Random Weird Things You Didn't Know About Living In The White House (30 items)

(#26) The First Family Sees Movies Before The Rest Of Us

Hollywood is happy to send films to the White House Family Theater, according to White House Museum, even movies that aren't yet available for public viewing. Originally a cloakroom, the theater was built in the 1940s and seats about 40 people.

The Guardian reports George W. Bush enjoyed the Austin Powers trilogy and action movies, including 9/11-themed films like United 93.
(#23) You Almost Never Carry Any Cash

There's no rule against it, but presidents and first families have little need to carry cash or credit cards, especially while in the White House (even though their groceries and other amenities are not free).

Why should they, when everything they consume is either added to their tab or paid for by taxpayers?
(#17) Almost None Of The Original Furniture Is In The White House, Thanks To The British

While some of the furniture and art in the White House is old, nothing except a single painting of George Washington is from the original house. This is because in 1814, British forces burned the White House down to the ground. James Madison's wife Dolley famously saved George Washington's portrait during the fire.

Before being evacuated from the White House - thanks to looming British troops - she selected some personal items to take with her. She knew the Brits would more than likely torch her house, so she grabbed the portrait that hung above the White House's fireplace. Now, in the White House, Dolley's portrait looks upon Washington's - a symbol of what she did for him when she was first lady.
(#9) Presidents Can Get Nightly Massages

White House ushers attend to the president's every need, right up until they go to bed. But what if they fall asleep outside of their bedroom? According to Reader's Digest, President Lyndon Johnson used to fall asleep on a massage table during his nightly rubdown, meaning his usher would have to wait until he woke up to be officially off duty.

The usher claims LBJ on occasion didn't wake up until 5 am.
(#8) Kids Of Presidents Can Have Their Prom At The White House

The White House sure beats a gymnasium or a VFW hall. Vanity Fair reports that first daughter Susan Ford threw the only (so far) White House prom in 1975. The 17-year-old partied with her fellow classmates from Holton-Arms School and her 21-year-old college-age date in the East Room until 1 am.

It wasn't entirely a splashy display of wealth and power: The class actually paid for the prom with funds raised at bake sales and school fairs. Considering how crazy White House parties can get, prom is incredibly wholesome.
(#19) The White House Serves Hipster-Friendly Coffee

Enjoying pour-over coffee is a hipster stereotype, but the numbers don't lie: The Chemex-brand glass brewing device is hugely popular, so much so that the Massachusetts company was struggling to keep them in stock at the start of 2016.

President Obama's hip administration managed to snag 150 of them, according to MassLive, even getting them etched with the Presidential Seal.