How Halloween went from pumpkins to pin-ups
HALLOWEEN haters might think we have succumbed to American commercialisation but in fact the date has its origins in an ancient Celtic tradition
Today In History
Fats Domino was ‘the real King of rock’n’roll’
While Elvis Presley was perhaps rock’n’roll’s first superstar, he always acknowledged a debt to artists who came before him. One of his idols was the late Fats Domino, an artist of whom Presley once said “that’s the real King of rock’n’roll”
Actor broke barriers on stage and screen
The butler in the sitcom Soap was so popular he got his own show and became one of America’s favourite TV stars
Principessa Mafalda sinking was Italy’s Titanic
Ninety years ago today disaster struck the Italian luxury liner SS Principessa Mafalda. Years later the princess it was named for, also died in tragic circumstances.
More Stories
League flourished as war ended rugby domination
State of Origin has become one of the great sporting contests but it owes its popularity partly to World War I.
Mathematical genius who battled demons
John Forbes Nash was far more than just a character played by Russell Crowe in a Hollywood film. He was a mathematical genius who emerged with his genius intact from a bout of mental illness
Pythons sank fans into the big screen
Forty years ago this month Monty Python made the jump from small screen to cinemas. Despite a tiny budget and creative differences Monty Python And The Holy Grail was a huge hit.
Teen fairytale with King of Pop too good to last
Could teenager Priscilla Wagner Beaulieu have dreamed her introduction to a handsome pop star would unfold as a modern fairytale?
Eurovision’s one hit wonders singing their way to fleeting fame
Some found fame and fortune but others were less fortunate, dropping out of the sight once their time in the Eurovision spotlight was over.
Fears mount for Palmyra’s ancient treasures
Palmyra, an outpost built on an oasis in the Syrian desert and rich in monuments which have stood for thousands of years, has been overrun by Islamic State militants.
Art of illusion kept Bard in the picture
A British historian believes he has finally solved one of the great mysteries of literature – just exactly what did William Shakespeare look like?
World War II vets kicked off outlaw bikie culture
A violent brawl between biker gangs in the US has resulted in nine deaths, an echo of Australia’s Milperra Massacre. But our bikies originally drew inspiration from America’s outlaw motorcycle groups
Heads flew in Malta’s desperate last stand against Turks
It was a matter of life or death on Malta from March 1565, when word arrived that ageing sultan Suleyman the Magnificent intended a final assault on the Knights of St John.
Where are they now? Tracking down the original Mad Max cast
Many of the original cast of Mad Max went on to active careers beyond the film, but none achieved Gibson’s heights of fame
Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/today-in-history/page/107