Weird History: 4

Bedford Falls

If you don’t know the film, get acquainted with it. It is one of the most holiday watched films ever. It’s A Wonderful Life. Directed by Frank Capra, for Liberty Films, starring Donna Reed, Jimmy Stewart and with a stellar crew of actors that brings tears at one point and the joy of happiness at the end.

The American Film Institute recognizes this film as 100 of the best films ever made.

But—when it was first released in December 1946, it was heralded as a flop. The film cost $1.3 million to make and grossed less than a million during its release. They had projected their gross to be nearly five-million.

Far cry from today’s movies. Today, five-million may pay for the cost of spotlights alone.

Losing His Marbles

In April 1841, Vice President John Tyler was on his knees playing marbles when he was told that William Henry Harrison had died and that he was now President of the United States.

At that time, marbles was a very popular game for grown ups as well as kids.

I couldn’t find anywhere if he had been playing by himself or if there was someone else in his office then.

On a side note: On June 28, 1836, James Madison’s last words were, “I always talk better lying down