Pop culture

MINNEAPOLIS — A storied pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz,” stolen from a museum display in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, then reportedly buried in a clear container in a suburban Minneapolis backyard have a high bid of $1,150,000 through Tuesday morning on Heritage Auctions’ online auction. The initial bid, when the auction opened more than a month ago, was $500,000. ...

Beyoncé has officially been named the greatest pop star of the 21st century by Billboard. The music industry magazine made the announcement on Tuesday as part of its ongoing series highlighting the artists “who have most defined pop stardom for the last 25 years.” “The reasons why Beyoncé captured the top spot on our list were beyond numerous,” Billboard said, “ranging from her 25 years of ...

Sony debuted the PlayStation on Dec. 3, 1994 with the expressed intent of re-creating the extravagance of big-ticket entertainment in a living room. For gaming at the time, that meant arcade machines priced around a car’s down payment. But anyone who turned on their very first PlayStation game - in my case it was “Ridge Racer” - saw PlayStation vanish the arcade business into obsolescence.

In Japan, not even the magic powers of Harry Potter, or the House of Gryffindor, are enough to evade the country’s strict weapons laws.

Three years after revealing their dating relationship, the children of comedians Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy are engaged.

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police officers responded to a spurious bomb threat at former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Brentwood mansion on Thanksgiving morning before giving the all clear. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department was not able to confirm that the department responded to Schwarzenegger's house but said there was a call regarding a suspicious package at around 10:30 ...

LOS ANGELES – Nothing lasts forever. "Vanderpump Rules," which periodically caught lightning in a bottle over 11 seasons of reality TV, is in for a remodel.

LOS ANGELES — When Ariana Grande learned she was to play Glinda in the movie "Wicked," she made a vow. "I love her so much," she told director Jon M. Chu through tears on a video call in 2021. "I'm gonna take such good care of her." Grande made good on that promise. But where co-star Cynthia Erivo seems likely to attract awards buzz for the deeply emotional "Defying Gravity," Grande's chops, ...

All of Prince’s bespoke guitars were cool — weren’t they? — but they were not of equal value. At least to collectors.

In the Sotheby’s Auction House sale room - an intimate, carpeted seventh-floor auditorium on the Upper East Side - it’s not uncommon to see standing-room-only attendance. Or for the bidding crowd, many holding martinis or champagne glasses, to crane their necks around one another to get a glimpse of what’s spotlighted against the richly blue wall at the front.

Funeral arrangements have reportedly been set for Liam Payne, following the One Direction singer’s fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires last month. The memorial for the 31-year-old is scheduled to take place Wednesday in his native country of England, according to Reuters. Other British outlets reported that it will be a private ceremony in the Home Counties outside central London. ...

A little over a week after releasing his first album since 2011, singer Jamey Johnson was arrested Sunday just outside of Nashville. The country singer-songwriter, who has written with Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and George Strait, is facing a felony drug charge after he was pulled over by the Tennessee Highway Patrol for speeding, the Tennesseean reported. The "In Color" artist faces up to a ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the days before — and the day of — the Chiefs’ 26-13 win over the New Orleans Saints last month at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the homes of two of the team’s biggest stars reportedly were burglarized. Belton police were called to quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ mansion shortly after midnight on Oct. 6, one day before the Chiefs’ “Monday Night Football” game. A Cass ...

ATLANTA — Mel Gibson is in metro Atlanta shooting a drama that is going by the name “Mermaid.” It’s unclear whether that is the name the producers will use when the film is released. “Mermaid” began production Oct. 28 and is set to finish up later this month before Thanksgiving. It’s directed by R.J. Collins. According to information from Independent Artist Group, a talent agency, the plot ...

Mattel has apologized for the “unfortunate error” on the packaging of its dolls inspired by the movie “Wicked” that directed its customers to an adult website.

At the edgy Queen of Swords hair studio in Bushwick, Brooklyn, “Timothée Chalamet hair” is a popular request. Male, female and gender-non-conforming customers clamor for the same fractal mop of unruly curls that starred in “Call Me by Your Name,” “Wonka” and “Dune.” It’s a “laid-back, sexy” way to look like the hands-down most in-demand actor of the moment, said salon owner Elma Siljkovic, and it’s an easy, squirt-in-some-product-and-go cut for people blessed with fine ringlets like Chalamet’s.

Jennifer Lawrence is expanding her family: The Oscar winner is reportedly expecting her second child. A representative for the "Hunger Games" alum confirmed her pregnancy to Vogue on Sunday. The fashion magazine, which shared the news in an Instagram post, noted that the actor stepped out to dinner in Los Angeles on Saturday with her baby bump "just visible." Representatives for Lawrence did ...

LAS VEGAS — “Can’t Smile Without You” has never been so prophetic. Citing audio problems, Barry Manilow canceled his performance mid-show at Westgate’s International Theater on Thursday night. The “Weekend In New England” superstar called it because of concerns over the venue’s audio setup. A Manilow rep confirmed the superstar was experiencing monitor issues that coundn’t be fixed during the ...