OCTOBER 16, 1940

Full News Archive

• Headline: Governor Moore Praises Fort Dix Progress. Impact: This event sparked a nationwide trend in military camps serving onion sandwiches, which inadvertently led to a generation of soldiers developing a love for pungent food and creating the first-ever 'Onion Appreciation Day'.. Fact: Did you know that the only thing more impressive than a 19-gun salute is the smell of a soldier's breath after an onion sandwich? Talk about a multi-sensory experience!.
• Headline: Willkie's Call to Drafted Men. Impact: Willkie's call to arms inspired future generations to view draft registration as a rite of passage. Ironically, this led to the creation of an underground movement of people avoiding the draft by pretending to be terrible at sports.. Fact: Fun fact: The most efficient army doesn't just fight; it also has a killer team-building retreat agenda. Who knew the military had HR?.
• Headline: Ban on Cream Substitute Enforced. Impact: This ban led to a sudden surge in black market cream substitutes, which would eventually inspire a 70s cult classic film titled 'The Great Cream Heist'.. Fact: Banning cream substitutes is basically like telling people they can't have dessert. Good luck with that, health board!.
• Headline: Lady Mendl Guest. Impact: Lady Mendl's presence at the luncheon sparked a series of increasingly extravagant testimonial luncheons that culminated in the infamous 'Luncheon Wars' of the late 1940s, where decorum meant nothing.. Fact: Because nothing says 'successful decorator' like being a guest at a luncheon, right? I can only imagine the riveting conversations about fabric swatches..
• Headline: A HAGUE "VICTORY". Impact: This so-called victory set a precedent for future legal battles, inspiring an entire genre of courtroom dramas that would later lead to the rise of popcorn sales in theaters.. Fact: Victory in The Hague is a little like finding a parking spot in a crowded city—everyone celebrates, but deep down, we all know it was just a lucky break..
• Headline: Americans' Travel in Far East Restricted; Hull Extends Regulations on Passports; AMERICANS' TRAVEL IN EAST CURTAILED. Impact: These restrictions led to a massive increase in the popularity of travel brochures featuring Western Hemisphere destinations, resulting in an ongoing fascination with beach vacations and the phrase 'no passport, no problem'.. Fact: Travel restrictions have always been a great way to foster creativity in vacation planning. Who needs the Far East when you have a backyard pool?.
• Headline: Text of Forum on Mobilizing the Strength of the Nation for Defense. Impact: The forum's discussions led to the unintended consequence of overly complicated military jargon infiltrating everyday language, making it impossible for civilians to understand anything that came after 'let's mobilize'.. Fact: Mobilizing strength sounds much cooler than it actually is—it's just a fancy way of saying, 'We need to get our act together, people!'.
• Headline: E.A. Salmon on Hospital Board. Impact: E.A. Salmon's appointment inspired a trend of appointing oddly named individuals to hospital boards, leading to a boom in quirky hospital names like 'Codfish Clinic' and 'Pineapple Medical Center'.. Fact: You know you've made it when you're on a hospital board. Congratulations, E.A. Salmon! Just don’t get caught on a fishy business deal..
• Headline: Architect Named Adviser On Art at Cooper Union. Impact: This appointment led to a renaissance of architectural styles that baffled the general public, resulting in a game show called 'What Were They Thinking?' featuring the latest designs.. Fact: Being an adviser on art at an architecture school is basically like being the designated 'cool aunt' at family gatherings—nobody really knows what you do, but everyone loves having you around..