.
Hammond was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2009, and was popular
for his many impressions. His impression of President Bill Clinton is currently the most
frequent SNL impression of all time, appearing in 87 sketches over 14 years in the cast
and numerous cameos.

[IceWizard]

About "Leave It to Beaver"





On October 4, 1957, "Leave It to Beaver" premiered on CBS
starring Jerry Mathers as the Beaver.
Here are some fascinating facts about the show that will make you say, "Golly!"




It Was Canceled After Its First Season

Despite its legendary status, Leave It to Beaver was not a smash hit at the time.
After the first season ended in 1958, CBS canceled the series. Fortunately, ABC came
in and rescued the show. It would air on ABC for its remaining five seasons.


“Leave It to Beaver” Wasn’t The Original Title

The series pilot was originally titled “It’s a Small World” and aired as an installment of
the anthology series Heinz Studio 57. Before the new title was chosen, “Wally and the Beaver”
was considered, but the show’s sponsor thought it might be mistaken for a nature program.


A Growth Spurt Led To a New Wally

Paul Sullivan originally portrayed Wally in the pilot. He was replaced by Tony Dow
when a growth spurt made Sullivan too tall to play the role. Dow wasn’t auditioning
when he was chosen to play Wally Cleaver and remained on the show for six years.
It was a lucky break because he had just been accompanying a friend who
was trying out for the part.


Jerry Mathers Appeared on “I Love Lucy”

Mathers played Little Ricky when he sat on Lucy’s lap in the episode titled
“Ricky’s Old Girlfriend” during season three of “I Love Lucy.” During the scene,
Lucy was dreaming her husband had deserted her for Carlota Romero, an old
girlfriend, and she and her small son were begging for money in the street.
The episode appeared in 1953,
which was four years before “Leave It to Beaver” debuted. 


It Was The First TV Show To Show a Toilet

It was just the tank, but the appearance of a toilet onscreen was a TV first.
The boys were often in the bathroom off their bedroom. In this case, in the
episode "Captain Jack," Wally puts an alligator in the toilet tank after he and
Beaver order one through the mail. This episode was intended as the
premiere of the show but aired the second week.

[IceWizard]

About Peanuts






On October 2, 1950, the comic strip "Peanuts" by Charles M. Schulz premiered in
9 newspapers. Here are some things you didn't know about one of the most popular
and influential comic strips of all time...




Schulz Didn’t Choose the Comic Strip’s Name

Schulz had originally named his comic strip starring Charlie Brown as “Li’l Folks,” but when he
checked into having it syndicated in 1950, the people who ran it didn’t like that name because
there were several others that were similar.  So, they changed the name to “Peanuts.” Schulz
never approved of the name because he thought it sounded insignificant. Even after the comic
strip became a huge success, Schulz said he wanted the cartoon to be called
“Good Old Charlie Brown.”



Schulz Was Very Particular About The Pens He Used To Create His Comic Strip

The Peanuts strips were drawn on Strathmore 3-ply paper with India ink. For lettering, Schulz
used a Speedball C-5 pen and for drawing the strip he used an Esterbrook 914 radio pen.
When Schulz learned that the company that manufactured the nibs for this pen was going
out of business, he purchased their entire inventory of nibs.



A Trombone Was Used For Charlie Brown’s Teachers’ Voice

Charlie Brown and his friends are the focus of the original comic strips, with teachers and
other adults consigned to the background. When the popular comic was turned into an
animated series, however, producers understood they'd have to figure out a method to
give adults a "voice" while also honoring Schulz's wishes to keep adults out of the main
picture. Composer Vince Guaraldi, who scored all of the early classics including
A Charlie Brown Christmas and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, came up with
the solution: Use a trombone with a mute in the bell to stand in for any adult dialogue.
The result was what’s now widely referred to as the “wah-wah” voice.



Charlie Brown’s Dad Is A Barber, Just Like Schulz’s Dad

Although adults only play a small role in the Peanuts universe, Charlie Brown's parents
are two characters who are given the faintest hint of personality in the comic strip.
And by personalities, we mean job descriptions. Charlie Brown's mother is a homemaker
(and one of the few characters that refers to him as "Charlie"), and his father, like
Schulz's father in real life, is a barber. Although Charlie Brown's father does not appear
in the comic strip, he is frequently mentioned.



Charlie Brown Didn’t Always Wear His Trademark Zigzag Shirt

According to the Charles M. Schulz Museum, Charlie Brown went just over two months
without wearing his now-famous yellow zigzag shirt. Peanuts launched on October 2, 1950,
but Charlie’s recognizable attire didn’t appear until December 21, 1950.
Before that, the black-and-white comic just clothed him in black shorts and a white t-shirt.

[IceWizard]

About P.T. Barnum






Phineas Taylor Barnum, commonly known as P.T. Barnum, was born in Connecticut
on this day in 1810. Barnum would go on to found what became the Ringling Bros.
and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Here are some amazing facts you probably didn't know
about history's greatest showman.




When His Museum Burned for the Second Time, He Opened a Traveling Circus

Barnum is best known for his traveling three-ring circuses, but he didn't start
performing beneath the big top until he was 60 years old. He was better known
before then as the owner of the American Museum in Manhattan, which housed
a vast collection of historical artifacts, animal menageries, and freak shows.
Some of the museum’s most notable exhibits included General Tom Thumb,
a child dwarf, and the “Fejee Mermaid.” Barnum only launched his traveling
circus after his museum was twice destroyed by fire. He later teamed with his
famed partner James Bailey in 1881, and the two went on to make a fortune
running their “Greatest Show on Earth.”



His Famous Elephant “Jumbo” Is The Mascot of Tufts University

Barnum bought a massive 6-ton African elephant named "Jumbo" from the
London Zoological Society in 1882. The sale sparked outrage in the United Kingdom,
where the animal was regarded as a national treasure, but also ushered in
"Jumbomania" in the United States. People turned out to Barnum’s circus in
droves and bought Jumbo postcards, hats, and other souvenirs. The elephant's
reputation even contributed to the emergence of the term "jumbo" as a synonym
for "large." Jumbo's reign came to an end in 1885, when he was accidentally
killed by a freight train in Ontario. Barnum had Jumbo's hide stuffed and donated
it to Tufts University in Massachusetts. It remains both the school’s mascot
and the inspiration for its nickname, the "Jumbos."







Barnum Used His Circus Animals To Prove The Brooklyn Bridge Was Safe

Shortly after the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883, rumors that it was structurally
unsound sparked a human stampede that left a dozen people dead. The bridge’s
owners had previously turned down a $5,000 offer from Barnum to let him parade
his circus animals across it as a publicity stunt, but they changed their minds
after the accident. On the night of May 17, 1884, he marched 21 elephants and
17 camels across the bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn. The famous Jumbo led
the procession. The parade was a priceless piece of advertising for Barnum’s circus,
and the combined weight of the elephants—many of which tipped the scales at over
10,000 pounds—helped put to rest any worries about the bridge’s stability.



He Was A Master Hoaxer

Many of Barnum’s most popular acts were nothing but hoaxes, yet he still made a lot of
money off of them, even after they were exposed as frauds. People flocked to witness
his famed fakes, including the "Feejee Mermaid." Barnum presented the creature as if
it were a mermaid, but it was actually half a monkey sewn to half a fish. Other hoaxes
include the Cardiff Giant, supposedly a petrified giant and Joyce Heth, an old woman
who Barnum claimed was the 161-year-old former nanny of George Washington.



Barnum Made An Unusual Request To A New York Newspaper

In 1891, Barnum was in poor health but still wanted to get the last laugh.
He persuaded the New York Evening Sun to publish his obituary while he was still alive,
so he could read it before he died.
Barnum died only days later, at age 81.

[IceWizard]

About John Wayne






On June 11, 1979, John Wayne, the iconic film actor famous for starring
in countless westerns, died at age 72 after battling cancer for more than
a decade. Here are some things you probably didn’t know about
John “The Duke” Wayne.



He Lost His Middle Name To His Brother

John Wayne “lost” his own middle name to his little brother.
The actor was born “Marion Robert Morrison,” but after the birth
of his little brother in 1911, his parents named the baby
Robert Emmett Morison and changed the man who would be
John Wayne’s name to “Marion Michael Morrison.” He had his
first starring role as the cowboy Breck Coleman in the 1930 film,
“The Big Trail.” It was during this production that studio executives
gave Morrison a new name in the hopes of making him an easier
sell to film audiences, and he happily accepted
the moniker “John Wayne”



Stalin Ordered John Wayne Killed

Joseph Stalin loved movies but became furious over Wayne’s
anti-communist statements, so he ordered two KBG agents to
assassinate him in 1951. Though the FBI intercepted the two
hitmen before they could reach Wayne, it would not be his last
assassination attempt. Another plot was foiled when a sniper
tried to take out Wayne while he was visiting Vietnam in 1966.
The assassination order was eventually rescinded by Stalin's successor,
Nikita Khrushchev, who apologized for the event
when he met Wayne in 1958.



He Had A Beef With Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood once sent Wayne a letter that suggested they star
in a western together. Unfortunately, Wayne was not an Eastwood
fan and especially hated the revisionist style and violence of
Eastwood’s latest western, High Plains Drifter (1973). Wayne made
his feelings known in a carefully worded letter he sent Eastwood. 
Eastwood said he never responded to Wayne’s letter, refusing
to comment on the criticism



His Film The Conquerors May Have Killed Him

In 1956, Wayne starred in The Conqueror, a movie about Genghis Khan
that co-starred Agnes Moorhead, Dick Powell, Susan Hayward, and
Pedro Armendáriz. The movie was shot in southeast Utah, just downwind
from where the U.S. government was conducting nuclear weapon tests
at the height of the Cold War.  91 out of 220 members of the cast and
crew members came down with cancer, including Wayne himself, who
lost a lung and ribs to pulmonary cancer. Though the radioactivity certainly
may have played a part, Wayne's six-pack-a-day smoking habit certainly
didn't help anything either



His Grandnephew Co-Starred in Rocky V

Tommy Morrison was the famed movie star’s grandnephew and once held
titles as the ICB and WBO heavyweight champion. He retired from boxing in
1996 when he tested positive for HIV. Morrison is also known for his acting
career, having starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in the 1990 film
Rocky V as Tommy Gunn. Before the new millennium, he bought a cave,
convinced that the world was coming to an end at the stroke of midnight
on Jan. 1, 2000.
Morrison died in 2013 from complications from AIDS at the age of 44.