Our Malls Aren’t What They Used to be

by Sarah Anne Lloyd interestingfacts.com    The iconic American mall emerged in the 1950s as a “third place” — a social environment separate from home and work — for the growing suburbs.    Typically anchored by a department store, malls offered shoppers a chance to reach multiple places on foot, at least once they parked …

Some Of History’s Best, Wittiest Responses

Some Of History’s Best, Wittiest Responses by Kevin Burton     Sometimes a question is a softball, served up right into your wheelhouse, ready to be hit out of the park.    But if you’re like me, you usually think of the witty, brilliant response after the fact, a day or two later.    Don’t you …

Keepin’ It Real About The Story Of Woodstock

by Rob Patterson Best Classic Bands    There are two Woodstock festivals that happened in 1969: First and better known is the Woodstock Myth: the paramount Aquarian Age experience, as the mythic echoes imply, and they are not without a sizable measure of truth in some ways.    The second is what really happened: the reality of …

Dolly Parton: One Thing Americans Agreed On

by Robin Levinson-Kingand and Sheila Flynn BBC    Dolly Parton was a lot of things – a country musician, a philanthropist, an actress, a storyteller and a businesswoman. One thing she never was, however, was a politician.    But don’t think it’s because no one asked her. In 1999, during an appearance on the talk …

Country Music Icon Dolly Parton Dies At 80

by Kevin Burton    Sometimes at the movies, the writers ask you to suspend disbelief. For one 70s song, I couldn’t do it.    The song is “Jolene” by Dolly Parton.    In a quivering delivery, Dolly begs this Jolene character, “please don’t take my man.” I just never could buy that.    I thought, …

“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” Turns 50

by Kevin Burton    The song that topped the pop chart 50 years ago today was for me, a guilty pleasure.    “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee was an international smash.  In addition to the US, it was number 1 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Rhodesia, South Africa, …

1970s Songs That Were Banned From Radio

by Kevin Burton    If one of your favorite new songs got banned from commercial radio today, you might not even know it. That, of course, would tamp down the outrage a bit.    But back in the day radio was king, and airplay, or lack thereof, had big sales implications.    What follows is …

12 American Terms Used Around The World

by Dictionary Scoop    American English has influenced global vocabulary for more than a century through movies, advertisements, literature, music, businesses, and technology.    Some words that began as distinctly American expressions eventually became common almost everywhere, even in places where English is not an official language. Here are 12 Americanisms have crossed oceans and …

The Secrets Hidden Within Art Masterpieces

by Dictionary Scoop    Art is often more than just visually stunning; it can carry deep, hidden meanings and symbols that offer a richer experience when understood.    From elements that tell part of the artwork’s story to deliberate messages and strange secrets, here are 15 famous artworks with hidden layers you might not have noticed before. 1-The Mona …

Is Ringo’s New Record Better Than Paul’s

by Kevin Burton    I’ve had a ton of fun writing about pop music on Page 7. But I have juuuuust about talked myself out of the notion that I am any kind of knowledgeable, creditable music critic.    And I’m getting close to swearing off all music critics. I mean, we like what we …