Home - Factinate

Sign up to our newsletter.

History’s most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Making distraction rewarding since 2017.

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

Frank Hayes, The Doomed Jockey

Frank Hayes was an Irish stableman and trainer—but on the fateful day of June 4, 1923, he was a jockey that met a tragic end.

January 12, 2024 Sarah Ng

EDITORIAL

Thomas Ince Met A Mysterious End

Thomas Ince made over 800 films—but to this day, his death remains one the great Old Hollywood mysteries.

December 1, 2023 Sarah Ng

EDITORIAL

Telling The Bees: The Original Buzz Feed

You let family members and friends know when a major life event happens, be it a marriage, birth, or death...but have you considered telling the bees?

November 21, 2023 Samantha Henman

EDITORIAL

The Day Anita Ekberg Snapped

If you want a true femme fatale, look no further than the infamous moment starlet Anita Ekberg had with the paparazzi.

November 3, 2023 Dancy Mason

PEOPLE

The Day Ronald Reagan Was Shot

March 30, 1981: On that day in Washington D.C. John Hinckley Jr. shot, and wounded, President Ronald Reagan. Why did he do it? What lead up to it and what happened after?

October 2, 2024 Jesse Singer

PEOPLE

Troubled Facts About Johnny Cash, The Man In Black

Singer Johnny Cash heroically spoke out for Native Americans, the poor, and the incarcerated—but his personal life was like a black hole filled with scandal.

October 1, 2024 Byron Fast

Cassandra Peterson aka Elvira Portrait Session 1974

PEOPLE

Horrifying Facts About Cassandra Peterson, The Real Elvira

Cassandra Peterson, AKA Elvira, has led a life was every bit as terrifying—and titillating—as the films she presented to audiences.

September 30, 2024 Brendan Da Costa

Actress Sylvia Sidney (1910-1999) in a publicity shot from the 1930’s, United States.

PEOPLE

Otherworldly Facts About Sylvia Sidney, The Actress With A Rollercoaster Life

Sylvia Sidney gained a reputation for being difficult and it destroyed her career. Then, in the 80s, in a strange twist of fate—it saved it.

September 25, 2024 J. Clarke

THINGS

The Weirdest Mixed-Breed Dogs Ever

Have you ever walked past a mixed-breed dog and thought, "What is that?" We have too, that's why we've compiled this list of the weirdest mixed-breed dogs out there.

September 25, 2024 Jack Hawkins

Actor River Phoenix (1970 - 1993), star of "Stand By Me," playfully poses during a 1988 Los Angeles, California, photo portrait session. Phoenix, a rising young film star, tragically died in 1993 outside a Sunset Strip nightclub of a drug overdose.

PEOPLE

Stormy Facts About River Phoenix, Hollywood’s Lost Heartthrob

When River Phoenix collapsed outside the Viper Room, he was with his girlfriend—and she recently broke her silence on the details of that night.

September 23, 2024 David O'Shea

PLACES

Eye-Opening Facts About England, The World's Beloved Old Blighty

England Facts: Before public restrooms in London, men would walk the streets with long cloaks and chamber pots, offering privacy for people who had to go.

July 24, 2023 Miles Brucker

PLACES

Magical Facts About Disneyland And Walt Disney World

July 24, 2023 Eva Blanchefleur

PLACES

Interesting Facts About Athens, The Jewel Of Ancient Greece

July 24, 2023 Kyle Climans

PLACES

Hectic Facts About New York City, The City That Never Sleeps

New York City is one of the most iconic places on earth—but the city that never sleeps still has its fair share of chilling secrets.

July 24, 2023 Carl Wyndham

PLACES

Debauched Facts About Versailles, The Palace Of The Sun King

July 24, 2023 Christine Tran

PLACES

Venerable Facts About The Oldest Cities On Earth

July 24, 2023 Jamie Hayes

THINGS

The Weirdest Mixed-Breed Dogs Ever

Have you ever walked past a mixed-breed dog and thought, "What is that?" We have too, that's why we've compiled this list of the weirdest mixed-breed dogs out there.

September 25, 2024 Jack Hawkins

THINGS

Popular Hairstyles Throughout The Decades

From Mary Pickford’s curls and Marilyn Monroe’s platinum blonde locks to Farrah Fawcett’s bouncy waves and Billie Eilish’s neon green hair, women have been emulating the best celebrity hairstyles for the last century.

September 24, 2024 Jacki Andre

THINGS

40 Times Olympians Lost Their Medals In Disgrace

Winning a medal at the Olympics is the pinnacle of sport, but what happened when these athletes had their medals stripped from them?

August 13, 2024 Jack Hawkins

THINGS

25 Backstabbing Facts About Historical Betrayals

Treachery is always painful. Religions, families, friends, countries—they’ve all felt the sting of betrayal, and can suffer from it for decades and even centuries.

July 22, 2024 Janet Mowat

THINGS

10 Historical Myths That People Still Believe

For some reason, people still believe these historical myths to be true, even though they’ve been proven wrong.

July 4, 2024 Samantha Henman

THINGS

These Toys From Your Childhood Could Be Worth A Lot Of Money

If your parents—or you—were the type to carefully pack away old toys in the attic or basement once you grew out of them, well, you’re in luck. A whole bunch of the toys we grew up with are worth a bunch of money now. Here’s a selection…starting in the $100 range and going all the way up to $3.2 million!

May 24, 2024 Samantha Henman

Before she was Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Cassandra Peterson briefly dated Elvis Presley.

Read More: Horrifying Facts About Cassandra Peterson, The Real Elvira

Tim Burton wrote the crude, crotchety character of Juno in Beetlejuice just for Sylvia Sidney.

Read More: Otherworldly Facts About Sylvia Sidney, The Actress With A Rollercoaster Life

John Hinckley's obsession with the movie "Taxi Driver", and it's young star Jodi Foster, eventually led to his attempt to kill a President.

Read More: The Day Ronald Reagan Was Shot

As a child, River Phoenix moved with his family to Venezuela to be part of the Children of God cult.

Read More: Stormy Facts About River Phoenix, Hollywood’s Lost Heartthrob

Actress Inger Stevens kept her interracial marriage with producer Ike Jones a secret for the sake of her career.

Read More: Ominous Facts About Inger Stevens, Hollywood’s Star-Crossed Starlet

Corgis may be famous for being the Queen's dog, but they were originally bred as Welsh herding dogs, despite their small stature.

Read More: The Weirdest Mixed-Breed Dogs Ever

Read More: Popular Hairstyles Throughout The Decades

Dean Martin Jr. was a singer, actor, professional tennis player, and fighter pilot.

Read More: Memorable Facts About Dean Martin Jr., Golden Boy Gone Wrong

During WWII, "Mad" Jack Churchill charged into battle with a sword, bow and arrow, and bagpipes.

Read More: Legendary Facts About “Mad” Jack Churchill, The Master Of Survival

Jane Birkin's hit song with Serge Gainsbourg, "Je t’aime...moi non plus," was actually written for his ex, Brigitte Bardot.

Read More: Seductive Facts About Jane Birkin, Fashion’s Romantic Icon

Beach Boy Dennis Wilson married the illegitimate daughter of his bandmate and cousin, Mike Love.

Read More: Devastating Facts About Dennis Wilson, The Beach Boy With A Dark Side

Lou Reed said his first musical love was doo-wop.

Read More: Wild Side Facts About Lou Reed, Music’s Artistic Auteur

In the 2001 Daytona 500 race that killed Dale Earnhardt Sr., his son, Dale Jr., came in second place.

Read More: Fast Facts About Dale Earnhardt Sr., NASCAR’s Cursed Rough Racer

John Phillips had an affair with Mia Farrow while she was still with Frank Sinatra.

Read More: Troubled Facts About “Papa” John Phillips, The Unhinged Band Leader

Ella Harper was called the "Camel Girl."

Read More: Tragic Facts About Ella Harper, The Girl With The Backward Knees

Hope Cooke was the first American-born Queen consort of Sikkim, and the last Queen consort of Sikkim.

Read More: Enlightened Facts About Hope Cooke, American-Born Royalty

Gypsy Rose Lee's mother faked her birth certificate to skirt child labor laws.

Read More: Revealing Facts About Gypsy Rose Lee, The Best Burlesque Performer

After her ex-husband Rudolph Valentino died, Natacha Rambova claimed to be able to make contact with him through the spirit world.

Read More: Chaotic Facts About Natacha Rambova, The Queen Of Hollywood Scandal

King Charles IX of France, son of Catherine de' Medici, became king at just 11 years old—and only survived until he was 23.

Read More: Cursed Facts About Charles IX, The Boy King Of France

Mary Vetsera was just 17 years old when she died in an infamous "love pact."

Read More: Grim Facts About Mary Vetsera, The Doomed Mistress

Bon Scott taught himself to play the bagpipes for the song “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)."

Read More: Unbridled Facts About Bon Scott, Rock's Lost Superstar

Jane Greer road to fame started with a photoshoot for the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, landing her on the cover of Life magazine.

Read More: Undisclosed Facts About Jane Greer, The Noir Actress That Never Was

Ronnie Van Zant claimed he knew he wouldn't live to see 30. He lost his life in a plane crash 87 days before his 30th birthday.

Read More: Riotous Facts About Ronnie Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd's Doomed Frontman

Marion Jones was stripped of her medals seven years after winning multiple golds in Sydney's 2000 Summer Olympics.

Read More: 40 Times Olympians Lost Their Medals In Disgrace

Jerry Garcia picked the name "Grateful Dead" out of a dictionary.

Read More: Mind-Blowing Facts About Jerry Garcia, Rock’s Doomed Hippie Icon

Jeffrey Hudson has gone down in history as the "Queen's Dwarf"—but one bloody duel destroyed his life.

Read More: Jaw-Dropping Facts About Jeffrey Hudson, The “Queen’s Dwarf”

Ella Harper was called the "Camel Girl."

Read More: Tragic Facts About Ella Harper, The Girl With The Backward Knees

June Carter Cash wrote the song "Ring of Fire," and it was first recorded by her sister Anita.

Read More: Intimate Facts About June Carter Cash, Country Music’s Original Lover Girl

A hotel's bright sign shined through the window of Howard Hughes' bedroom, so he bought the hotel and moved the sign.

Read More: Unfortunate Facts About Howard Hughes, The Man Who Lost It All

Hope Cooke was the first American-born Queen consort of Sikkim, and the last Queen consort of Sikkim.

Read More: Enlightened Facts About Hope Cooke, American-Born Royalty

Sign up to our newsletter.

Want to learn something new every day?

Thank you!

Want to read more?