October was full of surprising discoveries, and as I looked back through all the facts I shared this month, a few stood out above the rest. From pop culture tidbits to the unexpected original use of a ubiquitous app, these are the facts that made me say, “Wait. Really?!!!”

So, here’s a roundup of my favorite facts I learned:

1. **”Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was almost cut from *The Wizard of Oz*.**
This iconic song nearly didn’t make it into the classic film, but thankfully it did — becoming one of its most memorable moments.

2. **Wicked was always meant to be a movie.**
Although it found fame as a Broadway musical, the story of Wicked was originally intended for the big screen.

3. **When Alec Guinness agreed to play Obi-Wan Kenobi in *Star Wars: A New Hope*, he wasn’t particularly excited about the project.**
Interestingly, the role would ultimately earn him close to $100 million during his lifetime.

4. **Sony released alleged fake Michael Jackson songs in a posthumous album.**
This stirred conversation and controversy among fans and critics alike.

5. **During World War II, Boeing built a large fake neighborhood on top of its factory in Seattle.**
This was done to hide the factory from possible Japanese air attacks.

6. **The iPod is what really made Apple into the powerhouse it is today.**
Before the iPod, Apple was not the dominant tech giant we know now.

7. **In 2016, McDonald’s announced it would limit Ronald McDonald’s public appearances at local community events.**
This was due to creepy clown sightings around the U.S. at that time.

8. **The character of Bugs Bunny was partially inspired by Clark Gable.**
The famous cartoon bunny’s cool demeanor and voice drew influence from the Hollywood star.

9. **Red Lobster’s famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits didn’t exist when the restaurant first opened.**
They were introduced in 1992 as a simple snack to serve hungry guests while they waited for a table.

10. **Pearl Jam playing a concert at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in 1993 — because they were boycotting venues controlled by Ticketmaster — inspired Coachella.**
This boycott helped shape one of the world’s biggest music festivals.

11. **The iconic lightning striking the clock tower scene in *Back to the Future* was only added because of budget cuts to the film.**
Sometimes, limitations lead to creative brilliance!

12. **The US version of *The Office* was almost canceled after its first season due to low ratings and mixed reviews.**
Luckily, it went on to become a beloved classic.

13. **The Michelin Guide and its stars were created by the Michelin tire company — yes, that Michelin! — in France.**
It’s a fascinating crossover between automotive and culinary worlds.

14. **Orson Welles’s 1938 *War of the Worlds* radio broadcast did not cause mass hysteria.**
Contrary to popular belief, the panic was largely exaggerated by the media.

15. **The Quaker Oats Company fully funded the 1971 *Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory* movie.**
This was to promote a new line of Wonka-branded candy bars it was launching.

16. ***I Love Lucy* was a groundbreaking TV series that unintentionally created how the TV industry works to this day.**
Its innovations in filming techniques and syndication changed television forever.

17. **Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera’s iconic 2003 VMA opening performance was a direct response to the 2002 show.**
In 2002, Bruce Springsteen opened with a somber tribute song to 9/11, prompting a very different tone the following year.

18. **In 1993, Coca-Cola made OK Soda, a drink specifically aimed at Gen X-ers.**
It was designed to be unslick, cynical, and anti-corporate, though it didn’t last long.

19. **Before the 1980s, many airports made a lot of their money from full-service restaurants built inside them to attract locals, not just travelers.**
This model has since shifted significantly.

20. **And lastly, Instagram actually started out as a location check-in app called Burbn.**
Its original concept was very different from the photo-sharing platform we know today.

These fascinating facts reveal how much history and unexpected twists lie behind everyday things and popular culture. Which one surprised you the most?
https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/facts-that-sound-made-up-but-are-really-real-oct-2025