Arts & Entertainment

Do you ever feel like you have the most common name ever? From Emily to Michael to Sarah, these names have defined decades.

The chemistry between Stan Lee's script and Steve Ditko's art made the tale of a high school outcast accidentally bitten by a radioactive spider an instant success.

Is it true that Leonardo da Vinci and Isaac Newton played a role in the invention that lead to Johnny Carson? Stay tuned!

Pomp and Circumstance was originally used in King Edward VII’s coronation. Four years later, it was played as everyone was leaving Yale University because the song's composer was receiving an honorary degree.

Comic book writers and fans explore how the X-Men addressed the AIDS epidemic through the Legacy Virus storyline.

In the 1970s, Green Arrow and Green Lantern took a road trip that challenged America’s sociopolitical norms and the Comics Code.

Writers and artists examine the depiction of women in superhero comics around the 1990s.

Writer Gerry Conway reflects on how Gwen Stacy’s death reshaped Spider-Man and helped usher the comic book industry into a more mature era.

Learn about the long Hollywood history of the oft-remade film "A Star Is Born."

They lived a lie to save lives. This is the true story behind "Argo."

On August 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc rocks his first Bronx party, debuting a game-changing turntable move that electrifies the crowd.

An accomplished actress, Lucille Ball was also a studio executive and producer who brought us shows like Star Trek and Mission: Impossible.

Anna May Wong was a silver screen icon and trailblazer for representation in Hollywood, known as America's first Asian American A-lister.

Count down the top Black musicians in each decade—from the Empress of Blues to Cardi B.

From the soirees of 1920s Paris to the festivals of King Henry VIII's court, history was full of outrageous celebrations. So grab some champagne and take a tour of the 9 craziest parties in history in this episode of History Countdown.

The Pickers tour a record pressing plant with Jack White.

By digging through crates of old vinyl, Breakbeat Lou ushered in a golden age of hip hop.

Jackie Chan revolutionized action films with his unique blend of martial arts, daring stunts and humor, but his impact extends beyond the screen as a philanthropist dedicated to helping make the world a better place.

In 1972, CGI began with a digital hand and soon reshaped Hollywood. From Westworld's robot vision to Tron's virtual worlds, CGI transformed how stories looked and felt, culminating in a new era where digital effects became the language of modern cinema.

Ziggy Marley talks about his famous family and his favorite memories of his father.

In the 1960s, Danny Thomas was a household name. His family sitcom, The Danny Thomas Show, was a smash hit, running for over 10 years. Thomas—who struggled for years before his big break—always attributed his success to St. Jude.

Long before it became synonymous with theater, Broadway was a 13-mile trail used by Indigenous tribes for hunting, trade and travel.

Two civil rights activists produce an ethnically correct Black doll and usher in a new standard for the toy industry.

Jimi grew up listening to his Grandmother, telling tales about her Native American heritage.

Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, was cemented as a premier writer of late 19th century America with his works "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Find out more about his life and writing in this video.

This old grocery store toy looks like it's seen better days, but it still holds some value.

The stars! The sights! See Hollywood as it was in the 1960s, as television and movies became equals in Los Angeles' most famous neighborhood.

In 1967, Philco-Ford produced a short film exploring what the "Home of the Future" might look like. We re-examine this film to see what they got right about the future - and what was wrong with the past.

Makers of the show "The Six Million Dollar Man" discovered that their prop mannequin was actually the mummified corpse of an outlaw.

Take a journey through the history of science fiction and examine the cultural influences such as the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and space exploration, that influenced Stanley Kubrick's 1968 visionary film "2001: A Space Odyssey."

From the sports arena to the circus ring—and even the silver screen—this episode dishes on the scene-stealing, big-budget items connected to some of the greatest performers of all time.

Some of the 20th century's most important inventions were pioneered at Bell Labs. But these scientists also delved into the creative.

Superman hit the big screen in 1941 via a Fleischer cartoon—faster than a bullet, stronger than a train, leaping tall buildings!

In 1870 England, after Charles Dickens died before finishing a mystery, claims emerged that his spirit continued the story by communicating through another person.