1100 DDeecceemmbbeerr 22001188 MMeeeettiinngg

PPaarrkkllaanndd CCoolllleeggee SSttaaeerrkkeell PPllaanneettaarriiuumm

PPrrooffeessssoorr DDaavviidd LLeeaakkee,, DDiirreeccttoorr BBooaarrdd MMeeeettiinngg FFoolllloowwiinngg LLuunncchheeoonn

aaeerrkk

3 December 2018

Champaign Exchanger

Volume 93, No.23

Editor - Tom Williams, Sr.

National Best Club Bulletin Awards

1980-81, 1981-82, 1986-87

1987-88 1998-99, 2012-13, 2016-17

The William M. Staerkel Planetarium

The William M. Staerkel

Planetarium at Parkland College in Champaign,

Illinois is one of the 37 major planetaria in the

United States. It is the second largest

planetarium in the state, the largest being the

Adler Planetarium in Chicago. Sit comfortably

beneath our 50-foot-diameter dome as the sky

appears before your eyes. The Staerkel

Planetarium is available for field trips through

the week, with many programs to choose from. Public presentations occur most Friday and

Saturday evenings. Who can promise you the Sun, Moon, and Stars and actually deliver?

OOnnee MMaann''ss VViissiioonn .. .. ..

The William M. Staerkel Planetarium was the vision of the college's

first president, William Staerkel, who had the idea for a planetarium

and a performance theater from the inception of the college. A

planetarium was in the college's original plans (1968) and, in a physical

model of the college, was depicted as a separate building. Funding

finally came through in 1986 and construction began on the "Cultural

Center," which included the planetarium and theatre.

Dedication of the planetarium occurred on October 1, 1987 and the first

public program was offered on October 22. Dr. Staerkel, though ill at

the time, was here for the dedication. He passed away in December.

James Manning was hired at the first director who wrote the inaugural

show, "Odyssey."

At the heart of the new facility was the Carl Zeiss M1015 star projector,

the first of this particular model installed in the western hemisphere!

The Zeiss projected 5000 stars through two star globes, plus the Sun, Moon, and 5 visible planets. The Zeiss

was place on an elevator beneath a 50-foot dome, surrounded by 144 seats, some epicentric and some

concentric. The epicentric seats were for the 35mm films shown on the part of the dome. Projection was

rounded out with a video projector, 56 computer-controlled slide projectors, and a host of special effects.

When East and West Germany merged, our West German star plates were replaced with plates from East

Germany (drilled with lasers) and we grew from 5,000 stars to 7,600.

The "digital revolution" came in the summer of 2010. The Astro-Tec dome was repainted, the slide

projectors were removed, and an Evans & Sutherland Digistar 4 projection system was installed. A new

sound system was also installed. Though the iconic Zeiss still sits in the room's center, we can do more with

the digital sky and full dome programs. In August of 2016, new Irwin seats were installed so the dome was

completely epicentric for a better full dome experience. Two years later, we upgraded from Digistar 4 to

Digistar 6!

We are proud to be the second largest planetarium in the State of Illinois and one of the largest community

college planetariums in the nation!

1155 DDeecceemmbbeerr 22001188 ((SSaattuurrddaayy))

““LLeett TThheerree BBee LLiigghhtt”” FFuunnddrraaiisseerr

Chairman Richard Adkins says we will be holding our third

fundraiser/new member drive inside Urbana’s Lincoln Square

on Saturday, December 15th from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM. If

you can help please do so and if not stop by and buy a beautiful

Lamp and/or some Christmas Candles. We also need more

donated lamps especially we have now sold our best draw, the

Leg Lamp donated by our District President Troy Jayroe.

1177 DDeecceemmbbeerr 22001188

IInnddiiaannaa’’ss 9955 BBeeaauuttiiffuull CCoovveerreedd BBrriiddggeess

BByy TToomm WWiilllliiaammss,, SSrr..

Your editor has researched and compiled a

complete catalogue of photos of all of the 95

Beautiful Covered Bridges in our

neighboring state of Indiana for your

enjoyment. An amazing 50% of the bridges are

within easy driving distance of Champaign.

Nancy & I have visited over a dozen of them.

I look forward to showing you the photos in hopes that you’ll enjoy them as much as I do.

2244 DDeecceemmbbeerr 22001188

NNoo MMeeeettiinngg CChhrriissttmmaass EEvvee

Each year the week in which Christmas falls we don’t

hold our regular Monday luncheon and this year it’ll be

even more important because this Monday falls on Christmas Eve. .

2255 DDeecceemmbbeerr 22001188

MMeerrrryy CChhrriissttmmaass EEvveerryyoonnee

I hope everyone is able to enjoy Christmas with their

families and friends and at the same time never forget

the reason why we celebrate the holiday.

3311 DDeecceemmbbeerr 22001188

NNoo MMeeeettiinngg NNeeww YYeeaarrss EEvvee

Each year the week in which New Years falls we

don’t hold our regular Monday luncheons and this

year it will be even more important because like

Christmas the Mondays fall on New Year’s Eves.

You will have a 3-week break from Exchange to

enjoy the holidays and precious time with your

family and friends. Just don’t party too much.

Coming Events

77 JJaannuuaarryy 22001199

FFiirrsstt CClluubb MMeeeettiinngg ooff NNeeww YYeeaarr

Weather permitting our first club meeting of 2019 will be held on

this date. By now you will have survived the holidays, you will

have many bills staring you in the face from all those purchases

you put on your credit cards, and you will already have had plenty

of time to break many, if not all, of your New Year’s Resolutions.

2211 JJaannuuaarryy 22001199

MMaarrttiinn LLuutthheerr KKiinngg DDaayy

NNoo NNoooonn MMeeeettiinngg TTooddaayy

Sit back and take the day off and reflect on the memory

of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There will not be an

Exchange Club meeting this Monday on the Holiday.

Dr. King was a great American and worthy of this

holiday. The new memorial to Dr. King in

Washington, D.C. is worthy of checking out if you are

ever in the area along with the Vietnam War and WWII Memorials.

99 JJuunnee 22001199

9933rrdd LLiinnccoollnnllaanndd DDiissttrriicctt CCoonnvveennttiioonn

TThhee CChhaatteeaauu HHootteell

For the second consecutive year it will be held at The

Chateau in Bloomington. The convention I believe

will again be just 1-day allowing delegates to drive

there early Saturday and back home after the closing

Installation Banquet or staying one night. It seemed

to work alright last year. It would be nice if we could

get a couple more members to go over for the day.

1177--2200 JJuullyy 22001199

110011sstt NNaattiioonnaall EExxcchhaannggee CClluubb CCoonnvveennttiioonn

NNoorrffoollkk SShheerraattoonn WWaatteerrffrroonntt,, NNoorrffoollkk,, VVAA

I’m excited about the location of the next National Exchange Club Convention in

Norfolk, Virginia. I’ve never been to Norfolk

before although I have been all over Virginia

with my parents in the 1950s and Nancy & our

boys in the 1980s. There are a lot of things I

would like to see in the Norfolk area. The icing

on the cake will be watching Scot Warren run

the National Convention. The Sheraton’s dog

friendly which appeals to me too. Nancy and I plan to attend if at all possible. The

Sheraton is the only waterfront hotel in Norfolk and recently underwent a major

renovation of all its guest rooms and facilities and it’s only 4 blocks from the Hampton

Rhodes Naval Museum and the USS Wisconsin Battleship Museum.

Coming Events

National Exchange Club Foundation Annual Report

National Service Award Recognition

A list of clubs achieving the National Service Award during the

past month is shown below.

NOVEMBER

Excel Club of Jefferson Christian Academy, Irondale, AL Greeley, CO Emerald Coast, FL Albany, GA Brantley County, GA Champaign, IL Naperville, IL Greater Newburyport, MA North Jackson, MS New Hope-Wilders Grove, NC Dayton, OH Mayaguez, PR Charleston, SC Daniel Island, SC Folly Beach, SC Isle of Palm, SC

Editor’s Note – Our club actually reported we had qualified for the National

Service Award before the end of October but National Exchange sent out their

October list 5 days before the end of the month so our name wasn’t included.

Your National Exchange Headquarters will be closed from Monday,

December 24 until Wednesday, January2, 2019 for a vell deserved vacation.

Champaign County History Museum – Author: T.J. Blakeman

Located just north of Kirby Ave. and

west of Neil Street sits Hessel Park, a

gathering place enjoyed by families,

children & visitors to our community

for the past 100 years. Today the

park stands as one of the few remain-

ing pieces of a massively planned

neighborhood designed and promoted

by an eccentric loan officer & budding

City Planner John Frederick "Fred"

Hessel. Had his full plans come to

fruition, the City of Champaign and

the University of Illinois would have

been forever transformed. His grand

plan, University City, would have

been his crowning achievement.

Instead, this ambitious plan has been lost to time, but Fred Hessel's Park remains one of the largest and well

know parks in the Champaign community.

The Hessel Family John Fredrick “Fred” Hessel

John Fredrick “Fred” Hessel was a private man. His parents,

Gustavus Edward (later referred to as Edward G.) and Mary (Davian-

Dixon) Hessel were among the first to arrive in West Urbana (present-

day Champaign) around 1855. Edward was born in Saxony, Germany

on October 6, 1836, and Mary was born in Dublin Ireland on April 4,

1841. They immigrated to Champaign Co. and married on January

27, 1859. There is no concrete evidence of young Fred's birth date

because he closely guarded his true age. However, it is likely he was

born between 1861 and 1866. Even in the sunset of his life, he never

revealed his true age and believed to the end that he would always

have time to achieve his dreams. It is

known that he attended Illinois

Industrial University (later the U of I)

from 1876-79 and it was during that

time that tragedy struck his family.

Mrs. Mary Hessel

On April 28, 1878, three of his siblings (Frank, age 6, Cora Mae, age 10, and

Emma H., age 14) all died of Scarlet Fever on the same day. Their triple

funeral was noted by many as the saddest funeral the community had ever

witnessed. His father, Edward, by then a prominent harness dealer, died

just 3 years later on August 10, 1881, from what many consider a broken

heart over the death of his children. This event dramatically impacted Fred.

His mother, Mary, remained in mourning the rest of her life. Fred never

married but remained devoted to his mother, caring for her and staying by

her side until her death on January 27, 1920. Upon her death, he published

a book of poems devoted to his mother entitled "Mother of Mine."

The Eccentric John Frederick Hessel

& His Grand City Plan

Early Career

Hessel's Harness & Carriages at 37-39 East Main St., Champaign

Fred's father Edward began to amass the family fortune when he

opened a Harness and Carriage shop in Downtown Champaign in

1855. Fred embarked on a trip to Europe following Edward’s

death, then returned home to carry on the family business at 37-

39 Main Street. A fire on December 23, 1904, devastated a large

portion of the north side of Main Street between Walnut and

Chestnut Streets including the Hessel Building.

Fred built a new Hessel Building on the site of the destroyed bus-

iness. He soon decided that more money could be made in the

real estate business in the growing city of Champaign. Realizing

the potential in chattel mortgages and land loans, he opened the

J.F. Hessel Land Company, operating out of his newly completed

building.

The new Hessel Building at

37-38 Main Street

His real estate portfolio quickly grew with goods and land acquired

through the default of loans, including houses, lots, farmland, equipment,

automobiles, and furnishings. He was well known as a man that never

sold anything he acquired and often filled buildings around town with

his items. One of his real estate projects was the construction of the

Hessel Airport at the northwest corner of Neil & Kirby. At the time of

his death, it was estimated that he had over 100 tons of furniture and

machinery, much of it in the Hessel Building on Main St. & even more,

including cars, tractors, and furniture filled hangers at Hessel’s Airport.

In 1898, he constructed a large,

stately, 6-unit (30 rooms) apart-

ment building called the Hessel

Apartments, just east of the First

United Methodist Church at 208

West Church Street (today the site

of the church’s daycare addition).

This grand structure cost $10,000

to build & had the highest quality

craftsmanship and furnishings

including gas ranges and steam

heat. He and his mother both held

rooms in adjacent units for the

rest of their lives.

The Hessel Apartments at 208

West Church Street, Champaign.

The structure was razed in 1959.

A Boulevard and a Park

By 1916, Fred had acquired more than 200

acres of land at the southern border of

Champaign, primarily south of William St.

Even as the city’s growth pushed against

these tracts, Fred held off developing the

land in hopes of undertaking something

grander than the hap-hazard, fast-paced,

growth experienced to date. His first step

was the design of a new subdivision that he

called Highland Place.

This subdivision would include the finest,

modern estates centered on a grand boule-

vard extending from the University of Illinois along with a meandering path to the Champaign County

Country Club. Hessel would also pursue and eventually convince the City of Champaign, U of I, and Illinois

Central to push through a rail crossing at Stadium Dr. to further connect his new neighborhood to the U of I

and the brand-new Memorial Stadium that grew from the farmland just east of the development.

Concept for Housing along Hessel Blvd.

Before a single house had been built in

Highland Place, Fred pushed forward with

the dedication of Hessel Park. The initial

design included some features that failed to

come to fruition. The most dramatic was a

lagoon that would have been used for

recreational boating and fishing. Although

it was the largest park in the area, it was

outside the city limits. Hessel Park was not

officially added to the Champaign Park District inventory until the 1940s.

Hessel Park Pavilion

Hessel Park Lagoon Concept

The Aspiring City Planner

Highland Place was Fred’s first foray in land development. He clearly was developing a real passion for the

new practice of city planning and continued to press Champaign government to view it as a model for new

growth. At the dawn of the 20th Century, Champaign and many other cities across the country were growing

rapidly. The new concept of City Planning and the City Beautiful movement had exploded across the nation

following Chicago Architect Daniel Burnham’s White City at the 1898 Chicago Colombian Exhibition. It was

during this time that Fred developed a keen interest in City Planning; studying and formulating his vision for

the City of Champaign. His thoughts on the subject are summarized in several books he wrote on the subject

including the 300 plus page "The Destiny of the American City."

The Destiny of the American City

In that book, published by his own publishing company, he writes in the

Explanatory on July 1, 1926 "The City of Champaign is one of much

promise with the University of Illinois as its greatest asset and has without

a doubt a most wonderful future. So far the municipality has just grown

"Topsy like" without much regard given to physical growth & expansion,

only needing a proper instrument as a balance or check in order to bring

about the ideal civic condition. To the city of the future our best thought

and endeavor should now be directed". Further he wrote “This plan

embraced everything known in city planning and zoning far in advance of

anything ever contemplated for the municipality at that time, with a plea

for track elevations and subways, so as to give the development proper

University contacts in order that the City of Champaign could grow,

abreast with the University of Illinois, in its natural and logical growth

and expansion, southward”. This book outlined his thoughts on how

Cities (in particular Champaign) was going about growth in the wrong

way. He stated in the book “Today we find a belated city planning and

zoning ordinance being advocated, assisted by experts from afar, receiving the civic support it justly

deserves. It is obvious that either my plan, to which no support has ever been offered, covering all the points

of the present day plan was either too far in advance of the time or the City of Champaign too far behind”.

The books goal was to lay out his plans for Highland Place and garner further support for such an idea.

University City: His Grand Plan

From his book came his grand vision for the future

of Champaign; University City. This planned

development was an organized plan for the entire

southern end of Champaign between Kirby

Avenue south to South Road (today's Windsor

Road), Neil Street and Prospect Avenue. The plan

called for the creation of essentially a new city that

would provide a new home to a growing University

population. It is important to remember that at

this time, most of what is considered Campustown

was a thriving single-family neighborhood and, the

University of Illinois was under the leadership of

Edmund James and experiencing one of its largest

building booms. This was a time before university

dorms with most students living in fraternity or

sorority houses, rooming houses, or anywhere they

could find a room.

Concept Plan for University City

Note the orientation of the image. Hessel Park is at

the bottom of the image with South Road (Windsor

Road) at the top.

The University City plan called for a well-organ-

ized City buffered from the northern (unorganized

City) by a great lawn area between Kirby Avenue and Boulevard M or today's St. Mary's Road. South of

that would be a radial city centered on a new civic and commercial center featuring a new City Hall, School,

and Community Building. To further reinforce the academic focus of the city, street names were named for

Ivy League schools of the east coast.

The End of the Hessel Name

Fred Hessel died at Burnham City Hospital on Wednesday, January 18, 1939. His death marked the end of

the local Hessel family. With no children and a massive amount of land, property, and cash, his death

sparked years of challenges that played out in the courts. The News-Gazette reported “J.F. Hessel, whom no

one understood while he lived has become even stranger in death. When he died, he left more than two tons

of paper, but not one of them thus far discovered will dispose of his estate worth upwards of $150,000 ($2.7

million in 2018) without years of litigation”. Two wills were eventually found in the massive collection of

documents. One was dated 1903 and another 1926. However, the 1926 version was only a carbon copy of the

original with very faint signatures. The will divided $125,000 in land and cash to several local organizations

including $50,000 to the Wesleyan Foundation, $10,000 to the construction of a Y.M.C.A building on Hessel

Boulevard, $10,000 toward apartment buildings to be built on Hessel Boulevard, $5,0000 toward the erection

of the first fraternity on Hessel Boulevard, $10,000 toward the creation of a loan company for the purpose of

supporting meritorious students at the University of Illinois, and $30,000 toward public improvements to

Hessel Boulevard and Hessel Park. However, the will couldn't be authenticated, and the 2 closest heirs were

Edward Hessel a cousin living in Indiana and Emma Alms, a cousin living in Indiana.

By 1940, two heirs were bitterly divided on the estate. To make matters worse, Edward Hessel was killed in

an automobile accident in Indiana in January 1941 before the estate could be settled. Finally, on July 13,

1942, after countless claims, litigation, and payment to the Edward Hessel estate, and several other cousins,

the estate was settled, and Mrs. Emma Alms was awarded $300,000.

Lasting Legacy

When Fred died, most of his Highland Place was still

vacant lots, Hessel Park was underdeveloped & under-

funded, and University City was a lost dream. Had he

lived 10 more years he would have seen the demand for

housing explode with the end of the war and the intro-

duction of the GI Bill. Returning veterans flocked to

Champaign and set off a tremendous period of rapid

development and growth that the City struggled to

contain. A well planned, well thought out development

would have been just what Champaign in the 1940s

and 1950s needed. While Fred Hessel's dreams went

unfulfilled, his name lives on through his park and his boulevard. Here’s Hessel Park today.

Editor’s Note – I hope you enjoyed this history of the Hessel Family.

24 Historical Figures – Fact or Myth? History has taught us about many great and courageous figures that lived long ago. From Moses and Mulan to

Shakespeare and Sun Tzu, these historical figures lived quite the life and left behind strong legacies. However,

recently many researchers and historians have questioned the legitimacy of these past figures and whether or

not they truly existed at all. With a lack of evidence, it seems that many of these figures were actually stories

from folklore or simply imaginative. Do you think Robin Hood was real?

Editor’s Note - How about William Tell? I’m printing these theories not because I agree with them but because

I thought you might find them interesting and give you something to think about.

1. Mulan 2. King Arthur 3. William Shakespeare

1. Mulan – Before Disney brought Mulan to the big screen, the warrior already was a legend in China. However, the

famous tale of Mulan fighting in her father’s place might not be true. The book Chinese Shadow Theatre: History,

Popular Religion, and Women Warriors suggests that Mulan was created and based on a female warrior named Wei

Huahu. While the 2 have similar stories, there is no proof that Mulan was real.

2. King Arthur – From Monty Python and the Holy Grail to the many remakes of King Arthur, everyone seems to be

familiar with the tale of King Arthur. However, historians question the story & agree that many of the facts prove

to be unreliable. It seems like the story was based on a Roman military commander named Lucius Artorius

Castus. Other historians suggest the tale ia inspired from Riothamus, king of the Britons during the 5th century.

3. William Shakespeare – There are many people who question William Shakes-peare’s legacy and the legitimacy

of his work. Researchers believe Shakespeare wrote under a pen name, but some others still question his existence

due to a lack of knowledge about his background. A theory uncovered by schoolteacher J. Thomas Looney posits

hat Shakespeare was actually a man named Edward de Vere. The theory

suggests de Vere’s work was published after his death under the name William

Shakespeare. Editor’s Note – Now I am really confused. A few years ago Nancy

& I visited William Shakespeare’s house in England. Now you tell me that he

never existed making the house a hoax. Well’ if that the case I want a signify-

cant part of my $16,000 trip refunded because a good portion of the trip’s cost

was to visit Stratford-upon-Avon just to visit his birthplace. That also makes

the name of the street upon which Nancy & I once reside, Stratford , fake too.

4. Confucius – Confucius was known as one of the most wise and thoughtful

philosophers in Chinese history. However, due to a lack of evidence, many

scholars believe the philosopher to be nothing more than an imaginative figure.

Lionel M. Jensen, the director of Chinese studies at the University of Colorado

at Denver, believes that Jesuit missionaries created the philosopher during the

16th century. 4. Confucius

5. Robin Hood – Although he’s been mentioned throughout history, historical evidence has been found that the

name “Rabunhod” or “Robehod” is a term for some criminals and was also adopted by other outlaws during the

time. Also, although many researchers have attempted to identify him as a real individual, evidence continues to

point back that he may have been a follower of King Richard the Lionheart and even possibly a member of the

Knights Templar. However, it is also speculated that the legend of Robin Hood may be based on a man named Fouke

le Fitz Waryn who rebelled against King John, leaving his existence still in question. Editor’s Note – They continue

trying to ruin all my boyhood heroes. Next you’re going to tell me Superman wasn’t real either.

6. Mary Magdalene – Mary Magdalene was known as the regretful prostitute who was atoned by Jesus. However,

the Bible does not provide any unequivocal evidence that this is true. According to Smithsonian Magazine, there

were different Mary’s listed in the Bible, causing the misinterpretation of information.

5. Robin Hood 6. Mary Magdalene 7. William Tell 8. Sun Tzu

7. William Tell – William Tell lived in Switzerland during the 14th century and was known to be a troublemaker.

According to legend, an Austrian official placed a hat on top of a pole in Altdoft and made it a requirement for

everyone to remove their hats as they passed the landmark. Tell refused to follow the order and, as a result, was

commanded to shoot an apple off his son’s head from 120 paces away. If he did not complete the task, Tell would

face death. Tell chose to shoot the apple and — luckily — was successful. However, the story is very similar to a

Viking folktale, leaving many people to believe that William Tell was a fictional character. Editor’s Note – Here we

go again. If William Tell is fiction then we need to change the name of the “William Tell Overture.”

8. Sun Tzu – The ancient Chinese military leader often is credited with creating the guidebook to war. However,

there is little evidence proving where his book, The Art of War, truly came from. Many individuals believe the book

was a collection of military lessons from

several generations, complied under the name

Sun Tzu.

Editor’s Note – I have no comment because

I’ve never heard of Sun Tzu.

9. John Henry – The legend of John Henry is

told though the song, “Ballad of John Henry.”

The tale shares a story about an ex-slave who

challenged a steam drill to see who could work

faster. Henry beat the steam drill yet died

shortly after due to exhaustion. While the

story of Henry is compelling, the race might be

fictional. Workers were not happy with the

invention of the steam drill, which allowed the

story to become very popular.

Editor’s Note – He might not be real and the

“steel driving man” – just a caricature of a

symbol – but still I love the song.

ca

10. Homer – Homer was known as a great scholar, poet, and author. However, many people argue that the Greek

poet was not the original author of The Iliad and The Odyssey. Homer was simply the first to write down the stories,

giving himself credit for the work. There are many theories that suggest Homer was actually a woman who was

blind. Others believe that Homer was a group of Greek scholars rather than one single person.

11. Helen of Troy – Helen of Troy was known as the most beautiful woman in the world, and was the wife of the

Greek King Menelaus in Homer’s The Iliad. However, historians have doubted Helen’s existence due to a lack of

evidence. Many people simply believe that she was a mythological character added into the story.

10. Homer 11. Helen of Troy 12. Midas 13. Kunta Kinte

12. Midas – The expression, “the Midas touch” has a strong history, dating back to King Midas, a Greek mytholog-

ical king who could turn items into gold with a single touch. While the tale is a staple in Greek mythology, there is

no hard evidence that Midas really existed. Historians have discovered an ornate burial site that dates back to the

time Midas was alive, but have found no proof in the gravesite that Midas lived during that era.

13. Kunta Kinte – The story of Kunta Kinte was popularized in Alex Haley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book Roots and

its subsequent TV miniseries of the same name. Kinte’s story became so widespread that an island was named after

him in Gambia. While Kinte’s story may have had a strong impact on history, not all of the details appear to be

true. Haley’s sources do not match up with history, leaving the story with several false pretenses.

14. King Solomon 15. Jack the Ripper

14. King Solomon – There is little evidence still present from King Solomon’s lifetime, allowing many people to be

skeptical of his existence. King Solomon was supposedly the richest man in the world during his reign, yet no

artifacts from his fortune have ever been found.

15. Jack the Ripper – The legend of Jack the Ripper has been terrorizing minds since the 19th century. The

London-based serial killer was known for killing prostitutes in the East End of London by ripping out their throats

and stomachs. However, the identity of Jack the Ripper was never confirmed. Many journalists claimed to have a

confession from the culprit, yet the stories were never confirmed and always turned out to be a hoax. The police

were never able to find Jack the Ripper, making him a true man of mystery.

16. Oddysseus – Odysseus was the main character in Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey. Odysseus, also known as

Ulysses, took 10 years to return home after the fall of Troy. Many question the legitimacy of his adventures, yet a

recent archaeological discovery shows that his journey could be true. The archeologist found remains from a three-

story building and a well from the 8th century BC, which match up with Odysseus and his lofty tale, suggesting that

his adventures could be true.

16. Oddysseus 17. Moses 18. Pythagoras

17. Moses – Outside of the Biblical world, there is little proof that Moses was a real figure. Historians have

questioned his existence due to a vague timeframe and the extent of his actions. However, many scientists have

corroborated the biblical figures’ actions, such as parting the Red Sea, with naturally occurring forces in nature.

18. Pythagoras – Meet Pythagoras, the man responsible for the Pythagorean Theorem. While Pythagoras is a staple

in the mathematical world, there are many people who discredit his existence. Historians do not have any proof

that Pythagoras wrote anything down, making it hard to give him credit for his work. Historians also question his

existence due to the time period in which

he supposedly worked, as not many people

were working with celestial spheres until

later on in the era. Editor’s Note – I can’t

spell his name let alone understand the

Pythagorean Theory.

19. Muhammad – Not many have questioned the existence of

Muhammad, as he often is called the most successful of all prophets

and religious figures. However, there are many historians who claim

the prophet never existed due to a lack of hard evidence.

20. Pope Joan – In 855 AD, a woman by the name of Joan became

Pope during a time when women were still expected to clean, cook,

and bear children for their husband. Being extremely pious, dedi-

cated, and talented, she disguised herself as a man named John

Anglicus and rose quickly through the levels of the Catholic Church

and was eventually elected to the Papacy. However, as the story goes,

she got pregnant, gave birth & somehow died, although it is assumed

she was murdered. It is an amazing story, yet maybe too amazing to

be believed to be true. Editor’s Note – I’ve never heard of Pope Joan. 20. Pope Joan

21. Paul Bunyan – Paul Bunyan was a giant lumberjack, and tales about

him are popular with children. He’s been the subject of countless songs,

books, cartoons, plays, campfire stories, and statues. Here’s his story: Paul

was so large it required 5 storks to deliver him to his parents. By a week

old he was already as large as his father he ate massive amounts of porridge.

Paul and his giant blue ox, Babe, traveled the country together, and Paul

created the Grand Canyon with his axe. Our favorite lumberjack, Paul

Bunyan, isn’t real, but merely a combination of different, very real men:

French-Canadian lumberjacks Bon Jean and Fabian Fournier. Sadly, Babe

the blue Ox is also little more than a fictional character, too.

Editor’s Note – I’m crushed. I no longer have any childhood heroes left.

21. Paul Bunyan 22. Juan Valdez

22. Juan Valdez – Think famed coffee icon Juan Valdez had a hand in grow-

ing the beans in your favorite brew? Think again. In truth, Valdez was a

character created by advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach as a means

of promoting the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia. The

character has been portrayed by 3 people since 1958: José F. Duval, Carlos

Sánchez, and Carlos Castañeda. (The latter 2 worked as coffee growers.)

23. Lycurgus of Sparta – Lycurgus is the man who shaped the ancient

Greek city-state into the hard and militarized society we know it as today.

It’s said that somewhere between the 7th & 9th Century, Lycurgus

instituted a series of laws regarding marriage, wealth, sex, and child-rearing in all of Sparta. Although it has been

considered factual that the certain laws and reforms credited to Lycurgus were implemented in Sparta, his actual

existence is question-able. This is so since the Spartan’s didn’t record their history in writing, so the evidence of the

existence of this leader comes from many contradicting sources. Lycurgus’ biography is full of mythical occur-

ences, which leads researchers to possibly believe that Lycurgus was a god-like figure invented by the Spartans to be

the essence of Spartan life. Also, he is believed to have been a figure for all ancient Greeks to refer to when

discussing politics. Editor’s Note – I’ve never heard of Lycurgus. I’ve heard of Licorice and I don’t like it.

23. Lycurgus of Sparta 24. Molly Pitcher

24. Molly Pitcher – During the Revolutionary War’s Philadelphia Campaign and Battle of Monmouth, a woman was

known to deliver pitchers of water to thirsty or ailing soldiers. She earned the nickname “Molly Pitcher” for her

good deeds. Later, her husband is said to have collapsed with exhaustion in battle. At that point she also took over

his cannon for him. The National Archives has this first-hand account of the incident: “While in the act of reaching a

cartridge . . . a cannon shot from the enemy passed directly between her legs without doing any other damage than

carrying away all the lower part of her petticoat . . . She observed that it was lucky it did not pass a little higher . . .

and continued her occupation.” But did she really exist? Some historians seem to agree that the persona of Molly

Pitcher is likely a composite of many women who gave their service during the Revolutionary War. But many

accounts claim that there is one main woman behind the legend. Her name was Mary Ludwig Hays, and she was

born sometime around October 13, 1754. Hays received a medal for her bravery and service in 1822, but it was most

likely a combination of other brave women’s contributions that was behind the “Molly Pitcher” legend.

20 of the Greatest Historical Myths?

By: Noivedya Juddery a writer and journalist based in Australia and member of the Sri Chinmey Centre.

Editor’s Note – This guy has debunked so many of my beliefs I don’t know what to believe now. He claims,

“If more people knew the facts, a few of the great history-makers would be recognized (anyone heard of

Ub Iwerks? I haven’t.), some famous people would stop taking so much credit, and we would stop blaming

apples for everything! Let’s start with the following misconceptions…”

20. Eve Ate a Bad Apple – An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but they have still had bad

publiccity as the “forbidden fruit” that Eve tasted in the Garden of Eden, thereby making life difficult for

all of us. Yet nowhere in the biblical story of Adam & Eve is an apple mentioned. It is simply called “the

fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden” (Genesis 3:3). OK, it COULD have been an apple, but

it might just as well have been an apricot, a mango, or any other sort of fruit.

19. Newton was hit by an Apple – Apples continued to get bad press with the famous story that scientist

Sir Isaac Newton was under a tree, minding his own business, when an apple fell on his head. Just as well

it provided him the inspiration for the laws of gravity, or the poor apple would never be forgiven! But

while the falling apple is a good story, it probably never happened. The story was first published in an

essay by Voltaire, long after Newton’s death. Before that, Newton’s niece, Catherine Conduitt, was the

only person who ever told the story. It was almost certainly an invention.

18. Walt Disney drew Mickey Mouse – One of the world’s most famous

fictitious characters, Mickey Mouse, is credited to Walt Disney. However,

Mickey was the vision of Disney’s number one animator, Ub Iwerks.

Disney, never a great artist, would always have trouble drawing the

character who made him famous. Fortunately for him, Iwerks was known

as the fastest animator in the business. He single-handedly animated

Mickey’s first short film, Plane Crazy (1928), in only 2 weeks. (That’s 700

drawings a day.) But give some credit to Disney – when sound films began

later that year, he played Mickey’s voice.

17. Marie Antoinette said “Let them each cake” – In 1766, Jean

Jacques Rousseau wrote of an

incident he recalled from some 25

years earlier, in which “a great princess” (name unknown) was told

that the country people had no bread. “Then let them eat cake,” she

replied. When Rousseau wrote of this, Marie Antoinette was an 11-

year-old child in Austria. The French Revolution would not begin for

another 23 years. The myth that she spoke these infamous words was

probably spread by revolutionary propagandists, to illustrate her

cold indifference to the plight of the French people. In the next

chapter of this list, we uncover a tall tale about Napoleon, and find

out how witches did NOT die, whatever you might have heard…

16. The Great Train Robbery was the first feature film – When it was released in 1903, “The Great

Train Robbery” pioneered several techniques, includes jump cuts, medium close-ups and a complex story-

line. But the first feature film? It was only 10 minutes long! Even most short films are longer than that.

The first feature-length film was a 100-minute Australian film, “The Story of the Kelly Gang”, released 3

years later. Even if you think of a feature film as the “feature” of a cinema program, the title would go to

one of a number of French films made during the 1890s (but I won’t name one, as that could cause any

number of arguments).

15. Vincent Van Gogh sliced off his ear – Van Gogh is known as the

archetypal starving artist, only selling one painting in his lifetime, and –

in a quarrel with Gauguin – slicing off his ear, not long before commit-

ting suicide. Though he did face a tragic end, and his own paintings

sold poorly, it is worth noting that he spent most of his life teaching and

dealing art. He only spent 8 years of his life painting, which helps to

explain why he didn’t starve to death. Also, he didn’t slice off his entire

ear, just a portion of his left lobe. Painful, but not nearly as bad as you

might have thought.

14. Witches were burned at stake in Salem – The Salem, Mass.

witch trials of 1692 led to the arrests of 150 people, of whom 31 were

tried & 20 were executed. But just as these trials were based on ignor-

ance, there are many misconceptions about them. For starters, the 31

condemned “witches” were not all women. Six of them were men. Also,

they were not burned at stake. As any witch-hunter would know, a true

witch could never be killed by this method. Hanging was the usual

method – though one was crushed to death under heavy stones.

13. Napoleon Bonaparte was a little Corporal – Some people

believe that Napoleon’s domineering ambitions were to compen-

sate for being so physically small. Not so. True, Napoleon was

called Le Petit Corporal (“The Little Corporal”), but he was 5 feet,

7 inches tall – taller than the average 18-century Frenchman. So

why the nickname? Early in his military career, soldiers used it

to mock his relatively low rank. The name stuck, even as he

became ruler of France.

12. King John signed the Magna Carta – The Magna Carta

(Great Charter) is known as a landmark in history, limiting the

power of the King of England and sowing the seeds of democracy.

Paintings show King John reluctantly signing the Magna Carta in

a meadow at Runnymede in 1215. Fair enough, except for one

thing. As well as being a rogue, John was probably illiterate. As

anyone could see from looking at one of the 4 original Magna

Cartas in existence, he simply provided the royal seal. No

signature required.

11. Sir Walter Raleigh introduced Potatoes and Tobacco to England – Sir Walter Raleigh – explorer, courtier, privateer – Is one

of greatest myth figures ever to come from England. Virtually every

reason for his fame is untrue. Was he handsome? According to

written accounts, he was no oil painting – though somehow he

charmed Queen Elizabeth I, and had a reputation as a ladies’ man.

Did he lay his cloak across a puddle so that the Queen could step on

it? No, that was pure fiction. Most importantly, he didn’t return

from his visit to the New World (America) with England’s first

potatoes and tobacco. Though Raleigh is said to have introduced

potatoes in 1586, they were first grown in Italy in 1585, and quickly

spread throughout Europe (even across the English Channel). Also,

though people all over Europe blame Sir Walter for their cigarette

addictions, Jean Nicot (for whom nicotine is named) introduced

tobacco to France in 1560. Tobacco spread to England from France,

not the New World.

10. Ferdinand Magellan Circumnavigated the World – Everyone knows 2 things about Portuguese

explorer Ferdinand Magellan. One, he was the first man to

circumnavigate the world; and 2, during this historic trip, he was killed

by natives in the Philippines. Of course, those 2 things tend to

contradict each other. Magellan only made it half-way around the

world, leaving it to his second-in-command, Juan Sebastian Elcano, to

complete the circumnavigation.

9. Nero fiddled while Rome Burned – We all know the story of mad

Emperor Nero starting the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, then fiddling

while the city burned. However, this would have been impossible. For

one thing, the violin wouldn’t be invented for another 1,600 years. OK,

some versions of the story suggest that he played a lute or a lyre – but

then, scholars place the emperor in his villa at Antium, 30 miles away,

when the fire began. Though he was innocent of this disaster, however,

there is much evidence to show that he was ruthless and depraved.

8. Captain Cook discovered Australia – Many Australians will agree that this isn’t so – but for the wrong

reasons. They will point out that, many years before Cook arrived in Sydney in 1770, Australia had already

been visited by Dutchmen Abel Tasman and Dirk Hartog, and an English buccaneer, William Dampier. Of

course, it had been previously been discovered some 50,000 years earlier by the indigenous Australians. But

in fairness to Cook, he did discover a new part of the country – and more importantly, this led to the first

white settlers (an opportunity that Tasman, Hartog and Dampier didn’t take). So let’s say that Cook DID

discover Australia! Fine, but Cook was actually a Lieutenant when he sailed to the Great South Land. The

“captain” rank might be a minor point, but it’s certainly inaccurate – and as he is called “Captain Cook” so

often that it might as well be his name, it’s one worth correcting.

7. Shakespeare wrote the story of Hamlet – William Shakespeare is

generally known as the greatest playwright who ever lived, even though most

of his plays were not original, but adaptations of earlier stories. “The

Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” (1603), probably his most famous

play, was based on an ancient Scandinavian story. While it might not have

been the original version of the story, we can safely assume it was the best.

6. America became Independent on July 4, 1776 – Hold the fireworks!

As most American school children (many non-American ones) are aware,

America’s founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July

4, 1776. However, the war raged for another 7 years before independence

from England was finally granted on September 3, 1783. On that day,

Britain’s George III & US leaders signed

the Definitive Treaty of Peace.

5. Edison Invented the Electric Light – Thomas Edison is known as

the world’s greatest inventor. His record output – 1,093 patents – still

amazes us, over a century later. Astonishing, except for one thing: he

didn’t invent most of them. Most Edison inventions were the work of his

unsung technicians – and his most famous invention, the electric light,

didn’t even belong to his laboratory. Four decades before Edison was

born, English scientist Sir Humphry Davy invented arc lighting (using a

carbon filament). For many years, numerous innovators would improve

on Davy’s model. The only problem: none could glow for more than 12

hours before the filament broke. The achievement of Edison’s lab was to

find the right filament that would burn for days on end, a major

achievement but not the first.

4. Columbus proved that the Earth was round – It was American author Washington Irving, some 500

years after Columbus sailed to America, who first

portrayed the Italian explorer as launching on his

voyage to prove that the Earth was round, defying

the common, flat-earther belief of the time. In fact,

most educated Europeans in Columbus’s day knew

that the world was round. Since the 4th century BC,

almost nobody has believed that the Earth is flat.

Even if that wasn’t the case, Columbus would never

have set out to prove the Earth was round… simply

because he didn’t believe it himself! Columbus

thought that the Earth was pear-shaped. He set sail to prove something else: that Asia was much closer than

anyone thought. Even in this, he was wrong. To further besmirch his memory, it should also be noted that

he never set foot on mainland America. The closest he came was the Bahamas. Pear-shaped, indeed!

3. Gandhi Liberated India – To westerners, Mahatma Gandhi is easily the

most famous leader of India’s independence movement. He deserves credit for

promoting the ancient ideals of ahimsa (non-violence). However, most

historians agree that Indian independence was inevitable. Gandhi was just one

of several independence leaders. The Indian National Congress was founded as

early as 1885, when he was only 16. Gandhi’s much publicized civil disobedi-

ence was only a small part in the movement, and some historians even suggest

that India would have achieved independence sooner if they had focused on the

more forceful methods that they had used 50 years earlier, and which were still

advocated by other independence leaders, such as Gandhi’s rival Netaji

Chandra Bose (who is also revered in India).

2. Jesus was born on December 25 – Christmas is meant to celebrate the

birth of Jesus, but there is no evidence whatsoever, biblical or otherwise, that

He was actually born on that day. Nor is there anything to suggest that He was

born in a manger, or that there were three wise men (although, as any nativity play will remind you, 3 gifts

were mentioned). There are differing views as to why December 25 was chosen as Christmas day, but one of

the most interesting is that the day was already celebrated by followers of Mithras, the central god of a

Hellenistic cult that developed in the Eastern Mediterranean around 100 BC. The followers of this faith

believed that Mithras was born of a virgin on 25 December, and that his birth was attended by shepherds…

Which brings us to the number one historical myth – something that is

drilled into the heads of nearly all American schoolchildren…

1. George Washington was America’s First President – Everyone “knows” that Washington was the first of the (so far) 43

Presidents of the U.S. However, this isn’t strictly the case. During the

American Revolution, the Continental Congress (or the ‘United States

in Congress Assembled’) chose Peyton Randolph as the first President.

Under Randolph, one of their first moves was to create the Continental

Army (in defense against Britain), appointing. Gen Washington as its

commander. Randolph was succeeded in 1781 by John Hancock, who

presided over independence from Great Britain (see myth #6). After

Washington defeated the British at the Battle of Yorktown, Hancock

sent him a note of congratulations. Washington’s reply was addressed

to “The President of the United States”. Eight years later, as a revered

war hero, Washington himself became America’s first popularly

elected President – but strictly speaking, the FIFTEENTH President!

78 Backstage Secrets About Working For Disney

Walt Disney World really is one of the most magical places on earth. From the thrilling rides to the incredible

character encounters and the delicious food; a trip to Disney is certain to be remembered forever. But, all the special

memories made there are made possible by a lot of behind-the-scenes rules and work. Some cast members, after

leaving, have shared some of the secrets they learned while working in the parks. These tidbits of information are sure

to shock you, teach you something new and make you excited for your next vacation down to Orlando, Florida. Keep

reading to learn more! Here are some revealing secrets from Walt Disney World. You will never look at Disney

World the same again after reading!

1. Strictly Business – When you’re working at Disney World,

you can’t have any visible tattoos, you have to have your long

hair neatly pulled back (unless it’s part of a costume), and

must wear neutral-colored nail polish. In addition, your

costume must be kept immaculately clean!

2. Cast Members – If you work at Walt Disney World, your

job title will never be “Employee.” Instead, you’ll be known

as a “Cast Member.” Because everything at Disney is a show,

everyone who works there must always be in character. It’s

just part of the magic!

3. A Special Language – Anytime a guest wanders into an area of the park that they aren’t supposed to see, the cast

members refer to them as “going backstage.” This makes sense when you’re in a place where EVERYTHING is part

of a theatrical production!

4. A Sunken Jungle – Disney’s Animal Kingdom is sunken

several feet into the ground! Though some may think this is

due to central Florida’s iconic sinkholes, it’s actually

because the slight depression creates a better environment

for the animals and guests. Whatever it takes to give the

people a better experience, right?

5. Breaking Character – No matter what, Disney World cast

members cannot break character while they’re in costume

even if they become ill. This is to avoid “breaking the

magic” that the guest feels while they’re in the park. That

just means the cast members have to pull a Michael Jordan

flu game if they become sick.

6. The Dress Code is Strict Even When You’re Not in Costume – During training or any other hours when cast mem-

bers are not required to be in full costume, they’re still expected to dress in business casual attire, the punishment for

breaking these rules? What can we say? Apparently, Disney wants his people looking sharp at all times.

7. The Costumes Run Really Small – Supposedly a vestige of sizing from the 1970s, the Disney cast member costumes

are rumored to run very, very small. Whether this is the real reason, or there is actually some implied judgment in the

costume sizes, employees learn to expect this blow. If you get hired, now you know to order up in sizes.

8. There Are Size Requirements – Disney is strict about who can play what role. In order to be a Disney Princess, it’s

said that you must be between 5’4″ and 5″8″ tall. While that’s a pretty average height for an adult woman, it

definitely leaves a huge amount of potential employees out of the running.

9. The Parade Route – The most common question asked of cast members at Walt Disney World is (try not to laugh)

“What time is the 3 o’clock parade?” That’s funny, right? Cast members say that, even after quitting, they are

NEVER able to forget what time that iconic parade is and its exact route.

10. All The Perks – Working at Disney really does come with some great perks. You get free admission on your day

off, discounts on food, beverages, and merchandise, and discount cards for your family and friends. That is, of course,

only if you can follow this next golden rule of Walt Disney World!

11. The Cast Has To Share Underwear – Until 2001, Disney cast members

had to share underwear. Many of the costumes require special

undergarments, such as tights, bike shorts, or jock straps, and employees

claimed that the items weren’t always clean when they were issued. Some

cast members allegedly contracted lice or scabies from their skivvies.

Disney did not comment on the situation other to say that they would

accommodate their employees’ wishes, which they did. Cast members

can now take their underwear home and wash it themselves.

12. “I Don’t Know” Isn’t an Answer – If you don’t know the answer to a guest’s question, you better find out!

Fortunately, Walt Disney World supplies its employees with extensive training so that they’re prepared to answer

nearly any question. It’s almost like studying for a test. And if you don’t know, you can call a manager!

13. The Two-Finger Point – Walt Disney himself HATED it when people who make hand signals or gestures using only

one finger. So, he required all his cast members to use 2 fingers while pointing, or, more simply, guide guests using an

open palm. Don’t even think about being caught using one finger.

14. Lost Children – For safety reasons, Disney cast members never

refer to missing children as “lost children.” Instead, they are called

“lost adults” and referred to as that via the radio system. This is to

prevent any opportunistic kidnap-pings from taking place while the

child is located! That is a smart tactic that is sure to be used at

other establishments as well.

15. Hidden Mickey’s – All around Walt Disney World, there are

countless hidden Mickey Mouse heads. Guests like to spend their

time in the park searching for these secret symbols and keeping track of where they find them! It’s just another thing

that makes Disney so special to visit. Do you think you can find them all?

16. Cast Members Are Banned from Talking About Work on Social Media –

Disney cast members are welcome to use social media as much as they want…

when they’re off the clock. Social media and personal electronics are strictly

banned while at work, and cast members can NEVER discuss their jobs on social

media, EVER! Another electronics-based fact is included in this list, too!

17. The Disney Scoop – Every cast member at Disney is responsible for picking

up trash and placing it in one of the many trash cans (they are placed every 25

feet)! But, they aren’t allowed to stop or lean over. It has to be done in one swift

movement. Cast members say this takes a while to master!

18. No Selfies Allowed! – If you’re caught taking pictures in your costume, you’ll be fired immediately. Apparently,

Disney executives are really strict about this rule! If they find out about a selfies you took backstage, you can expect to

kiss the Magic Kingdom goodbye for good!

19. Code V – Another interesting tidbit about the “Disney language” is that cast members aren’t allowed to say the

word “vomit.” If a guest has an accident on or during a ride, they simply get on the radio and say “Code V,” as to not

make any more guests sick.

20. Smellitizers – Have you ever wondered why certain parts of Disney World have specific smells? Well, wonder no

further! Special machines called Smellitizers distribute scents through-out the park — like fresh baked cookies on

Main Street. A tactic that surely makes you want to buy some of those delicious cookies!

21. A Secret Store? – When a guest leaves an item behind at Walt Disney World, it is stored for a specified length of

time. After that, though, any cast member who wants it has the opportunity to buy it in a special store. All the profits

are donated to charity, proving that Disney really does make magic with everything they do.

22. Doing The Dirty – And For a Particularly Shocking Secret … – Apparently, many of the cast members at Walt

Disney World are romantically involved… Rumors of Peter Pan and Wendy hooking up in a supply closet are only

made worse when you hear the rumors about Aladdin and Ariel!

23. Must Have the Perfect Signature – Cast members not only have to personify the attitudes and appearances of the

characters they’re playing (which let’s face it, can get unrealistic at times), but they also have to learn to write like

them, too. In fact, Disney provides training for all cast members to help them perfect their character’s signature.

24. No Tweeting Allowed – In order to make the experience as real as possible for guests of Disney World, cast

members are not allowed to talk about their roles at all on

social media. So if you were hoping to catch some behind-the-

scenes dirt on Peter Pan’s Instagram, think again because

Peter Pan doesn’t want to get fired!

25. Cast Members Can’t Say Who They Play – Cast members

aren’t even allowed to say which character they play. If asked,

they’re only allowed to say “I’m friends with [character]” or “I

hang out with [character].” Anything to preserve the magic

and even if you try to trick them they will not fall for it.

26. The Music Stays On … Always – You know when you hear

a song played one too many times on the radio and it stops

being catchy and starts being annoying? For Disney employees,

the music never stops. Even when the park’s closed, the music

keeps going yet they remain friendly!

27. Disney Hollywood Studios Store Walt’s Plane Backstage – Cast

members can pay homage to this history-soaked plane any time

they’re backstage. Used by Walt to do things like scout spots in

Florida for what is now Disney World, it must be said that being

privy to this plane is a perk of the gig.

28. No Backstage Selfies – Not only is sharing pictures or info on

social media not allowed, cast members are not even allowed to

take pictures backstage. We can assume that this is a newly adopted rule since only a few years ago, this probably

wasn’t something that was even an issue. Even if a celebrity that you adore is in the premises, don’t take that picture.

29. Disney World Cast Members Wear Flair – Cast members at

Disney World, but apparently not Disneyland, are required to

wear a lanyard with at least 12 pins on it at all times. The pins

are to be traded, and we can assume that the more pins you

have, the better. Talk about some strict flair rules!

30. No Patchy Beards – If you’re still working on the ability to

grown a full beard, you’ll have to go clean-shaven as a Disney

employee. Their facial hair rules require hair to be fully grown

in, it must be neatly trimmed, and there is no grooming allowed.

In other words, no goatees.

31. No Long Hair For Male Cast Members – Not only does Disney have rules for beards, they also have rules on the

length of male cast members’ hair. For the guys who work at Disney, hair must not be so long that it extends over

their ears or falls in their eyes. But apparently they allow Gaston to be an exception?

32. And No Shaved Eyebrows – There are also some pretty strict rules

when it comes to female cast members’ hair. Especially when it comes to

the kinds of hairstyles cast members who are not in costume can wear.

Female cast members may not shave their eyebrows, hair must be neatly

brushed, and braids are allowed, but not beads.

33. Cast Members Like To Speed – Sometimes it just feels good to catch

some speed. It’s been reported that on Disney property, the Disney police

pull over more cast members and other Disney employees than actual

guests. Maybe they’re just really excited to get to work? Or maybe

they’re usually running late. Or they know by working there they won’t

get that bad of a punishment.

34. There’s No Crossover Between World’s – Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Harry Potter & Peter

Pan were friends? When in character, cast members are not allowed to talk about or acknowledge characters or

brands outside the Disney universe. Even the king of pop was just another guy.

35. Disney Wants To Help You Spend – In order to make purchases even easier, Disney has a policy that anything you

purchase can be delivered to your hotel if you’re staying at a Disney resort, or you can have them delivered to the front

of the park for you to pick up on your way out.

36. Cast Members Can Make Purchases Easier – It’s an insider secret

that if you ask nicely, a cast member will bring your purchases to the

front of the park for you so you can pick them up on your way out. You

can’t say Disney doesn’t want all your shopping dreams to come true!

37. Even Princesses Take Out The Trash – It might not be the most

glamorous job, but everyone is expected to pull their weight when it

comes to keeping Disney parks clean. Even Snow White. Unless, of

course, she has the dwarves around to help her. (It looks like Alice is

less than thrilled by the task at hand.)

38. And When You Take Out The Trash, Do It Nicely – Not only do cast members have to clean up whenever

necessary, they’re expected to grab trash gracefully. So no squatting allowed. What that leaves is a mystery. Maybe

an elegant dip followed by a twirl? Or perhaps some type of tag team trash taking out routine.

39. Disney Characters Don’t Frown – When they’re on the clock, cast members have a slew of behaviors that are

strictly prohibited. At the top of the list? Frowning. Disney not only wants to have control over what you look like,

but they also want to control the emotions you portray. But we can’t blame them for this one. Because unless you’re

Grumpy the dwarf, no one wants to visit Disney World to see an angry Prince Charming.

40. Or Slouch – Tired, Sad, or Less-Than-Alert Body Language is not an acceptable behavior when you’re on the clock

at Disney. Unless they’re bending down to sign a little visitor princess’

autograph book, Disney cast members must exhibit good posture at all times.

This might be easy enough for characters like Ariel who don’t have any extra

weight on their shoulders, but for the soldiers in the holi-day parade, that hat

can’t be easy to keep perfectly upright at all times.

41. Or Eat – It’s hard work smiling at passers-by, handing out signatures, and

posing for pictures with dozens upon dozens of sticky-fingered kids. In fact,

that kind of work will make a person hungry. But for cast mem-bers, eating

while on the clock & visible to guests is strictly forbidden. And this can’t be

made any easier with all the smellitizers around.

42. Or Chew Gum – Even if they need a quick breath freshener or even a

tiny sugar pick-me-up, a small infraction such as like chewing a piece gum

can because for big trouble. They can’t slouch, eat or even chew gum.

Essentially, cast members often have to act like the characters they’re

portraying — a fictional cartoon character.

43. Or Smoke – This rule is quite a bit more understandable. As smoking

laws get more and more strict, there are fewer places smokers can indulge

in public. So unless a cast member was in a designated smoking section, we

probably wouldn’t want them smoking anyways. But as it stands, they’re

not allowed to smoke in character or on the clock at all. So put that

hookah down, Mr. Caterpillar.

44. Walt’s Not Into Alt – If you’re into alternative body modifications, it

might be hard to get a job as a Disney cast member. Things like visible

tattoos and piercings (other than one ear piercing on each ear for

women) are not allowed if you want to work for Disney. Your dreams of

Disney went down the toilet when you get that tattoo of your birth date

in roman numerals on your forearm.

45. Disney Won’t Pay Until You Return Your Costumes – If you’re

leaving your role at Disney, they have a policy not to hand out your last

paycheck until you’ve returned all costumes. However, it’s rumored

that they don’t actually enforce this rule very strictly. So if you wanted

to keep your costume for your next Halloween party, go right on ahead.

46. You’ll Never See Two of One Character At Once – If there’s one thing Disney is good at, it’s organization. Which

and where characters are out in the park is something that’s organized to the very last minute. Plus, cast members

have a schedule with them at all times. Looking for Ariel? Pooh or Buzz Lightyear might just know.

47. In Fact, If Two Are Seen together, They’ll Be Fired – Disney wants to create the illusion that the Snow White you

see is the only Snow White in the world. So if two Snow Whites accidentally cross paths in the park, it’s considered a

dismissal-worthy infraction.

48. Can’t See, Wear Contacts – Surprise, surprise. Disney has

some rules about eye wear. Glasses that have logos, are brightly

colored, or are flashy in any way are not allowed when on the

clock. And it’s probably safe to say that Cinderella can’t wear

glasses at all. So if you work at Disney and you need help seeing,

contacts might be easiest. Editor’s Note – Well, my bubble just

burst. I was thinking about applying for a job until I found out I

can’t wear glasses.

49. If You Need To Be sick, Keep It Secret – Disney cast members

are never allowed to take off their costume heads when they’re on the clock, even if they’re feeling sick or faint. So

who knows how many Donald Ducks, who are smiling on the outside, are actually throwing up inside their costumes.

That’s a bit awkward because you have probably taken picture with a sickly character.

50. A Family Got Free Passes When A Man Died – Legend has it that a man once had a fatal heart attack in a Disney

World store, and cast members brought his grieving family backstage to give them privacy. Seeing “behind the

scenes” is rare enough, but supposedly the family were given lifetime passes, too.

51. Disney Doesn’t Joke About Shoplifting – There are plenty of stories of kids

stealing a couple things from a Disney World store, and later in the afternoon,

being quietly approached by security guards who ask them to, “Come with me,

please.” And from what we know about how strict they are, it can’t end well.

52. And Be Careful With That Flask – The security guards are on the lookout

for undercover drinking, too. And they’re not always the guys in uniform

either. There are plenty of undercover security guards watching your every

move while you make your way throughout the park. Don’t risk it all just to

get a day buzz from that whiskey you snuck in.

53. There Are Tunnels Below Disney World – Beneath Disney World, there is a

myriad of tunnels connecting different parts of the park that cast members use

to travel around unseen. It’s convenient for sure, but it’s been reported that these tunnels are often smelly, hot & full

of trash. That is just something cast members have to deal with.

54. Cinderella’s Castle Has A Secret Suite – Originally used as a place

for Walt and his family to stay when they visited Disney World, this

decadent suite is now occupied by winners of various Disney contests.

Talk about a dream come true! This might be a perfect honeymoon

spot for a wife who loves Disney! Editor’s Note – I’ve been to Disney

World a half dozen times and nobody told me about this bedroom.

55. If You Hear a Loudspeaker Announcement It’s Important – Like

we said before, Disney’s policy is to never, ever turn off the music.

However, they do make an exception for emergencies, like when a kid

is lost. So if you hear the music stop, listen up because something

crucial is about to be said. Or it might be a Rick Roll moment.

56. The Kilimanjaro Safari Ride Could Be Killer – When you’re on the safari ride and the driver says to stay in your

seat, they mean it. There’s a spot where you drive on a bridge over crocodiles, and drivers are trained to drive away

quickly if anyone falls in so that other guests don’t see the potentially gruesome outcome.

57. Cast members Have to Learn Lines in Three Days – Not only does Disney demand perfection, but they demand it

fast. The cast member on boarding process includes spending 3 days with a Disney trainer getting every pause,

inflection, and smile exactly how the script states it. Sounds like an acting job prepping for filming. Don’t mess up!

58. Ratatouille? – The Disney-Pixar animated film Ratatouille might

have been a huge box-office hit, but one park visitor in October 2016

wasn’t thrilled to spot a real-life rat in a dining area of Disneyland.

Twitter user @hannaahelisee took a photo of the rodent and posted for

all the world to seem with the caption: “pay my college tuition and I’ll

delete @Disneyland.” Sorry, lady, rats are an unfortunate part of life.

59. Drunk Man Drowns in Seven Seas Lagoon – According to a server

who worked at Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida for many years, a

drunk man once got in a fight with his girlfriend. While arguing, “the

man fell off a dock at the Grand Floridian and drowned in seven seas lagoon. They had to have divers find his body.”

60. Keeping Pedophiles Out of the Park – According to the same server, lifeguards and security staff in the park are

instructed to keep an eye out for pedophiles who may be hanging around the water park just to scope out the young

kids. This should be the standard for every establishment with pools.

62. A Top-Secret Club – There’s a secret gem right in the heart of New

Orleans Square: an ultra-exclusive ($35,000 a year!) members-only bar

called Club 33. The club counts many celebrities as members, and it’s

rumored that big names like Jack Nicholson and Tom Hanks are frequent

visitors. That hefty price tag gets you more than entry into the club… it also

includes behind-the-scenes tours, fast passes to all Disney attractions, and a

private car on the Disneyland Railroad.

63. A Secret Disney Menu! – Disney fans will no doubt be excited to learn

that like many popular restaurants, the theme park also offers a secret menu

just for visitors who are “in the know”. From Ice Cream Nachos to a Mac

‘n’ Cheese Bread Bowl, fans can stuff them silly with delicious Disney treats.

64. Homeless Disney Characters? – Following the death of a Disneyland custodian who was found dead after living in

her car, the company’s low wages have come under public scrutiny. One local protest organizer, Anaheim resident

Jeanine Robbins, held signs reading “Disney, we feel, is a contributor to the homeless problem here in Anaheim. There

are Disney employees who live on the street.” Disneyland is the largest employer in Orange County, which is one of the

most costly housing markets in the country.

65. Plenty of Perks – Despite the low wages, lofty expectations, and often harsh conditions that the Disney cast

members have to work with, their jobs do come with plenty of perks. In addition to getting sweet discounts on all

merchandise, food, and Disney-owned locations, cast members also always get free entry to parks at any time and often

times free entry for friends and family! They also get access to special events and cast member exclusive soft openings

for new attractions!

66. Largest Amount of Employees in the World – For Florida’s Walt Disney World, at least, you could take all its cast

members & create a new city. There are reportedly over 70,000 cast members at Disney World alone & most of them

are housed in Disney-owned accommodations. In order to run the Happiest Place on Earth, it does take a village.

67. A Guest by Any Other Name – Disney cast members will make any effort to address you by your first name. Were

you ever being checked out at the gift shop or buying a Dole Whip and thought it odd that the person giving you your

change knew your name? Cast members are expected to use guest’s names whenever possible. They will either look

for clues of your name on pins or hats, or they can catch your name real quick by glancing at your credit card.

68. They Expect You to Do The Same – Back in the ’50s, it was quite odd to address people by their first name if you

didn’t know them very well. But Walt Disney hated being called “Mr. Disney” and would insist that everyone call him

Walt. That is why cast members will have their first names on their name tags. Apparently, no two cast members can

have the same name, so if your name is already taken, you have to use a different variation of your name or use your

middle name.

69. The Unsung Cast Members – It may be hard to be a cast member that runs the rides or plays a costume character,

but the cast members who carry a lot of the weight in maintaining the parks are actually the custodial members. It was

actually Lillian Disney (Walt’s wife) who suggested that custodial members wear all white to take extra care in the

work in order to keep their “costumes” clean. As a result, they are the easiest spotted employees in the park and must

also have the answers to all your questions since they’re more easily accessible.

70. It’s Not an Easy Job – Just like the other cast members, the custodial cast members must undergo extensive

training as well. There are particular ways to sweep various objects, they must be trained on the correct chemicals to

use for certain clean-ups, and there is even a long list of radio codes they must learn. Although custodial specific cast

members take on most of the job, every Disney employee must remember that they are all custodial since everyone has

their duty to keep the park clean.

71. Keeping Out The Pests – Speaking of cleaning up the park, there

is a job that can only be done by special members of the Disney

family: cats. The Disney parks have their own clowder of stray cats

that roam the park at nights in order to prey on unwanted pests and

rodents. These feral cats call Disney home but they only come out at

night when all the visitors are gone.

72. Speak of Cats … – A lot of the cast members can get a little catty

themselves. There are forums in which former Disney cast members

talk about the rifts they get into with fellow cast members. People

who play Disney princesses can be very unlike their characters in

real life. One former cast member told the Internet that the cafeteria

for the cast members was often like a scene from Mean Girls.

73. The Water is Greener on The Inside? – Disney theme parks make an enormous effort to make their facades and

world pretty realistic. But have you ever noticed that the color of the water is a little off? The water on the Jungle

Cruise and in other bodies of water throughout the park is actually green on purpose. This is because Disney wanted

guests to feel like they were actually floating in a boat on the water, as opposed to being moved on stationary tracks.

74. Disney Owns A Lot of Land – When he was creating Walt

Disney World in Florida, Walt didn’t want realtors to know

that it was him buying up all the land around his park. This

was so that realty prices wouldn’t go up just because it was

owned by Disney. So in order to work around that, Walt used

a lot of fake names and businesses to purchase the land, which

is why you might actually be on Disney property even if it is

unused. The names came from a lot of the businesses that are

on Main Street U.S.A.

75. No Crying Kiddies – The Disney theme parks have a “No

Sad Kids” rule that all cast members must adhere to. Kids get

upset for a plethora of reasons, even if they are at the

Happiest Place on Earth. To prevent a total meltdown, any

cast members who see a distressed kid must make an effort to

put a smile on their face. Whether replacing their dropped ice

cream for free or giving them a small toy to keep after getting a boo-boo, cast members ensure that all kids are happy.

76. But It Doesn’t Always Work – Despite cast members’ efforts to maintain child happiness throughout the parks,

there are some families who will go to great lengths to get their justice served one way or another. You won’t believe

how often Disney’s costumed characters get sued. In one case from the 1980s, a performer playing Winnie-the-Pooh

was sued afterbeing accused of slapping a little girl. They actually ended up winning the case, since the performer

showed up in full costume at court to prove the costume’s arms were not capable of making any slapping movements.

77. A Secret Bike Network – Back when Hollywood Studios was a newer

attraction at Walt Disney World, there was supposedly a system of bikes

that cast members used on the backlot in order to get around faster and

with ease. However, this didn’t turn out so well after there were multiple

bike thefts and damages that happened. Guess some people just can’t have

nice things.

78. A Mickey With a Dark Purpose – Have you ever noticed the Mickey that

waves and greets guests as they enter Crossroads of the World in Florida?

While, of course, you need Disney’s #1 mascot Mickey to greet you, that

Mickey actually serves a higher purpose: lightning rod. Since Florida is

more prone to storms and such, Mickey’s ears are made of copper to attract lightning in the event of such a disaster!

Firefighter of the Year

Police Officer of the Year

Nursing Scholarships

A.C.E. Award

Prevention of Child Abuse

Time Out Teddy

Crisis Nursery

Eastern Illinois Food Bank

Seniors Vial of Life

National Day of Service

Believe in the Blue

Campaign For Kids

GiveAKidAFlagToWave

One Nation Under God

Freedom Shrines

Proudly We Hail Awards

Book of Golden Deeds

Student of the Month/Year

Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club Snacks For Kids

Salvation Army Bell Ringing

Americanism - Child Abuse Prevention - Community Service - Service to Youth

Chartered 27 July 1926

Champaign Exchange Club

1812 Coventry Drive

Champaign, IL 61822

Phone: (217) 356-1057

Meeting Every Monday at 12:00 Noon Except Holidays

O’Charley’s Restaurant 730 W. Town Center Blvd.

President:

Richard Adkins

President-Elect:

Open

Immediate Past President

Thomas Williams, Jr.

Secretary/Treasurer:

Nancy Williams

Directors: Tillie Adkins

Norma Dieker Wally Lehman Dottie Mikucki

Tom Williams, Sr.

E-Mail: tw1812@aol.com

Champaign Exchange Club

1812 Coventry Drive

Champaign, IL 61822

Exchange, America's Premier Service Club, working to make our communities better places to live.

Exchange, America's Premier Service Club, working to make our communities better places to live.

Website: www.champaignexchangeclub.com