On September 11, 2001, Actor Steve Buscemi Returned to His Old Job as a NYC Firefighter to Hunt for Survivors

On September 11, 2001, Steve Buscemi – the US actor known for his depictions of gangsters and weirdos in shows such as The Sopranos and The Big Lebowski – returned to his old job as a New York City firefighter. He worked 12-hour shifts for several days alongside other firefighters, searching for survivors in the rubble of the World Trade Center.

Steve Buscemi, pictured on the far left, joined the New York firefighters after 9/11.

Buscemi had taken the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) civil service test when he was 18 and used to work as a FDNY firefighter in downtown Manhattan in the 1980s.

He later left the service to become an actor but has remained in touch with New York firefighter causes. He is often seen speaking at union rallie. In 2014, he produced and hosted a documentary called “A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY,” which provides an in-depth look at the life and challenges of New York City firefighters.

The actor on duty in the early 1980s.

At the time, he said of his efforts during the rescue: “It was a privilege to be able to do it. It was great to connect with the firehouse I used to work with and with some of the guys I worked alongside. And it was enormously helpful for me because while I was working, I didn’t really think about it as much, feel it as much.”

Very few photos exist of Buscemi working tirelessly at the World Trade Center as he wasn’t there for publicity. When people tried to snap photos or interview him, he outright refused. There is little photographic evidence, though the picture below purports to be him.

Buscemi has used his platform to draw attention to the health struggles many first responders have faced following 9/11, including respiratory problems and cancers.

He is a board member of Friends of Firefighters, an organization dedicated to supporting active and retired FDNY firefighters and their families.

The FDNY honored Buscemi with a special commendation for his service during the aftermath of 9/11, recognizing his contributions and volunteer work.

Of the nearly 3,000 victims killed in the 9/11 attacks, 343 were firefighters. Tragically, there were 75 firehouses in which at least one member was killed, and the FDNY also lost its department chief, and first deputy commissioner.

Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara Recreated the Iconic 1957 Photo of Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield

In 2014, over 57 years after Sophia Loren was photographed shooting some serious side-eye at Jayne Mansfield at a Hollywood party, Sophia Loren has finally explained what was happening in that infamous photo. In a nod to that classic snapshot, Claire (Julie Bowen) and Gloria (Sofia Vergara) recreated the moment, and it was showcased as part of Haley’s (Sarah Hyland) photo exhibit in Modern Family’s Season 5 episode, “iSpy.”

In an interview, Bowen discussed how she felt pressured by the press to appear in conflict with Vergara, who played her stepmother on the long-running sitcom. “They were just determined to pit us against each other, like we hated each other,” she said. “It’s this scarcity mindset that there's only one woman who can be happy at a time.”

By the time Modern Family had gotten to its eighth season, rumors of a “feud” between Bowen and Vergara had been so blown out of proportion that Bowen appeared on the Ellen show to quash them - wearing Vergara's clothes.

“Every night I get a call or email that says, ‘So-and-so trash mag will be running a story that you are icy to Sofía Vergara because you are jealous of her fame,’” she explained. “So I email her last night and then we talk and I’m like, ‘What should I say?’ because we're friends.” In her best Vergara impression, Bowen quoted, “‘Just borrow my blouse!’” And so she did.

As Bowen explained, the “feud” between the two stars had been entirely fabricated. “I love Sofía, and I love how different we are, and I love that she is funny and self-effacing and bawdy, and she loves life and she loves dancing and eating cake, and all of these things.”

You Can Actually Visit Indiana Jones’ Boyhood Home in Colorado

Many don’t know, but Colorado is home to Indiana Jones himself. In Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, (1989) Henry Jones Jr. traveled to his father’s home in Antonito, Colorado. The house he visited in the movie still stands today!

Near the beginning of the movie a young Indiana Jones, played by River Phoenix, has several scenes in the house that help to set up the back story of where and when the action oriented archaeologist obtained his signature fedora.

The house, built in 1888, has since been kept by a number of individuals, eventually turning into an Indiana Jones themed Bed and Breakfast, and you can book a room for yourself and relive some movie history.

Elsie Allcock, the Woman Who’s Lived in the Same Terraced House for 105 Years

When Elsie Allcock was born in 1918, George V was king, Britain ruled the largest empire in history and the First World War was still a few months away from ending. Since then more than a century of history has passed including another World War, mankind landing on the moon, the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, the invention of the internet and so much more. Through it all, Elsie has stayed living in that same home she was born in 105 years ago, a terraced house on Barker Street in Huthwaite.

According to The Sun, Elsie’s family first started living in the house in 1902, where her father began renting it for the rate of seven shillings and sixpence, or about £30 in today’s money.

The youngest of five children, Elsie was born in an upstairs bedroom on June 28, 1918, just as the First World War drew to a close. She admits it was a bit of a squeeze at bedtime and often found herself topping and tailing with her older siblings.

When Elsie left school at the age of 14 she stayed at home to help look after the family following the death of her mum, Eliza, who died from pneumonia in 1932. She married in 1941 to Bill Allcock from Hilcote in Derbyshire, who died in 1995 from cancer after 55 years of being happily married.

Elsie went on to purchase her childhood home for £250 in 1960 after arranging a loan with the council following the death of her father in 1949.

“We didn’t have £250, so I went to the council and asked for a loan,” she told The Sun. “They agreed and the house was ours. We kept the outside loo - it still works. Very little has changed. I wouldn’t have been happy anywhere else.”

Elsie- whose hobbies include gardening and knitting- and Bill had two boys, six grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. The house is now worth £75,000 but for Elsie, it’s simply priceless.

“I’ve never desired to live anywhere else—this is my home, and it holds immeasurable value to me,” she said.

Elsie Allcock, pictured here in 1922, was born in a bedroom on June 28, 1918, during World War One.

Elsie aged 12 (left) with her Niece Joyce (right) in the back yard.

Elsie in 1944.

She went on to marry husband Bill in 1941, during World War Two.

Elsie (L) with her old neighbor, Mrs Tims in 1944.

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Madonna Inspiration in Jean Harlow

“Secret” is a song by Madonna from her sixth studio album, Bedtime Stories (1994). It was released by Maverick Records on September 27, 1994, as the lead single from the album. The cover art of the single showed a new look for Madonna, with blonde hair and style compared to the look of 1930s American actress, Jean Harlow. Shot by photographer Patrick Demarchelier in black-and-white, the image showed the singer slouched on a sofa with her dress down and revealing her translucent brassiere.

According to Lucy O’Brien, the general critical consensus about Bedtime Stories was “Madonna in retreat. Still smarting from criticism over the Sex book, she [evolved] into a softer, more gentle image. Yet despite the pastel tones of her new look, there was also a sense of grit. She combined this to startling effect with the music video for ‘Secret’.”

Madonna knew that a lot was riding on her first visual after the Erotica era, and wanted to create an effect with it. The video was directed by Melodie McDaniel, who had previously gained acclaim as a photographer for album artwork and also as music video director for bands like The Cranberries and Porno for Pyros. However, Madonna was more interested in one of McDaniel’s earlier short films, where she portrayed baptism combining with voodoo rituals. She enlisted McDaniel and explained that she was “drawn to the rawness of [McDaniel’s] film.” Madonna wanted to tone down her image and according to McDaniel:

“She was ready to go there... Madonna had a blonde Jean Harlow look at the time. I wanted to combine that old classic Hollywood mix with the edginess of modern contemporary, but make it feel timeless. I was trying to think of something different, something real... It was awesome I got this break, but I was freaked out. I was jumping from young artists to working with an icon... I think she was drawn to the rawness of my work.”

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In 2018, Nick Castle Recreated Iconic Behind the Scenes Photos From the Set of “Halloween” After 40 Years

Nick Castle is an American actor, screenwriter, and film director, best known for his role as Michael Myers in Halloween (1978).

Originally, Castle, a childhood friend of director John Carpenter, was just there to watch his friend make a movie. However, it was at the suggestion of Carpenter that he take up the role of Michael Myers rather than paying a stuntman to do the role. Castle was payed about twenty-five dollars a day for his role in the film.

Michael was portrayed by Nick Castle in almost every scene, except for some pick-up shots and the unmasking scene, where he was replaced by Tony Moran. Castle admitted he was disappointed to not be the face shown, but understood that Carpenter wanted a more “angelic” face to juxtapose with Myers’ ghastly deeds. However, there is a scene where Castle appears as Michael without the mask, when Michael leaps on top of the car in the rain at the beginning of the film. The scene was lit only by the car’s taillights and lasted not even two seconds, so many people do not remember Castle in the shot. Castle had to do the take in the cold water many times, and got sick as a result. However, the experience was mainly fun for Castle. He can be seen in many production stills having fun with the mask. These include pretending to kiss Jamie Lee Curtis, pretending to drink some Dr. Pepper, and holding the mask next to his own face with a funny expression.

Nick Castle didn’t reprise his role in any of the Halloween sequels or reboots produced between 1981 and 2009. He would return to portray the role of Michael Myers/the Shape for the 2018 movie Halloween, which follows on forty years since the first one and ignores all sequels released in-between, making him the third actor (the first two being George P. Wilbur and Tyler Mane) to play Michael in more than one film.

30 Fascinating Then and Now Photos Capture Yonge Street, Toronto in 1954 and 2014

Yonge Street is a major arterial route in the Canadian province of Ontario connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes.

Yonge Street, Toronto in 1954 and 2014

Once the southernmost leg of provincial Highway 11, linking the provincial capital with northern Ontario, Yonge Street has been referred to as “Main Street Ontario” and (including the Bradford-to-Barrie extension) is 86 kilometers (53 mi) long.

In Toronto and York Region, Yonge Street is the north-south baseline from which street numbering is reckoned east and west. The eastern branch of the subway Line 1 Yonge–University serves nearly the entire length of the street in Toronto; it serves as the spine of the Toronto subway system, linking to suburban commuter systems such as the Viva Blue BRT.

Yonge Street is a commercial main thoroughfare rather than a ceremonial one, with the Downtown Yonge shopping and entertainment district containing landmarks such as the Eaton Centre and Yonge-Dundas Square.

These fascinating photos from Howard of Yonge Street, Toronto in 1954 and 2014 that show how this street has changed for 60 years.

 83 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014

85-87 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014

207 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014

243 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014

271 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014

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The Amazing Story of Eddie Munster’s Kustom Chain-Link Bike From ‘The Munsters’ (1964)

Eddie Munster’s kustom chain-link bike built by famous customizer George Barris, who also built the Munster Koach and Grampa Munster’s coffin car: Dragula. The bicycle was never featured on the show, it was used by the child actor Butch Patrick to bike around Universal Studios backlot.

At one point during the show’s run George Barris came up with the idea that 11-year-old Butch Patrick, who played the series’ youngest character Eddie Munster, should also have a kustom-styled machine to ride around on. Barris thought it would be a fun thing to do for Butch  especially since the two of them got along so well together during his visits to the set. Butch was even invited by George to come over to the Barris kustom shop, where he was free to wander around and check out all the new projects.

George’s idea to make a kustom for Butch’s character Eddie Munster seemed like a great idea, especially since the Barris-made “Koach” and “Dragula” cars had been worth their weight in gold for appeal and publicity. This time around, though, it wasn’t going to be a spooky kustom car that would be made, but a spooky “kustom bicycle.” The bike that Barris proposed was not going to be any ordinary pedal-powered machine either, it was going be extraordinary. His expert team of specialists would see to that. A kustom bicycle for Eddie Munster had the potential to generate some good publicity; so, Barris gave the green light for the project to begin.

After Barris finalized the basic design concept it was decided that the main fabrication duties would be overseen by one of the shop’s most talented employees, Skip Barrett. The bike’s general specifications would be based around the popular 20-inch “high-rise” bikes available at the time, the Schwinn Stingray to be specific.

The outstanding feature of Eddie’s kustom bike would be its frame, which would be completely hand-made from lengths of welded steel chain, using Stingray frame tubes as a template. Of course some original Stingray frame components were used on the build, like the head tube, bottom bracket shell, rear dropouts, and a few inches of the seat post tube.

After getting the OK from Barris, Skip Barrett contacted the well-known fabricator and pin-striper Von Dutch, to see if he could do some of the fabrication work for the project. Von Dutch had done various jobs for the Barris shop over the years and seemed like the kind of guy who might be interested in an unusual project. Curiously, Von Dutch found the Eddie Munster chain bike project quite interesting, and immediately decided to sign onto the task of fabricating the chain link frame himself. Skip could not have been more pleased. In fact (as it turned out) the bike’s fabrication eventually wound up being a total collaborative effort between the two men.

Kool Components

The fork used on the Munster chain bike was a stock “Schwinn” unit, like the ones found on the Stingray “Super/Deluxe” model, (but with the chrome truss rods removed), and featured a small tassel hung off the spring bolt next to the rubber bumper.

The wheels were standard Stingray size (20”) with the rear sporting a “Sturmey-Archer” 3-speed hub (probably a S.A. “TriCoaster” model) controlled by a S.A. 3-speed trigger shifter mounted to the seat post.

The handlebars were standard “Wald” high-rise type, with a crossbar installed to serve as a mount for an antique bicycle lamp. A clear round “Plexiglas” windshield was mounted to the upper front section of the handlebars, and featured a spider web design- complete with spider. Arcing at the top of this windscreen was the hand-painted letters of Eddie’s name. Finishing off the handlebars were bright red Schwinn-type handle grips with tassels used for streamers, and a small looping bulb horn.

The seat was a plush banana-type  featuring black coffin-style upholstery and a decorative band of gold-colored trim running along its lower edge.  The sissy bar started off as stock 36-inch “Bill Mathews Corporation” unit, which was factory-made with a bent-back rounded top and a metal ring welded on about 8 inches above the seat mount holes. Von Dutch then gave it some additional metal work. Decorative elements were welded onto the tubes to give it an ornamental "creeping vine" type of effect, finished off with a coating of gold paint, the Chain Bike’s sissy bar was as wild as any seen on a chopper motorcycle. Mounted behind the seat was an antique brass tail lamp complete with a red lens. Finally, rounding off the rear of the bike was a chrome plated “Bill Mathews Corporation” nerf bar, similar in style to push bars seen on hot rods and dragsters, the nerf bar was bolt-mounted to the bottom axle holes of the sissy bar and covered the rear tire at the 10 o’clock position.

Rattling around at Universal Studios

When all these elements were put together it resulted in one of the wildest kustom bicycles made up to that point in time. Unfortunately, the bike never appeared in any episodes of The Munsters TV show. But as long as the series was being filmed, Butch Patrick had exclusive use of the chain bike to explore the back lots of Universal Studios. Between takes Butch would sometimes ride around on the bike in full costume- delighting everybody who saw him, and (supposedly) he even crashed the Chain Bike on at least one occasion.

Kids who watched The Munsters in the 1960s never got to see Eddie’s chain bike, and only a few insiders knew anything about the chain bike story until about ten years ago. Luckily, the bike itself has survived, along with a couple of vintage snapshots and a few documentation photos taken by Barris after the bike was completed. The main reason we know of the bike today is because a bicycle magazine (Lowrider Bicycle) ran an article on it back in the late 1990s, they managed to locate a few old photos of the chain bike and then speculated on what its significance was, effectively creating an origin myth for the lowrider bicycle movement.

The Chain Bike Survives

Barris eventually sold the bike a few years after The Munsters series stopped production. It wound up on display at Jim Brucker’s “Movieworld- Cars of the Stars” museum in California (where Von Dutch worked) sometime before 1973, and was eventually sold at auction in 1985. The bike has had a few different owners over the years, and is presently in the collection of a Munster aficionado living in the American West.

Although the bike is still essentially intact, it is now missing its windshield, head and tail lamps, and rear nerf bar. It appears that these parts were taken off the chain bike sometime in the late 1960s.

(This original story was published on That 70’s Page)

Grandparents Recreated Their Wedding Photo Shoot to Celebrate 59th Anniversary

When Karen and Gary Ryan, both 79, got married in July of 1962 in Pocatello, Idaho, they said their wedding day looked very different to the ones we’re used to seeing today.

“It was so simple,” Karen told Good Morning America. “We went down the aisle, said our vows and went to the basement of our church for the reception.”

“I think we had punch and cookies. It was all over within an hour,” added Gary, who now has two sons and five grandchildren with Karen.

The couple’s daughter-in-law, Nikki, and granddaughter, McCall, each have their own wedding photography business and came up with the idea to stage a wedding photo shoot after the family found Karen’s wedding dress in storage at their current home in Handford, California.

The Ryans rented Gary a white tux to match the one he wore in 1962 and spent an hour one afternoon snapping photos of the couple and recreating special details from their original wedding day, and adding some modern traditions. The couple did a “first look” during the shoot where Karen surprised Gary in her dress for the first time in nearly six decades.

“We got my grandpa a tux and my grandma fit into her exact same dress,” Nikki wrote on her Instagram. “Then they did a first look and it brought tears to all of our eyes. Seriously, it was the cutest surprise to see their reactions. We had them cut their cake, make a toast and even do their first dance.”

The pair popped champagne and fed each other cake, true to their original reception all those years ago. Karen even wore the veil garter that came with her wedding dress.

The Ryans said one difference between weddings then and now is the price tag. The couple estimated their 1962 nuptials cost $500, a far cry from The Knot’s average 2019 wedding cost of $23,000.

“They spent $500 and they are still happy and in love,” said McCall.

(Photos © Nikki Ryan Photography, via Good Morning America)

Amazing Then and Now Photos of Grotte du Grand Roc in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, France

Grotte du Grand Roc is a cave of calcite concretions, with no history of being used by prehistoric people. It is between Laugerie Basse and the Gorge d’Enfer.

In 1922, Jean Maury, who was then an archaeologist at Laugerie Basse, noticed a small natural terrace halfway up the great cliff of the Grand Roc. He quickly climbed up to discover a small crack from which came a small spring. Unaware of the origin of this flow, his inquiring mind rapidly imagined that a hidden cavity might reveal the source. After two years of hard work and a last mining foray on April 29, 1924, Jean Maury, his sister and daughter, entered the untouched cave.

“Shouts of joy and the national anthem first saluted the discovery. We could admire marvelous stalactites and other strange forms, very clear and surprising, looking as if they had never been seen by anyone before, and others which seemed to come straight out of unrealizable dreams – until the candles we used to light up the way began to burn down too far for us to continue. But at what point had we entered the cave? We passed a column again in the form of a cross, which we identified as the central point. After groping along for a while, we heard our parents calling and followed their voices to find, at last, the fox hole through which we had come. Drained of all anxiety, we presented ourselves proudly in our soaked clothes spattered with mud, filled with enthusiasm by what we had seen.”

The Grotte du Grand Roc opened in 1927; following the discovery in 1924, 3 years were necessary to make the interior and the exterior of the cave suitable for visitors.

The first guests only had candles, and although it was thus a quite picturesque visit, not much could be seen. Acetylene (carbide) lamps were a big improvement which came later, and in 1934 electricity was installed. In 1993, the lighting of the cave was entirely reorganized. Engineers managed to match the various features of the site such as fragility, difficulty of access, and necessary preservation with a genuine artistic view of all the formations in the cave.

(via Don’s Maps)

Dolly Parton Recreated Her 1978 Playboy Cover

The legendary country singer Dolly Parton just recreated her iconic 1978 Playboy magazine cover for her husband Carl Thomas Dean’s 79th birthday.

Dolly Parton recreated 1978 Playboy photoshoot.

“Today is July 20. It’s my husband Carl’s birthday and you’re probably wondering why I’m dressed like this? Well, it’s for my husband’s birthday,” she said in a video shared on Instagram.

Parton explained in the video that she originally planned to pose in Playboy when she was 75-years-old but unfortunately, the magazine is no longer in existence. “Remember some time back I said I was gonna pose on Playboy magazine when I’m 75? Well, I’m 75 and they don’t have a magazine anymore.”

Dolly Parton recreated her 1978 Playboy cover in honor of husband’s birthday.

Of course, that didn’t stop the one and only Dolly. “My husband always loved the original cover of Playboy, so I was trying to think of something to do to make him happy,” she told her fans. “He still thinks I’m a hot chick after 57 years and I’m not going to try to talk him out of that and I hope he agrees.”

Parton became the first country singer to pose on the cover of Playboy – under the condition that she did not have to get naked for the shoot. She suited up and posed for a recreation of the original portrait before surprising Carl with both versions as his birthday gift. As she cleverly proclaimed in her Instagram caption, “It’s always #HotGirlSummer for my husband, Carl. Happy birthday my love!”

Dolly Parton’s iconic 1978 Playboy cover.