Marlene Wagman-Geller

"As far back as I can remember, it was always on my bucket list, even before the term bucket list was coined,
to be a writer. It was a natural progression to want to go from reading books to writing one."
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Planet Mars (1933)

Planet Mars (1933)
Feb 03, 2022 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
Poet Ogden Nash wrote, “Candy is dandy/But liquor is quicker.” For those whose preference is sweets, a guilty pleasure might be satiated by a Mars Bar. While Seinfeld’s Mr. Pitt ate his chocolate bar with a knife and fork, and others scarf it down in one or two bites, neither

Stranger Than Fiction (1918)

Stranger Than Fiction (1918)
Feb 01, 2022 by Marlene Wagman-Geller

Oscar Wilde wrote, “I can believe anything provided it is incredible.” The man who dedicated his days to making the incredible credible was Leroy Robert Ripley who built an empire on people’s age-old urge to gawk.

Sound Body (1926)

Sound Body (1926)
Jan 29, 2022 by Marlene Wagman-Geller

Adherents of the century-old Pilates fitness routine undergo its rigors to enhance what Mother Nature provided, to detract from what Father Time eroded.  But lost in the work-out is its high priest, Joseph Pilates, whose fitness empire originated from the convergence of a pandemic and a prison.

A Monument to Me (1925)

A Monument to Me (1925)
Jan 25, 2022 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
  In 1938, the first Action Comics introduced the world to Superman; the cover featured the Man of Steel holding a green Chrysler aloft. The car derived its name from another man of steel, Walter Percy Chrysler.

The Wisdom of Forrest (1981)

The Wisdom of Forrest (1981)
Jan 23, 2022 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
In producer Robert Zemeckis’ classic film, a school principal tells Mrs. Gump, “Your boy’s different, Mrs. Gump.” Her response, “Well, we’re all different, Mr. Hancock.” Likely, Forrest had a condition named after Dr. Hans Asperger.

Riddles Unexplained (1901)

Riddles Unexplained (1901)
Jan 19, 2022 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
The Nobel Prize is arguably the world’s most acclaimed award. A few of the eminent recipients have been Rudyard Kipling, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, and Nelson Mandela. Lost in the hoopla of the glittery event is the shadowy presence of inventor Alfred Nobel.

Beggar Woman (1584)

Beggar Woman (1584)
Jan 14, 2022 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
 When people think of the state of Virginia, they might associate it with the legendary Pocahontas, its slogan, “Virginia is for lovers,” or its state motto, “Sic semper tyrannis.” But why did a British explorer name Virginia after a British queen who never set foot in the New World?

Dr. Faustus (1846)

Dr. Faustus (1846)
Jan 08, 2022 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
 The Smithsonian is America’s greatest treasure chest, filled with 150 million precious artifacts. Ironically, its creation did not come from a president or a patriot; rather, the scientist who willed the museum into existence, James Smithson, never set foot in the United States. 

A Bull Moose          (1903)

A Bull Moose          (1903)
Dec 26, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
 A cherished childhood companion, the teddy bear is ubiquitous in cribs, birthday parties, and Valentine gifts. But who was Teddy and why a bear? The classic’s birth was due to a convergence of events far afield from those of youthful innocence. 

Remembrance of Things Past (1804)

Remembrance of Things Past (1804)
Dec 14, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
Millions of visitors stroll through Paris’ Cimetière du Pére Lachaise, (Père Lachaise Cemetery), to view the final resting place of history’s most distinguished. Lost in the extensive grounds is the memory of the man for whom the necropolis is named.  

Camelot (1963)

Camelot (1963)
Dec 08, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller

Arguably, the world’s most famous footage is the Zapruder film that captured President John F. Kennedy’s final moments. Although millions are familiar with Abraham Zapruder’s movie, lost in the annals of the assassination is the man behind the camera.

Remain Silent         (1966)

Remain Silent         (1966)
Nov 30, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
If you are a fan of television crime shows, or have been under arrest, you probably are familiar with the Miranda Warning. But what of the man who had the dubious distinction of having such a ruling named after him?

No Black Sheep (1974)

No Black Sheep (1974)
Nov 21, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
In the 2008 film, Wall-E, a lonely robot on a post-apocalyptic Earth collects remnants from its vanished inhabitants, one of which is a Rubik’s Cube. Although millions are familiar with the classic puzzle, its reclusive creator, Erno Rubik, remains elusive. 

So Long Lives This (1889)

So Long Lives This (1889)
Nov 12, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
 Towering 1,000 feet above Paris, the Eiffel Tower antithetically encompasses the darkest chapter of history, the essence of romance. Despite attracting millions of tourists each year, the monument has dwarfed the man who willed it into existence. 

Forever in Blue Jeans (1873)

Forever in Blue Jeans (1873)
Nov 04, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
 The cry, “There’s gold in them thar hills!” served as the clarion call that drew thousands to California. While some prospector’s gained wealth, Levi Strauss attained immortality by putting his name on the backsides of the world.

Messenger Boy (1844)

Messenger Boy (1844)
Oct 24, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
Popular belief holds that Jack Dorsey was the founding father of social media when he created Twitter in 2006. However, instant long-distance communication began two centuries earlier when Samuel Morse instituted history’s most famous code.   

Auf Wiedersehen (1948)

Auf Wiedersehen (1948)
Oct 17, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
    The Porsche serves as status symbol for Russian oligarchs, Beverley Hills plastic surgeons, European aristocrats, and anyone else with the need for speed- as well as $125,000 to burn. But behind the allure lurks a father and son who rose to greatness on the coattail of evil.

No Time to Die  (1953)

No Time to Die  (1953)
Oct 08, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
Bond. James Bond. While people the world over are familiar with the world-famous spy, what is far less known is that Ian Fleming based his protagonist’s name on an esteemed birdman. 

Six Grandfathers (1941)

Six Grandfathers (1941)
Oct 03, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
The genesis of social media occurred in 1844 when Samuel Morse sent the world’s first telegram with the words, “What hath God wrought?” The sentiment is echoed by the two million annual visions to Mt. Rushmore, the contemporary wonder of the world. However, many are not aware of the connection between the monolith and its namesake. 

“They’re Grrrrrreat!” (1930)

“They’re Grrrrrreat!” (1930)
Sep 26, 2021 by Marlene Wagman-Geller
In the television series Seinfeld, Jerry stacked his kitchen shelves with cereal, ordered Cheerios at Monk’s Coffee Shop, said it was what he would miss most in prison. He stated of its appeal, “I like the idea of just eating and drinking with one hand without looking.” If Jerry had contemplated the genesis of his breakfast of champions, he would have discovered that W. K. Kellogg’s life had more than its share of snap, crackle, and pop. 

Copyright © Marlene Wagman-Geller.

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