Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON September 28, 1936
Full News Archive
- Headline: Re-employment Drive for Actors and Musicians. Impact: This event triggered a worldwide trend of actors and musicians becoming baristas and yoga instructors. By 2025, the coffee shop industry was dominated by former pop stars with questionable latte art skills.. Fact: Ever wonder how many musicians could actually survive without their day jobs? Spoiler: not many!.
- Headline: Navy Shorts Approved for Tropics. Impact: The introduction of navy shorts in tropical regions led to a dramatic increase in beach fashion disasters. By 2040, fashion police were a real thing, and shorts were banned in several countries.. Fact: Because nothing screams 'tropical paradise' like the sight of someone in navy shorts and flip-flops!.
- Headline: Queens Church Dedicated in 1936. Impact: The dedication of this church somehow set off a chain of events that led to a global shortage of church pews, sparking an underground movement to repurpose old furniture into makeshift seating.. Fact: This church dedication was so inspiring, even the squirrels showed up for the sermon!.
- Headline: Horse Eats Hat'. Impact: The infamous incident of a horse eating a hat led to a new equestrian fashion trend known as 'Horse Couture,' where horses began accessorizing with human garments.. Fact: This event inspired the phrase 'Don't put all your hats in one horse,' which became a popular saying among fashionistas..
- Headline: Front Page 1 -- No Title. Impact: This tragic event prompted a series of humanitarian efforts that eventually led to a global movement for disaster preparedness, which ironically created a surge in the popularity of survivalist reality TV shows.. Fact: The town of Bandon's devastation became a grim reminder that sometimes, natural disasters really know how to throw a partyβjust not the fun kind..
- Headline: I:LEANOR ROE MARRIED; Becomes Bride in Ohio of Earl Whittemore Merrill.. Impact: This marriage led to a lineage of overly competitive family reunions, which culminated in an annual game of 'Who Can Outdo Whom' that became a reality show sensation.. Fact: Marriage: the only game where you get to keep score without anyone really caring about the final tally!.
- Headline: Defenders Flee in Disorder; TOLEDO CAPTURED BY SPANISH REBELS. Impact: The capture of Toledo marked a pivotal moment in the Spanish Civil War, leading to an unexpected resurgence of interest in vintage military memorabilia, which still influences Halloween costumes today.. Fact: The chaos in Toledo was so dramatic that it inspired several soap operas. Who knew history could be so... theatrical?.
- Headline: WPA to Exhibit Women's Work. Impact: The WPA exhibit featured work that eventually led to the establishment of 'Artisanal Crafts' as a buzzword, resulting in a global obsession with overpriced hand-knitted scarves.. Fact: Mayor LaGuardia attended the exhibit, probably just to escape the chaos of city politics for an afternoon!.
Wall Street Time Machine
IBM
IBM
IBM - If you invested $1,000 in 1936, it would be worth $205,272 today (205.3x return)
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1936, it would be worth $3,433,942 today (3433.9x return)