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Did You Know? Author Edgar Rice Burroughs was from Illinois

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Thursday, September 03, 2015 02:12 PM

Did You Know? Author Edgar Rice Burroughs was from IllinoisAuthor Edgar Rice Burroughs was born in Chicago on September 1, 1875, spending the first years of his life in the Windy City before moving to Idaho on his brother’s ranch in 1891. Although he enlisted in the Army upon graduation, he was discharged after Army physicians discovered a heart problem in 1887. Burroughs returned to Chicago in 1904.

Edgar first began having his works of fiction published in 1912 while working as a pencil sharpener wholesaler. It was during this time that he began to really delve into his writing and developed one of his most beloved characters, Tarzan. A few years later, after achieving much success, he purchased a large ranch in California, which he named “Tarzana.”

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Read more about Edgar Rice Burroughs life

Did You Know? Director Wes Craven had Illinois ties

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Monday, August 31, 2015 04:50 PM

Did You Know? Director Wes Craven had Illinois tiesThe man responsible for many of our nightmares, Wes Craven, earned a degree in English and psychology from Wheaton College in Illinois. He then went on to obtain a master’s degree and pursue a career in the film industry.

Craven created the iconic Freddy Kruger character that terrified viewers for years.

Known for the “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Scream” franchises, Craven went on to win a number of awards throughout his career.

Learn more:
Official Wes Craven website

Did You Know? NBC Channel 5 was the first all-color TV station

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015 04:32 PM

Did You Know? NBC Channel 5 was the first all-color TV stationOn Sunday April 15, 1956, WMAQ-TV became the first television station to broadcast exclusively in color.

At 4:15 p.m., Channel 5 became the world's first all-color TV station after then-President Robert W. Smarnoff pressed a button switching from black and white.

The transformation to all-color cost NBC more than $1.25 million, with an advertising budget of $175,000.

Learn more:
Check out the official NBC website
This site has even more details about the conversion project!

Did You Know? Actress Yvonne Craig was from Illinois

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Tuesday, August 25, 2015 04:26 PM

Did You Know? Actress Yvonne Craig was from IllinoisYvonne Craig, who played Batgirl in the 1960s Batman TV series, was born in Taylorville in 1937. Craig joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as its youngest ballet member in the 1950s. She moved to Los Angeles in 1957 in hopes of continuing her ballet career but instead began a long and successful career in film and television.

One of Craig’s first television roles came in 1958, playing a lead character in the series Perry Mason. Craig would go on to star in High Time (1960) and with Elvis Presley in It Happened at the World’s Fair (1963) and Kissin’ Cousins (1964). Craig began her role as Batgirl in 1967 after the character was introduced in comic books in 1961.

Learn more:
Read more about the life of actress Yvonne Craig

Did You Know? Actress and model Raquel Welch is from Illinois

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Monday, August 24, 2015 03:24 PM

Did You Know? Actress and model Raquel Welch is from IllinoisBorn in Chicago on September 5, 1940 to a Bolivian father and English mother, Raquel Welch has appeared in nearly 40 movies and countless television shows and productions. She landed her first big role in the film “A Swingin’ Summer” in 1965, followed shortly thereafter with “One Million Years B.C.,” a film that solidified her status as a beauty icon.

Welch received a Golden Globe Award for her role in “The Three Musketeers” and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.

Learn more:
Read more about the life and accomplishments of Raquel Welch

More Articles …

  1. Did You Know? The Eads Bridge was the first bridge constructed of cast steel
  2. Did You Know? Illinois was home to the first town founded by an African-American
  3. Did You Know? It’s the birthday of Chicago’s Picasso sculpture
  4. Did You Know? Illinois was one of the first states to ratify the 19th Amendment
  5. Did You Know? The Illinois State Fair runs until Sunday
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