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Pop Culture

The new miniature Sphere at National Harbor would have 6,000 seats.

A Smaller Version of the Las Vegas Sphere May Be Coming to the Washington, D.C. Area

Officials have proposed building a mini-Sphere in Maryland’s National Harbor. One-third the size of the original, the structure would cost about $1 billion

Wooden cabinetry shown in The Testament of Ann Lee 

‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ Showcases the Minimalist Ingenuity of Shaker Furniture

Recreating the industrious world of the Shakers wasn’t just movie magic—it required conservators, curators and artisans

A Gibson girl illustration for Life magazine by Charles Dana Gibson, circa 1906

Who Was the Inspiration Behind the ‘Gibson Girl’ Illustrations? The Artist Said She Was Every Woman

Charles Dana Gibson’s archetype became the original American “it girl” in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and helped transform fashion and beauty

Curtis Kauffman with a 1950s Vendo 39 Coke machine—which he has not yet refurbished—at the Route 11 Antique Mall in Hagerstown, Maryland.

When This Restoration Expert Gets His Hands on a Relic, the Result Can Send You Back in Time

At a Maryland antiques mall, Curtis Kauffman takes trinkets from the past and makes them better than ever. For his customers, that’s worth a lot

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Happy Public Domain Day to All Who Celebrate! You Can Now Use Betty Boop, Nancy Drew and ‘The Maltese Falcon’ for Free

On January 1, 2026, copyrights will expire for comics, books, movies, musical compositions and other creative works from 1930, as well as sound recordings from 1925

Irving Berlin sings at the dedication of Los Angeles City Hall in 1928

Tragedy Struck Composer Irving Berlin on Christmas Day. Years Later, He Would Write One of the All-Time Holiday Classics

“White Christmas” is one of the world’s best-selling tunes and continues to be in rotation more than eight decades later

The Radio City Rockettes seen backstage before Saks Fifth Avenue's holiday light show and window unveiling, November 24, 2025

After a Century, the Rockettes Are Still Kicking Their Way Into American Hearts

In 1925, the dance company got its start in St. Louis, and it has since grown to be a Christmas season staple

A 2007 photo of Marty Reisman, who loosely inspired Timothée Chalamet's character in Marty Supreme

Based on a True Story

How Marty Reisman, the Real-Life Inspiration Behind ‘Marty Supreme,’ Revolutionized the Sport of Table Tennis

A new film starring Timothée Chalamet as a fictionalized version of Reisman dramatizes the career of a larger-than-life champion

Merriam-Webster's word of 2025 is "slop," which first appeared in the 1700s.

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year for 2025 Is ‘Slop,’ the A.I.-Generated Junk That Fills Our Social Media Feeds

The word describes the onslaught of “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence”

Supervising animator Marc Davis often explored costume designs and helped develop the look and accessories of the characters he animated, including Cinderella.

Disney Was in Distress During the Late 1940s. Then ‘Cinderella’ Came to the Rescue and Saved the Company From Financial Disaster

Over 75 years after its release, the film is still connecting with animators and audiences

The statue, created for Rocky III, has been moved around to various locations throughout the city in recent decades. Since 2006, it has been located at the base of the steps leading to the Philadelphia Art Museum.

The Iconic ‘Rocky’ Statue at the Philadelphia Art Museum Steps Is Still Stirring Up Strong Feelings

Actor Sylvester Stallone initially told officials he wanted the sculpture back—but after public outcry, he changed his mind and agreed to let the city keep it

The half-sheet illustration was revealed weeks before the premiere of Star Wars in 1977. (The movie was later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope.)

This Painting Introduced the World to ‘Star Wars.’ It Just Became the Most Expensive Item Connected to the Franchise Ever Sold at Auction

The artwork by illustrator Tom Jung, which brought in $3.9 million, features Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and other characters in scenes from the 1977 film

The Poseidon Adventure debuted in theaters 53 years ago. This stupendously implausible work of fiction grew from the fertile soil of fact, drawing inspiration from the RMS Queen Mary's tendency to tilt dangerously.

Based on a True Story

How a Near-Shipwreck on a Luxury Ocean Liner Inspired ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ and a Decade of Disaster Movies

Paul Gallico was on board the RMS “Queen Mary” when it almost capsized in 1937. The haunting experience shaped his best-selling 1969 novel and its 1972 film adaptation

Cloud Dancer is the first shade of white ever selected as Pantone's color of the year.

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2026 Is a ‘Blank Canvas’ Called Cloud Dancer—or, in Other Words, White

The hue is the first shade of white to receive the title. Officials at the Pantone Color Institute say it’s “a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection”

Walter Reed Parpart Jr. (right), the radioman on one of the missing planes, poses in front of a Fort Lauderdale sign in 1945.

How the Disappearance of Flight 19, a Navy Squadron Lost in 1945, Fueled the Legend of the Bermuda Triangle

Eighty years ago, five planes vanished during a training run off the Florida coast. A patrol plane sent to search for the men went missing, too, giving rise to a host of conspiracy theories

The front cover of Superman No. 1, the first issue in the first comic book series devoted to Superman

Three Brothers Found a 1939 Copy of ‘Superman No. 1’ in Their Mother’s Attic. It Just Became the Most Expensive Comic Book Ever Sold

When their mother was 9, she and her teenage brother had pooled their money to purchase the 10-cent comic book. By the time she died several years ago, she had forgotten where it was

European starlings were the best at imitating R2-D2's multphonic sounds because they can control both sides of both sides of the syrinx independently, the researchers say.

Birds Are Beeping and Booping like R2-D2. Their Mimicked Sounds Are Helping Unlock the Secrets of Avian Communication

European starlings were better than parrots at imitating R2-D2’s high-pitched chattering, possibly because of their special control over a vocal organ

The museum is located on an 11-acre campus in Los Angeles' Exposition Park.

George Lucas’ Sprawling Museum Dedicated to the ‘Universal Language’ of Illustrated Storytelling Finally Gets an Opening Date

Located in Los Angeles, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will feature a permanent collection of more than 40,000 illustrations, movie posters, murals, film artifacts and other artworks

Many fans have developed parasocial relationships with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, pictured here in January 2025 at the AFC Championship Game in Kansas City, Missouri.

Trending Today

Feel a Connection to a Celebrity You’ve Never Met? Your Bond May Be ‘Parasocial,’ Which Is Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2025

The term is used to describe “a connection that someone feels between themselves and a famous person they do not know,” according to the dictionary

 Margaret Hamilton wore the hat when she played the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.

You Can Buy the Wicked Witch’s Hat That Actress Margaret Hamilton Wore in ‘The Wizard of Oz’

Heritage Auctions is selling several pieces of memorabilia connected to the land of Oz, including the witch’s hat from the 1939 film and a 1903 edition of the book signed by Judy Garland

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