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Meg Ryan has been a Hollywood fixture for the better part of four decades. Best known for rom-com romps such as Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, the actress’s off-screen life has been equally romance and comedy-filled....

VIDEO

The House of Tudor had more than its fair share of scandalous figures, from Henry VIII’s many marriages to the intrigue and plots of the court of Elizabeth I. But few remember the twisted tale of Mary Tudor—the English princess who briefly became Queen of France. From her secret marriage to her bitter rivalry with Anne Boleyn, Mary packed a lot into her short life.

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Francis I of France is inevitably compared to Henry VIII. Both kings had big personalities, big love affairs, and big scandals that rocked the face of Europe. But there’s a lot more to Francis than just the similarities to the Tudor counterpart. From his unlikely ascension to the throne to his brutal defeats and torturous later years, Francis did not languish in his neighbor's shadow.

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Mary FitzRoy was born into a powerful and ambitious noble family in 16th century England, and her prospects only improved when she married the illegitimate son of the King. The untimely loss of her husband, however, threw the young Duchess into a whirlwind of political brinksmanship, betrayal, and battle. The unassumingly clever Mary, however, proved more than capable of handling herself.

VIDEO

A gentleman to some and a menace to others, John Dillinger put America in a frenzy with a spree that led to the formation of the FBI itself—until his luck ran out.

VIDEO

Imagine a world where burly Norse warriors discover a new continent—and then just... walk away. Wild, right? Get ready for a story into why the Vikings pulled the ultimate “not interested” move on North America. But first, an introduction.

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PEOPLE

John Belushi was more than one of Saturday Night Live’s first cast members, breakout stars, and hottest mess. He was the show's first and biggest tragedy. But the scandals didn’t end with Belushi’s unexpected end. From murder trials to heinous accusations

PEOPLE

There’s a reason more than one person claimed Stevie Ray Vaughan reduced the stage to a pile of smoking cinders—his guitar didn’t just sing, it blazed.

EDITORIAL

One look at "The Black Garbo" Nina Mae McKinney, and people saw a bona fide star. But Hollywood simply wasn't ready for her.

PEOPLE

From her poverty-stricken childhood to her tumultuous and occasionally violent marriage, not even a life of sorrow could keep Loretta Lynn down.

PEOPLE

The tabloids had a field day with Anna Nicole Smith—but her sudden death at the age of 39 was one of entertainment’s greatest tragedies.

PEOPLE

Gloria Swanson was the Queen of the Silent Era, but all the fame in the world couldn't save her from an utterly heartbreaking life.

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We may be standing on the shoulders of giants—and, if some legends are believed, that phrase might be shockingly literal.

THINGS

The world is filled with spectacular, bizarre, and iconic buildings—but these structures often have a surprisingly dark history.

THINGS

So notorious that its name is synonymous with madness, the history of Bethlem Royal Hospital, or Bedlam, is filled with some of humanity's darkest moments.

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Welcome To The Mall, Population: Your Entire ChildhoodFor decades, American malls had a remarkably familiar cast: bookstores, music shops, toy stores, electronics counters, and enough teen-clothing chains to outfit a high school. Those names did...

EDITORIAL

The history of Mexico City stretches back almost two centuries before the Spanish ever set foot in the Americas. Rather, the Spanish built their capital on top of the ashes of one of the most beautiful and unique cities in history: Tenochtitlan.

PLACES

Alcatraz was only in operation for less than 30 years, but in that time it gained the reputation as one of the most notorious prisons in American history.

EDITORIAL

The subject of countless songs, referring to loss or longing as a broken heart goes back to ancient times. But hey, it’s just a metaphor. No one ever died of a broken heart, right? Well…not quite. 

EDITORIAL

Opposition to disco was so strong—it inspired one of the most disturbing Major League Baseball promotions in history...Disco Demolition Night.

THINGS

The world is filled with spectacular, bizarre, and iconic buildings—but these structures often have a surprisingly dark history.

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You know you want to know, so here they are: Here are the celebrity pandemic breakups that have occurred in these last two, awful years.

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Some of the most dangerous products were commonplace in our air, water, and food supply for decades.

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Diana and Camilla will always be nemeses—and recently, some believe Camilla made a cruel request to Queen Elizabeth that rubbed salt in the wound.



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