Club 33 makes Disneyland a fantasy all over again. While most of us have been lucky enough to get inside an airport lounge or member’s lounge once in our lives and know that it isn’t that amazing. What is offered at Disney is something far greater. It is not a place to wait for your next flight, it is a place to allow the incredible magic of Disneyland to come to life in a land of luxury. No queues, no wait times, no hard day in the hot sun, pure perfection.

It is estimated (but no one is sure) that there are around 500 members of Club 33. Membership in the club allows them entry to a private space in the Disneyland world where they can enjoy fine dining, jazz, and a full bar. Reports suggest that the walls are covered with incredible memorabilia, film props, and pictures that die-hard fans would give anything to see. 

Legend also says that Walt had microphones and speakers placed in the walls so that he could converse with members if he wished. The speaker was inside a robotic vulture above a clock tower. Fittingly the vulture wears a top hat. While top hats are not required, no one is allowed in wearing shorts and a vest. Formal attire is required to get into this distinguished club. 

While the private entertainment sounds great it is the perks that really make this club membership a must-have experience. Being a member allows you to enter the park early, have private events in certain park locations and allegedly a separate amusement park. If you are a member you are even allowed to ask for a private meet and greet with any of the Disney park characters. As well as free merchandise, your own parking, and fast passes to all the rides, there is likely much much more that no one is talking about. Part of the appeal of Club 33 is that it is a well-kept secret. Who knows what hidden treasures and experiences exist that the outside world knows nothing about.

The bad news is it is not easy to become a member of Club 33. Rumor has it that the Club got its name because of the 33 original companies that invest in the Disneyland theme park. They were given a number of passes and it has been kept very exclusive ever since. Membershipped is capped and there has been a waiting list to join for years. Being a member is not cheap either. It costs $25,000 to join and every year you have to pay another annual fee in the thousands. 

It is likely that we will never get to see the inside of Club 33. It turns out that Walt was never able to see it either. He supposedly died 5 months before Club 33 opened meaning that the well-dressed vulture above the clock has likely never spoken. If Club 33 really is your dream we suggest you start saving now. Who knows, in the next 10 to 20 years there may even be an opening.

2,000 years ago Jerusalem was under Roman rule as was much of Europe, the North of Africa, and parts of the Middle East. The height of the Roman Empire came in 117AD. In 132 AD a Jewish man named Shimon Ben-Kosiba led an armed conflict against the Roman Empire for the Judean people. He was known by the name Bar Kokhba which means Son of the Star. Many at the time believed he was the next messiah and he created a massive following.

Over the next four years, the Bar Kokhba revolt took place. During this time the Jewish people started to press their own insignia into Roman coins, declaring them coins of Jerusalem instead. One of these coins was found recently in Jerusalem itself. This is the fourth such coin to have been found within the city parameter and it is causing historians to question their history.

2,000 historic coins to date have been recovered within the city and only four have held the Bar Kokhba marking. There have been many other Bar Kokhba revolt coins discovered but all away from the city. This is because it was the aim and ambition of the group to reclaim Jerusalem but they spent much of the time of the revolt far outside the city. 

There is some debate as to whether they held the city for some time or ever broke through at all. To date, the majority of historians have believed that they never held the city. Some now argue that the coins are proof that they were inside city walls. Others argue that Roman soldiers likely took them back home from battle zones with them.

Whether they were successful or not for a short time is unknown. What is known is that they were causing significant casualties to the Roman army. Emperor Hadrian was forced to take notice of the war and recalled 35,000 soldiers from Britain over a two-year period to squash the revolt. The Bar Kokhba revolt came up against the might of the Roman Empire.

Bar Kokhba himself was killed during the fighting and the entire Jewish army was laid waste. After the defeat, the remaining Jews were sold into slavery and forbidden from living in Jerusalem. Hadrian renamed the territory Syria Palestina. The records now show a total of 580,000 Jewish casualties.

It is incredible to consider that a battle that took place 2,000 years ago still holds such significance today. The ongoing battle between Israel and Palestine shows that the deep-rooted history of this area is still stopping peace from taking place. The war has lasted so long that both parties have now committed atrocities and both feel they have a claim to this land.
While history doesn’t hold the answers it does tell the story and show the shocking death toll that has taken place. The fighting has been taking place for more than 2,000 years and doesn’t look close to stopping. It is one of the greatest tragedies of our world.

The Bar Kokhba coin is an incredibly rare artifact and one of few that has survived to this day. It shows the passion of a small group that tried to stand up to the Roman Empire but ultimately failed. The Empire did eventually fall in 395AD. The size of the Empire had become difficult to maintain and in the end, they could not keep fighting on all fronts.

To help you understand the origin story of Frank Sinatra, we’ve created a brief overview of this incredibly influential artist’s life:

A Family of Immigrants and a Tumultuous Childhood

Frank Sinatra was born on December 12th, 1915 to Marty and Dolly Sinatra. He came from a family of Italian immigrants and the spirit of Italy was always present in his upbringing. However, his birth wasn’t as smooth as one might have hoped. Frank had to be pulled out of his mother’s womb with forceps, a process that ended up harming his face and causing permanent damage to his left eardrum.

Despite Frank Sinatra being known as one of the most well-known male pop stars, he had a rough childhood with regards to looks. For example, the complications of his birth forced him to undergo an intense childhood operation that ended up scarring his face even more, leading children to bully him for his looks.

Pure Passion

One of the things to understand about Frank Sinatra is that he always had a passion for music. When he was only 11 years old, Frank would sing on the streets to earn extra cash, captivating people with his stellar voice. This seemingly natural ability to captivate people that he had was worrisome to his family, as they did not support the idea of him becoming a full-time musician.

However, Frank continued to persevere and would sing throughout his time at school. He would continue to sing with various groups until getting his first big break in 1939 as a lead singer in the Tommy Dorsey band in Chicago. This would earn him $125 a week and helped him transition into being a professional musician!

A Nationwide Phenomenon

After working with a few other jazz bands, Frank Sinatra would make his debut performance as a solo singer on December 30th, 1942. This was the beginning of the star being a complete phenomenon, with many of his fans going to ridiculous ends to get as close to the singer as possible. This was also the time during which he would begin to break into Hollywood films, allowing him to communicate with the public in a new medium.

A Lasting Legacy

Though he would go on to have some controversies later in his life, Frank Sinatra continues to represent a golden era of pop music for many people. Since his early upbringing to his time as one of the most famous men in the world, Frank Sinatra has shown many others how important it is to always chase your dreams!

To most people, John Wayne Gacy was an upstanding member of his community. He was known to entertain the children in his community with his clown act. He also went the extra mile with his make-up on and entertained sick children in the local hospital and performed for free at fund-raisers. However, the man behind the clown was not so kind…

Born on March 17, 1942, in Chicago Gacy suffered severe childhood abuse at the hands of his alcoholic father.  After he escaped this nightmare, he went on to find success as a businessman. He first managed three separate KFC restaurants before starting his construction firm. He also marries his wife Marlynn Myers, and he fathered a son and a daughter with her.  The marriages would not last long though…

In 1968 Gacy was convicted of sexually abusing a 16-year-old. His wife filed for divorce on this basis and he was thrown in jail. When he got out in 1970, he started his own construction business and threw himself into the community. He then started his second marriage with divorcee Carole Hoff in 1972, and all seemed well…

In his free time, Gacy would put on his clown costume and pretend he was Pogo. His clown alter-ego was chirpy but helped the man “regress into childhood.” As a keen Democrat, Gacy was very involved with politics and served on several local committees. He even met with First Lady Rosalynn Carter through his community work. But nobody had any idea about the sick man behind the clown mask…

Gacy lured many of his victim’s to him by telling them he needed their help with “scientific research,” for which he would pay them up to 50 dollars each. He would then ply them with alcohol or trick them into putting handcuffs on, using his clown routine. Then, while defenseless, he would torment his victims and eventually take their lives with his “rope trick”…

Throughout his disturbing career between 1972 and 1978 33 people fell victim to Gacy’s awful clown act. Eventually inspiring the movie IT and the killer clown hype. He bundled the bodies into his home’s crawl space, buried them on his property or dumped them in the local Des Plaines River. Let hope we never hear another story like this again!

Some open cemeteries:

1. Brooklyn – Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn saw a dramatic rise in visitors during recent weeks. The 182-year-old cemetery extends its visiting hours to the visitors. It now opens all four gates so that they can accommodate the flood of guests. The number of visitors has soared as we can see in Detroit, the grounds of many cemeteries also remain open.
2. Detroit – As when the grounds of many cemeteries are working to remain open, visitors’ number has increased. In Detroit, as per some residents, they’ve reportedly visited many cemeteries from the past few weeks.
3. Pennsylvania– Cemeteries like West Laurel in Bala Cynwyd and Laurel Hill in Philadelphia witnesses a surge in visitors to more than 43 percent within a time of two weeks. According to the CEO and President of Pennsylvania cemeteries, people opt to visit them as they need more space, and there is a lack of alternatives. It is also noticed that many urban parks are closed or are dangerously crowded.

There are some of the other cemeteries that have started collecting money to keep gates open and staff them with personnel 24×7. This pandemic is the time when people crave for solace and extra space which nobody can provide other than these historic cemeteries. As per the officials, they take care of and understand the urge to maintain proper social distancing. They’ve also taken measures to ensure the proper safety of visitors. These precautions also include wearing gloves, masks and keeping a safe distance from the passerby.

Pastime from history

In a loser inspection, we see that cemeteries and parks have a lot in common. Many cemeteries are, in fact, certified arboretums. Cemeteries like Green-Wood were constructed as park cemeteries. They can function like parks and offer places for families to picnic and pedestrians to stroll. It has 478 acres of open space and more than 7000 trees that bloom magnolias during the springtime. There are a few significant spots where you can get a few moments of peace. Green-Wood was opened nearly 200 years ago, and since then, New Yorkers flock there. Records show that from the 19^th century, more than half a million visitors visit there each year. Green-Wood was once the most-visited site in the US after Niagara Falls.

While we would rather suggest staying safe at home, if you want to visit there during this pandemic, you must keep safe. The question persists, though, will the tombstone tourism trend continue once the social distancing comes to an end or not?

George Hull was a traveling salesman. He moved around a lot of the states of America and would try to sell the cigars that he made wherever he could. Once in Iowa while trying to sell some cigars to a preacher he became embroiled in a debate about God. The man he was talking to believed that every word in the bible was to be taken literally while Hull, an atheist, felt that the words were intended as stories to teach lessons. The preacher he was talking to was so convinced that he even believed that there were once giants ten feet tall, as it said so in the bible. 

Hull left that conversation astonished at the man’s beliefs and started to think of a way to prank the man, show the fallacies of religion and perhaps make some money. In the space of two years, Hull designed and orchestrated the production of a giant man, made from gypsum. He hoped to convince people that it had become petrified and frozen in stone.

Hull then spoke to his cousin in New York and asked if he could bury the statue on his land. The cousin gladly agreed as long as he could see a share of the profits. He was a farmer and there were plenty of options for places to bury it. They chose a spot near the barn where there were plenty of weeds growing so that it would appear as if the ground had been untouched for a long time. 

A year later the farmer hired some locals to dig a hole by the barn to help him build a well. After a few hours of digging, they hit a stone foot. Once they found it they immediately got excited with one shouting that he had found a buried Indian. Soon the whole town arrived to see the giant man. There had been fossil deposits found in Cardiff years earlier so many were happy to presume that this giant had been petrified by the sewage nearby. The story was taking off. The giant was now real.

When one science lecturer came to say that the statue was simply a statue, our farmer played his part perfectly. He said he was tired of the debate and would simply bury it again. However, locals would not stand for it. They were proud of the statue found in their town and ‘convinced’ the farmer of its worth. He agreed and put it on display for a small price. Soon a group of businessmen offered to buy the statue for $30,000. He gladly accepted the offer and the statue started to travel across America as one of the new wonders of the world. Geologists from New York were now even believing the hype with some calling it the most remarkable find of the century!

Soon though learned people started to point out how it was clearly a fraud and that the story made no sense at all. At the same time, others were trying to get in on the money. One man offered to buy the statue but the sale was refused. Without a care in the world, this same man went and build his own replica and started to tour it around America as well. Soon fake giants were popping up in every state across the country. None of them realized that the frauds they were building were built on a fraud itself.

After a few years though people began to suspect every statue of being a fraud. Hull himself had come out at this point and admitted his scheme. He later tried to repeat the prank with a statue that had a tail in another small town but he was quickly discovered this time and lost a lot of money. He died without riches or fame but delighted in the fact that he had once fooled all of America.

Although the 1916 Summer Olympics were canceled due to the First World War, the sport was still included in the track and field events of the 1906 Intercalated Games. During the first two Olympics, five or six individuals competed for each team. For the 1908 Summer Olympics, eight individuals competed for each team. According to Time, the rules of the game required that the teams pull their opponents six feet away from them.

If both teams failed to perform their tasks, the judges would give the competitors another five minutes to try and make their move. The winner would then be declared based on the points scored. The sport caught the attention of Olympic officials due to its controversial nature. For instance, the American team that won the gold medal in 1904 was allegedly composed of Chicago ringers.

Another controversy occurred during the 1908 Summer Olympics when the American team accused the British team of using illegal shoes. The team members claimed that the British players’ shoes had illegal traction. Alan Knott, a member of the English Tug-of-War Association, said that the Liverpool Police team was supposed to pull their American rivals in bare feet, but they declined. The Americans then withdrew from the competition. Great Britain, on the other hand, won the gold, silver, bronze, and fourth prizes.

Due to the withdrawal of several countries from the competition, the only match involving the two teams was between Sweden and Great Britain. However, after the British team sat down during the second pull, they were disallowed from participating in the match.

What Happened to the Sport After the Olympics?

After 1920, tug-of-war was officially dropped from the Olympics. Great Britain won the most medals during the event’s history. Following the Summer Olympics in 1920, various countries started their own tug-of-war associations. The Amateur Athletic Association of the UK was the first to organize the sport in the country. After the English Tug-of-War Association was founded in 1958, other similar organizations were established in Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

The TWIF was established in 1960 after a meeting between Swedish and British tug-of-war officials in London. It has since grown to include over 50 member nations. Since its inception, international tournaments have been held every year at various levels.

The International Olympic Committee recognizes tug-of-war as a recognized sport. TWIF is working to get the sport reinstated in the Olympic program. Currently, it is held every four years at the World Games. This event is carried out under the IOC’s patronage.

During the early Olympic Games, tug-of-war was only held at Catchweight. Nowadays, it’s held in different weight classes for both men’s and women’s teams. In recent years, mixed-gender teams have also been introduced. These teams are composed of women and men with an equal number of members.

The TOWA supports the idea of bringing back tug-of-war to the Olympics. It’s easy to understand and can be enjoyed by everyone. Also, the results of the matches do not rely on the subjective scoring system. This sport can be easily accessible to everyone since it doesn’t require a huge amount of equipment or facilities.

The Olympic motto is “Faster, Higher, Stronger.” With that in mind, tug-of-war fits the bill perfectly. The TOWA is hoping that the sport will be brought back to the Olympics someday. It is a sport that all countries can enjoy.

Voltaire – 1694-1778

A prolific writer who used his craft to criticize religious and government institutions and to advocate for the separation of church and state as well as various personal freedoms including speech and religion.

Rousseau – 1712-1778

Another writer and contemporary of Voltaire who was also a major influence on modern social thought. His book The Social Contract affected political thought throughout Europe.

Victor Hugo – 1802-1885

One of France’s most famous writers, best known for poetry and the novels Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He was among the early writers of the Romantic movement.

Marat – 1743-1793

A doctor to the aristocracy and scientist who wrote extensively on a variety of experiments. He turned to journalism and politics during the French Revolution and was a fierce defender of the rights of poor people.

Emile Zola – 1840-1902

A writer who wrote many novels and plays that played a major role in French politics as well as the Dreyfus affair. He is now considered a leader in the literary school of French naturalism.

Jean Moulin – 1899-1943

An important figure in the French Resistance during World War II, he served as the first President of the National Council of the Resistance. He died underway to Germany after being captured and tortured by the Gestapo.

Soufflot – 1713-1780

The designer of the Pantheon and one of the founders of the architectural school of neoclassicism. Unfortunately, he died ten years before the Pantheon was finished so he was never able to see his most famous work completed.

Louis Braille – 1809-1852

The inventor of the modern system of reading and writing for blind people that is still in use all over the world to this day. He was blinded in a childhood accident and developed braille as a student at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth.

Marie Curie – 1867-1934

A scientist who is best known for her work with radiation, which eventually led to her death. She was the first female winner of the Nobel Prize and the first person to win it twice. She was also the first woman to hold a professorship at the University of Paris.

The Pantheon makes a wonderful addition to any sightseeing trip to Paris, offering views over the entire city as well as beautiful architecture and fascinating history. It is a place that anyone can enjoy no matter what their interests are.

In effect, the Tony Award impacts the world of Broadway in the same way an Oscar impacts the Hollywood film industry. The Tony Award is the industry’s highest possible honor and helps to cement a play as one of the most successful during its time. Surprisingly these awards, also known as the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, have only been given out since 1947 by the American Theatre Wing. This is quite surprising since many people assume that the award has been around for most of the 20th century.

The awards were originally named for philanthropist, stage director, and accomplished actress Antoinette Perry. The first award ceremony took place on April 6, 1947, on Easter Sunday. It was held in the Grand Ballroom of New York City’s famed Waldorf Astoria hotel. It’s amazing to think how much the award ceremonies have changed throughout decades of renditions.

Unfortunately, Antoinette Perry passed away before the award could be associated with her name. In fact, it was Brock Pemberton, her former work partner, who suggested that an award be named after the late actress. Pemberton, a fellow director and theatre producer knew how impactful Perry was during her time. She trailblazed a path for women in the theatre industry, the impact of which can still be seen today. She didn’t let a field dominated by men stop her from achieving her dreams. She also accomplished a lot of philanthropic work as well, further cementing her as a role model.

The award itself used to even pay tribute to Perry. Herman Rosse designed the original medallion which featured a profile of the late actress on one side. This relief was later removed in order to make room for information regarding the winner including the year, the production name, award category, and more. The opposite side of the medallion depicts the iconic tragedy and comedy masks that have been associated with acting and theatre for a long time. The award underwent further changes in 1967 when it was fixed to a black base.

This is a great backstory, but it still doesn’t really explain why the current name that the awards hold. After all, there’s really no way to derive ‘Tony’ from the award’s original name. Well, the man behind the creation of the medallion also gave it the popular name by which it’s referred to today. Pemberton once off-handedly mentioned the award as a “Tony”. For reasons that will be lost to history, the name stuck. Perhaps Perry would be better known if her name would have stayed attached to the award which was inspired by her illustrious career.

The Switchback Railway was inspired by the nation’s second permanent railway known as the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway. Built-in 1827 by Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co., the railway transported coal cars along a nine-mile descent through the hills of central eat Pennsylvania. The route featured rapid elevation changes (a 665 ft drop at its finale) and swoops that, operated by a single brakeman, would soon become a touchstone tourist attraction. The public quickly turned the coal-hauling railway into the functioning prototype for the roller coaster, some even considering it the world’s first roller coaster.

L.A. Marcus Edna Thompson was one such tourist on the Mauch Chunk Railway, finding the inspiration he would need to build his magnum opus as he traveled downwards up to 50 miles per hour through the wooded hills of east-central Pennsylvania.

L.A. Thompson’s Switchback Railway traveled up to six miles per hour and did not return course in an ovular complete-circuit like modern roller coasters. Instead, passengers would exit the roller coaster at the opposite end of a straight track. The fare to ride the Switchback Railway was just a nickel but would net $600 per day and pay itself off completely in just three weeks.

In the years to follow, Coney Island would be the home to three amusement parks–Dreamland, Luna Park, and Steeplechase–and by the 1920’s, summer crowds of up to one million flocked there every day to enjoy the thriving amusement scene. By just 1900, there would be hundreds of roller coasters around the country whose designers took inspiration from Thompson’s Switchback Railway and expounded on his work.

Thompson himself would go on to build more roller coasters across the United States as well. Such installments would come to feature entertaining additions like winding tunnels, artificial hill lights, replicas of temples, and an ovular complete-circuit remarked for its efficiency. The original closed-loop design was popularized by Charles Alcoke with his contribution, the Serpentine Railway.

The original Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway would close with the rise of the Great Depression in 1933. In 1937, the railway was sold for scrap. In its shadow remains the Switchback Railroad Trail, a hard-packed dirt trail that spans the entire length of the old railway and serves as a great location for bicycling and hiking. Shuttles to the Summit Hill trailhead are available in the town of Mauch Chunk — now known as the town of Jim Thorpe. Bikers descending from the summit can enjoy a 100% downhill trek while enjoying the historic scenery explored by enthusiasts over 150 years ago.