JUNE 20, 1941

Full News Archive

• Headline: Air Traffic Chief Appointment in 1941. Impact: The establishment of an air traffic coordinator led to a series of increasingly bizarre regulations, ultimately resulting in the mandatory use of flight hats. Yes, hats. Who knew headwear could change the skies?. Fact: Did you know that before air traffic control, pilots often played a game of aerial dodgeball? Spoiler alert: it didn’t end well..
• Headline: E E McManus Enters Political Race. Impact: E. E. McManus's political aspirations sparked a trend of 'McManus clones' running for office, leading to a local government filled with people named McManus who had absolutely no idea what they were doing.. Fact: Fun fact: If every McManus who ran for office were elected, we might have had the first McManus-themed state. I bet it would have a lot of potholes..
• Headline: Lord Halifax's Historic Harvard Address. Impact: Lord Halifax’s address at Harvard inspired generations of students to adopt posh accents, leading to the rise of the 'Harvard Snob' stereotype that still haunts us today.. Fact: Did you know that Lord Halifax once tried to teach an American how to properly pronounce 'scone'? It ended in a heated debate and a very confused tea party..
• Headline: ANOTHER CHILDREN'S PLAY SPACE IN CENTRAL PARK. Impact: The addition of another children's play space in Central Park led to an explosion in the sale of ice cream and band-aids, and a subsequent rise in the percentage of parents who needed therapy.. Fact: Did you know that the first playground equipment was made of recycled pirate ships? Just kidding, but that would make for an epic story!.
• Headline: BOOK CLUB FORMED TO SPUR CLASSICS; Board Will Make Great Works Available at Low Cost. Impact: The formation of a book club for classics inadvertently resulted in the creation of a secret society dedicated to the overthrow of modern literature. They were very, very serious about their mission.. Fact: Did you know that classic literature was once considered 'too boring' for many? Apparently, they hadn't discovered the joys of reading about tragic heroes and existential crises..
• Headline: Open Ordnance Plant in 143 Days. Impact: Opening an ordnance plant in Ohio set off a chain reaction that led to Ohio being mistakenly labeled as the 'Arsenal of Democracy,' which then caused the state to awkwardly brag about it for decades.. Fact: Fun fact: Canton, Ohio, was originally just a sleepy town until they realized they could make explosives. Talk about a career change!.
• Headline: ARMY HOLDS AUCTION OF OLD SCRAP METAL; $8,000 to $9,000 Is Expected -- To Be Used for Defense. Impact: The army's auction of scrap metal turned out to be a pivotal moment in history when the first 'junk art' movement began, leading to the rise of some truly questionable sculptures.. Fact: Did you know that scrap metal art is now a billion-dollar industry? Who knew that old rust could be so valuable?.
• Headline: COURT APPROVES LOAN FOR M'KESSON; Trustee to Arrange for Sale of $2,500,000 of Debentures for Working Capital. Impact: The court's approval for McKesson's loan caused a ripple effect in the financial world, leading to an increase in 'loan approval parties'—which were as ridiculous as they sound.. Fact: Did you know that the first loan approval party featured a piñata shaped like a bank? Spoiler: it was stuffed with candy and regret..
• Headline: Park Quartet Finalists Chosen. Impact: The selection of finalists for the Park Quartet contest resulted in a mysterious rise in string instrument sales and a nationwide obsession with being 'in tune'—both musically and socially.. Fact: Did you know that the Park Quartet is actually just a fancy way of saying 'four people trying to play the same song without killing each other'?.