Fame & Infamy

Superstars. Outlaws. Curiosities. Daredevils who lived to tell. Victims of the law, wrongly accused. Whatever their claims to fame or infamy, these men and women made history.

Annie Edson Taylor Survives Niagara star
Others had died in their attempts, but on this day in 1901, Annie Edson Taylor became the first woman to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. She turned 63 that day! Find out more about this fascinating daredevil …

Bernard Goetz Becomes a Hero - Maybe star
Today in 1984, four rowdy men approached Bernard Goetz in a subway car. His reaction was to pull out an unlicensed gun and shoot them all. Some people praised him as a hero; others believed he was no better than the hoodlums who attacked him.

Gunfight at the OK Corral star
The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral is probably the most famous standoff of the Old West. Amazingly, it lasted only 30 seconds and involved on seven individuals. How did this lore gain such historical value?

Mob Figure Rothstein is Offed star
We take a look at notorious gambler, mob figure, and “sports fixer” Arnold Rothstein.

The Amazing Kreskin star
The Amazing Kreskin denied being clairvoyant or to have special powers, and yet he would go on stage and wow viewers with his ability to sense what others were thinking.

The Miracle on the Hudson star
What could have ended in an air crash on January 15, 2009, became a breathtaking spectacle, thanks to Captain “Sully,” the crew of US Airways Flight 1549 … and the river between New York and New Jersey.