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
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
Victory turned into right royal night on the town
London streets pulsed on the evening of May 8, 1945. Hitler was dead, the Nazis eliminated and a decade of uncertainty settled after six years of wartime fear, loss and grief.
Sydney track tragedy cut short brilliant career
It is a day that will live in infamy in Australian Speedway history — when Sydney Speedcar star Jeff Freeman, 27, crashed to his death at Sydney’s Westmead Speedway.
Princess’s name resonates richly in roll call of Europe’s royalty
Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, have endowed their daughter with names rich in history
Child stars grow up broken
The death of the youngest cast member of the Partridge Family, on top of news last week of the suicide of one of the young twins from Everybody Loves Raymond, shows how hard it can be as the youngest member of TV family
Scramble to escape as North Vietnamese entered Saigon
NORTH Vietnamese Communist forces had encircled Saigon as Vietnamese war orphans airlifted to Australia 40 years ago were escorted from Sydney to new homes across Australia.
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