Wikipedia:Did you know/Hall of Fame/Themed sets

Main Multiple Article Hook Hall of Fame Themed sets April Fools' Contributions

On occasion, editors at DYK put together a themed set of hooks. These are some of them.

Frank Sinatra centenary

00:00, 13 December 2015 (UTC)

Frank Sinatra in 1957

... that American music critic Robert Christgau called Frank Sinatra (pictured) "the greatest singer of the 20th century"?
... that Frank Sinatra had a number 1 hit with "Oh! What it Seemed to Be" in 1946, and then recorded it again for 1963's Sinatra's Sinatra?
... that Las Vegas casino manager Carl Cohen became a local folk hero after he knocked the caps off Frank Sinatra's front teeth?
... that Frank Sinatra Enterprises was founded in 2007 to manage the singer's recordings at Reprise Records?
... that Frank Sinatra was held at gunpoint at Caesars Palace in 1970?
... that Frank Sinatra, Jr. was first offered the part which was later developed into the Rat Pack-style character Vic Fontaine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?
... that after Frank Sinatra was happy with his recording of the song "That's Life", producer Jimmy Bowen annoyed him by asking him to do it again?
... that Frank Sinatra was a secret courier for the Haganah?
12:00, 12 December 2015 (UTC)

Frank Sinatra c. 1943

... that after gaining a job as a singing waiter in 1938, Frank Sinatra (pictured) boasted that he would "become so big that no one could ever touch him"?
... that at his solo nightclub debut at the Riobamba, Frank Sinatra sang two songs "with trembling lips" and brought the house down?
... that Hank Sanicola, a boxer turned music manager, was Frank Sinatra's "song plugger"?
... that Frank Sinatra often visited the barber shop in the basement of the Hollywood Plaza Hotel to play gin rummy with the barber?
... that at age 16, singer Julie Budd was the youngest-ever opening act for Frank Sinatra?
... that Frank Sinatra's 1966 cover of "Summer Wind" was the final top 40 hit for lyricist Johnny Mercer?
... that Frank Sinatra and the 3 Flashes, newly renamed the Hoboken Four, performed in blackface in a short film aired at Radio City Music Hall?
... that publicist Jim Byron once got into a fist fight with Frank Sinatra on the Sunset Strip?

Archive: 13 December 2015

Discussion: Frank Sinatra centenary

Main Page history 2015 December 12

Star Trek 50th anniversary

00:00, 9 September 2016 (UTC)

Galileo prop

... that in exchange for the model kit license for Star Trek, Aluminum Model Toys built full-size props of the Galileo (pictured) shuttlecraft?
... that Victor Lundin, who portrayed the first Klingon seen in Star Trek, had auditioned for the role of Spock?
... that Scott Bakula was the only actor considered to play Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise?
... that "World Enough and Time", an episode of the fan production Star Trek: New Voyages, was nominated for both a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award, competing against professionally made episodes?
... that Ro Laren was intended to be a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but actress Michelle Forbes rejected the role?
... that with the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "The Infinite Vulcan", Walter Koenig became the first Star Trek actor to write for the franchise?
... that set designer Linda DeScenna was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction on five occasions, for Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Blade Runner, The Color Purple, Rain Man, and Toys?
... that the set used to shoot the Star Trek: Voyager subplot Janeway Lambda one was nicknamed "the Jane Eyre set" by the filming crew?

16:00, 8 September 2016 (UTC)

Leonard Nimoy as Spock

... that during the development of Spock, both DeForest Kelley and Martin Landau were offered the role before Leonard Nimoy (pictured)?
... that Ronald B. Moore won five Emmy Awards for his work on the Star Trek franchise?
... that the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Family" was the first episode of the franchise not to have any scene set on the bridge?
... that Michael Piller felt that the mention of Spock in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Sarek" opened the doors to further references to The Original Series?
... that Star Trek: Starship Creator allowed players to import photographs of themselves into the game?
... that after Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett transported some old Star Trek footage from a film vault, it was sold as film clips by Lincoln Enterprises?
... that prior to casting Andrea Martin as the female Ferengi Ishka on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, David Livingston suggested Wallace Shawn in drag?
... that Gene Roddenberry pranked Steven W. Carabatsos on his first day on Star Trek by inflating a weather balloon in his office?

08:00, 8 September 2016 (UTC)

Gene Roddenberry

... that Gene Roddenberry (pictured) was the surviving flight officer from the crash of Pan Am Flight 121 in the Syrian desert in 1947?
... that Don Ingalls first met Gene Roddenberry when they worked at the Los Angeles Police Department, and went on to be credited with writing two episodes of Star Trek?
... that in 1977, it was announced that Star Trek would return to television with the series Phase II?
... that after Bruce Mars's acting career, which included three appearances on Star Trek, he became a monk in the Self-Realization Fellowship?
... that the novel miniseries Star Trek: The Lost Era was intended to fill in a 70-year gap between the death of Captain Kirk and the start of Star Trek: The Next Generation?
... that Gary Hutzel was nominated for more than 20 Emmy Awards, winning two for Battlestar Galactica and one each for Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?
... that Star Trek's Commander Riker used MainView to advertise its use for other enterprises?
... that the phrase "It's life, Jim, but not as we know it" did not originate in Star Trek, but instead in the parody song "Star Trekkin'"?

Archive: 9 September 2016

Discussion: Here and Here

Main Page history 2016 September 8

50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon

00:00, 26 July 2019 (UTC)

Elliot See and Charles Bassett

... that NASA test pilots Charles Bassett and Elliot See (pictured) are among the fallen astronauts whose names are etched on a plaque on the Moon, placed by the crew of Apollo 15?

Archive: 2019 July 25

Discussion: 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon

Main Page history 2019 July 25

Canada Day 2021

Two half-sets run across Canada Day in the country's local time zones.

00:00, 1 July 2021 (UTC)

Flag of Nova Scotia

... that the flag of Nova Scotia (pictured) was officially recognized in 2013, even though its first documented use was in June 1858?
... that the first use of Je me souviens, the official motto of Quebec, was on a wall of the province's parliament building?
... that John Mercer Johnson, a Father of Canadian Confederation, entertained the public and members of the London Conference of 1866 with poetry readings and ice-skating performances?
... that the song "Canadian Idiot" satirizes American xenophobia?
00:00, 2 July 2021 (UTC)

Parliament Hill, Ottawa

... that the site of Parliament Hill (pictured) was previously called Barrack Hill and had been intended for development as a major military base?
... that Laura Robinson invented Canada's best-selling board game before becoming a successful actress and television producer?
... that Murray Dowey was a clerk and typist for the Toronto Transit Commission before being the goaltender for Canada's gold-medal-winning hockey team at the 1948 Winter Olympics?
... that the Walter Bean Grand River Trail was named after Walter Bean, who created the idea of a continuous trail through the Waterloo region?

Discussion: at WikiProject Canada, DYK consensus and DYK prep/queue

Main Page history 1 and 2 July 2021.

Yoninah tribute

00:00, 4 July 2021 (UTC)

Gabi with his mother Tamar

... that the 2005 birth of Gabi (pictured with mother), the first elephant in Israel conceived through artificial insemination, was viewed live by more than 350,000 people in 108 countries?
... that future cantor David Werdyger was saved from a Nazi firing squad when he sang the Jewish prayer for the dead?
... that Kanfei Nesharim Street is long and wide and straight like a runway, because it was originally built as one?
... that in 1975 Time named Schwester Selma, head nurse at the Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, one of the world's "living saints", alongside Mother Teresa and Sister Annie?
... that the Diaspora Yeshiva Band infused rock and bluegrass with Jewish lyrics, creating a music style it called "Hasidic rock" or "Country and Eastern"?
... that Topol, who won a Golden Globe for his performance as Tevye in the 1971 film Fiddler on the Roof, played the role in shows and revivals about 3,500 times?
... that a verse from Psalm 85 has inspired artworks depicting the kiss of Justice and Peace?
... that Bambi delivered more than 35,000 babies?

Obituary: Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2021-03-28/Obituary

Archive: 4 July 2021

Discussion: Yoninah tribute

Main Page history 2021 July 3

Feast of Saint James

00:00, 26 July 2023 (UTC)

Holy Door, Santiago de Compostela

... that a year when the Feast of Saint James falls on a Sunday is designated a Jacobean Holy Year, and the Holy Door (pictured) at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is unblocked for all to enter?
... that the coat of arms of Santiago de Compostela features a chalice and host from the Galician arms, as well as a star and the tomb of Saint James?
... that the lower level of Santiago de Compostela's Plaza de la Quintana is called the Quintana de Mortos because it was once a cemetery?
... that during a Jacobean Holy Year, the Berenguela Tower's lantern is lit throughout the year to act as a lighthouse to guide pilgrims to the cathedral?
... that according to legend the tomb of James the Apostle was forgotten for eight centuries until it was found by Pelagius in the forest Libredón?
... that both the Way of the Lighthouses and the Way of Saint James end at Cape Finisterre in Galicia?
... that the Cross of Saint James is associated with the apostle's appearance at the mythical Battle of Clavijo?
... that Queen Lupa sent the disciples of James the Apostle to Mount Ilicino without telling them about a dragon?

Archive: 26 July 2023

Discussion: Feast of Saint James

Main Page history 2023 July 25

Women's World Cup

A monthlong set celebrating the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Catalina Estrada

Name	Hook	Archive	Main Page history	Author
Giulia Dragoni	... that in July 2023, Giulia Dragoni* became the youngest person to represent any Italian senior national football team – including both men and women – in the 21st century?	July 21, 2023	July 20, 2023	Das osmnezz
Super Alexia	* ... that when TVBoy's daughter said she wanted to be a footballer like Alexia Putellas, he painted a mural of Alexia as a superhero to inspire other girls?	July 22, 2023	July 21, 2023	Kingsif
Carol Thomas	* ... that Carol Thomas began her football career at the age of 11, while the sport was still banned for women?	July 23, 2023	July 22, 2023	Kingsif
Michaela Foster	* ... that Michaela Foster, a New Zealand footballer playing in the 2023 World Cup, is known for her mana?	July 24, 2023	July 23, 2023	Kingsif
Lara Esponda	* ... that at age 14, footballer Lara Esponda was the youngest goalkeeper to debut in the top division of women's football in Argentina?	July 25, 2023	July 24, 2023	Evrik
Elene Lete	* ... that after Spanish footballer Elene Lete had to leave Spain's under-20 football team with an injury in 2022, she returned to join the senior World Cup squad in 2023?	July 27, 2023	July 26, 2023	Evrik
Sheika Scott	* ... that in August 2021 Sheika Scott became the youngest player to score in the Costa Rican Women's Premier Division, at just 14 years old?	July 28, 2023	July 27, 2023	Fixer88
Grace Wisnewski	* ... that New Zealand footballer Grace Wisnewski's bottom-ranked team upset the defending league champions when she scored what an A-League statistician called an "acrobatic" 99th-minute equalising goal?	July 29, 2023	July 28, 2023	Fixer88 and Kingsif
	* ... that a minute's silence was incorporated into the opening ceremony of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after a deadly shooting in a host city earlier that day?	July 30, 2023	July 29, 2023	Kingsif
Heba Saadia	* ... that Heba Saadia, the first Palestinian referee at a World Cup, only took up the profession when she noticed there were no women among a group of referees she saw training?	July 31, 2023	July 30, 2023	Kingsif
Alexandra Pinell	* ... that footballer Alexandra Pinell scored the Costa Rica U20 team's only goal at the FIFA tournament hosted by their country?	August 1, 2023	July 31, 2023	Fixer88
Catalina Estrada	* ... that Catalina Estrada and two of her thirteen siblings played as forwards on the same men's football team?	August 2, 2023	August 1, 2023	Hameltion
Daniela Solera	* ... that goalkeeper Daniela Solera had the most touches of any Costa Rican player in their opening match of the 2023 World Cup?	August 31, 2023	August 30, 2023	Kingsif

Discussion: Special occasion idea: Women's World Cup

Halloween 2023

Night of the Living Dead (entire film)

... that Night of the Living Dead (film featured) was mistakenly released into the public domain?
... that a variety of the Connecticut field pumpkin is known as "the original commercial jack-o'-lantern pumpkin"?
... that there are nearly one hundred thousand .monsters on the internet?
... that The Faculty Club at UC Berkeley, built in 1902, has been reported to be a hotspot for paranormal activity?
... that British designer Alexander McQueen pressed live worms into a translucent corset to evoke vampirism and undeath for his collection The Hunger?
... that various online retailers removed hundreds of books featuring erotic horror from their stores?
... that "Thriller" is the most popular Halloween song in the United States?
... that film critics accused the MPAA ratings board of having yielded to studio pressure to rate The Exorcist R rather than X?
... that the Circleville Pumpkin Show, the oldest pumpkin show in the United States, has been selecting a Miss Pumpkin since 1933?
... that The Wiccan Web recommends drawing pentagrams on your computer screen with tinctures?

Archive: 1 November 2023

Discussion: Halloween

Main Page History Wikipedia:Main Page history/2023 October 31

Halloween 2024

wooooooOOOOOOoooooo

... that slime monsters (example pictured) have been described as both "a tool for questioning the idea of human exceptionalism" and "loyal punching bags"?
... that some Idaho mountain deathcamas are pollinated by carrion and flesh flies rather than bees?
... that What a Merry-Go-Round closed with evil clowns cavorting around a carousel?
... that the ghost of Margaret C. Waites is said to haunt an undergraduate suite at Harvard College's Cabot House, protecting her book collection?
... that trunk-or-treating was created as a safer alternative to regular trick-or-treating?
... that Vincent Darré had a Parisian apartment decorated with skulls?
... that the song "Haunted" "blends cuteness and spookiness"?
... that the Australian spider Progradungula barringtonensis has been called a "ghost of Gondwana"?
... that Brian David Gilbert released a series of monster-themed ABBA covers under the name AAAH!BBA?
... that the zombie film Get the Hell Out was shot at the currently abandoned Kaohsiung City Council Hall, which had neither water nor electricity?
... that the Devil's Doorway is found in Wisconsin?

Archive: 1 November 2024

Discussion:

Main Page History Wikipedia:Main Page history/2024 October 31