Archive for the 'Grab Bag Legends' Category

Was Samuel Richardson’s Pamela Written as a Self-Help Book?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about novels and novelists and whether they are true or false. Click here to view an archive of the novel urban legends featured so far. NOVEL URBAN LEGEND: Pamela began originally as basically a self-help book. What we now know as “self-help” books […]

Did Cervantes Write Don Quixote While in Prison?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about novels and novelists and whether they are true or false. Click here to view an archive of the novel urban legends featured so far. NOVEL URBAN LEGEND: Miguel de Cervantes wrote Don Quixote while in prison. Don Quixote, or as it was […]

Did Cole Porter Work On Song Lyrics While Lying Crushed Under a Horse?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about musicals and whether they are true or false. Click here to view an archive of the musical urban legends featured so far. MUSICAL URBAN LEGEND: Cole Porter worked on song lyrics while lying crushed underneath a horse. Cole Porter is one of […]

Was “Edelweiss” Based on an Austrian Folk Song?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about musicals and whether they are true or false. Click here to view an archive of the musical urban legends featured so far. MUSICAL URBAN LEGEND: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s song “Edelweiss” is based on an Austrian folk song. “Edelweiss” was the last song […]

Were the Kennedys First Called “Camelot” Because of the Musical Camelot?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about musicals and whether they are true or false. Click here to view an archive of the musical urban legends featured so far. MUSICAL URBAN LEGEND: The Kennedys being referred to as “Camelot” came about directly because of the musical Camelot. When John […]

Was Mr. Potato Head Nearly Just a Cereal Giveaway?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about toys and whether they are true or false. Click here for an archive of all toy urban legends featured so far! TOY URBAN LEGEND: Mr. Potato Head quite nearly was “doomed” to simply being a cereal giveaway. In 1949, a toy developer […]

Was John Tyler Playing Marbles When He Found Out He Was Now President?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about toys and whether they are true or false. Click here for an archive of all toy urban legends featured so far! TOY URBAN LEGEND: John Tyler was playing marbles when he was informed that President Harrison had died and Tyler was now […]

Was Play-Doh Created as Wallpaper Cleaner?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about toys and whether they are true or false. Click here for an archive of all toy urban legends featured so far! TOY URBAN LEGEND: Play-Doh was created as and originally produced as wallpaper cleaner! It’s often fascinating to look back at every […]