Château de Blois: the beautiful French palace where Joan of Arc was blessed before defeating the English at Orleans
St. James’ Palace: Henry VIII knocked down a hospital for women with leprosy to build another royal residence
Palais des Papes: the large Gothic building that housed the anti-popes became a prison during the French Revolution
Olivia Newton-John followed “Grease” with “Xanadu,” a box-office flop that earned some of the first nominations for the Razzies
Castel Sant’Angelo: the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian turned into a refuge for the popes during wars, sacks, and sieges
Why Marlon Brando refused the Academy Award for his performance in “The Godfather”
In its long life, the Greek Parthenon was used as a church and then a mosque
The dangers of being an artist in the former Soviet Union
Charles Addams, master of black humor, played in cemeteries as a child
The book wheel: A rotating reading desk for 16th century, perfect for those “tormented by gout”
