/u/KingEuronIIIGreyjoy's posts in /r/AskHistorians

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In the movie It's a Wonderful Life, there's a scene with a basketball court that retracts over a swimming pool. Was this a common thing that existed back in the 1940s? Did schools really have the budget for fancy pools like it?

1829 upvotes

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The Beatles famously refused to play before segregated crowds in their US concerts. At the time, was it common for non-American musicians to do so?

81 upvotes

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I've heard that gladiators in Classical Rome endorsed products, similar to modern athletes. How accurate is this?

59 upvotes

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When did people start saying "it's not rocket science" when referring to something easy to understand? What did they say before, when aerospace engineering wasn't as widespread? Were there similar sayings with the same idea?

20 upvotes

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I'm a plebeian in Ancient Rome walking down the street when I suddenly have a massive brain aneurysm and fall dead to the ground. What happens next?

17 upvotes

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What do we know of LGBT slaves in American history?

6 upvotes

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What is the origin of social dating for fun/pleasure, and how did people advertise themselves as interested in dating? Where did the "I like long walks on the beach" trope come from?

5 upvotes

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How much did China and sub-Saharan African civilizations know about each other in the ancient and classical periods?

4 upvotes

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Why do so few English male names end with the letter A?

2 upvotes

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How did archaeologists excavate underwater sites before the prevalence of diving suits or other breathing apparatuses? Were they even able to?

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
In the movie It's a Wonderful Life, there's a scene with a basketball court that retracts over a swimming pool. Was this a common thing that existed back in the 1940s? Did schools really have the budget for fancy pools like it?	1829
The Beatles famously refused to play before segregated crowds in their US concerts. At the time, was it common for non-American musicians to do so?	81
I've heard that gladiators in Classical Rome endorsed products, similar to modern athletes. How accurate is this?	59
When did people start saying "it's not rocket science" when referring to something easy to understand? What did they say before, when aerospace engineering wasn't as widespread? Were there similar sayings with the same idea?	20
I'm a plebeian in Ancient Rome walking down the street when I suddenly have a massive brain aneurysm and fall dead to the ground. What happens next?	17
What do we know of LGBT slaves in American history?	6
What is the origin of social dating for fun/pleasure, and how did people advertise themselves as interested in dating? Where did the "I like long walks on the beach" trope come from?	5
How much did China and sub-Saharan African civilizations know about each other in the ancient and classical periods?	4
Why do so few English male names end with the letter A?	2
How did archaeologists excavate underwater sites before the prevalence of diving suits or other breathing apparatuses? Were they even able to?	1