AUGUST 2, 1941

Full News Archive

• Headline: Allegheny-Ludlum Steel Plant Construction Begins. Impact: The steel plant's construction led to an unprecedented surge in weaponry, which ironically inspired a generation of sci-fi writers who would later imagine robots taking over the world. Thanks, Dunkirk!. Fact: If only they had built a plant for peace instead, we might have had a lot more 'love thy neighbor' and a lot less 'armament work' in our history books..
• Headline: Shift in Oil Export Policy. Impact: This oil policy change caused a ripple effect that led to a secret society of gas station attendants forming a club dedicated to overpriced fuel and conspiracy theories about the Axis. Who knew gas prices could fuel such creativity?. Fact: This policy shift meant that only the most privileged Axis victims got gas, while the rest were left to walk on foot. Who knew walking could be a luxury?.
• Headline: Controversy Over Rosenwald Books. Impact: Urging the burning of Rosenwald books ignited a literary underground movement, where people started hoarding books like they were precious artifacts. This directly led to the first 'Book Club'—not quite the kind of book burning they had in mind!. Fact: Ironically, some of the most successful authors today are those who would have been burned back then. Guess they didn't read the memo!.
• Headline: ORDERS JOE LOUIS TO PAY; Court Awards $200 a Week to His Estranged Wife. Impact: Joe Louis's court order to pay his estranged wife sparked a whole new trend of celebrity alimony battles. Today, reality TV stars owe their entire careers to this one decision. Thanks, Joe!. Fact: Imagine if Wikipedia existed back then—'Did you know Joe Louis was also a part-time marriage counselor? Just kidding, but he could have written a book on financial obligations!'.
• Headline: RADIO CORP. LIFTS HALF-YEAR PROFIT; $5,306,494 Compared With $3,185,221 and Equals 26.6c a Common Share. Impact: Radio Corp’s profit surge led to an explosion of radio shows, resulting in the birth of countless annoying jingles that haunt us to this day. Who needs a time machine when you’ve got catchy ads stuck in your head?. Fact: Their profit was so high because everyone was glued to the radio for news instead of socializing. It’s the original 'stay at home' order!.
• Headline: THE REAL DANGER. Impact: Raising alarms about Nazi agents inadvertently created a surge in spy-themed movies, forever changing Hollywood and leading to the infamous 'spy movie cliché' that we still roll our eyes at today.. Fact: The irony here is that while they were busy hunting spies, they created the ultimate spy trope: the 'secret agent with a license to thrill'—talk about a plot twist!.
• Headline: Texas Newspaper Woman Heads Army Press Division. Impact: The appointment of a Texas woman to head the Army Press Division inspired an entire generation of women to believe they could do anything, including running the country—what a dangerous thought!. Fact: Who knew that a woman in a press division could lead to the eventual rise of women in politics? You go, girl, breaking ceilings one press release at a time!.
• Headline: PROCTER & GAMBLE CLEARS $10,805,454; Net of Soap Company for Quarter Compares With $6,355,345 in 1940. Impact: Procter & Gamble's profits led to an arms race in the soap industry, where companies fought tooth and nail over who could produce the most bubbles. Little did they know, this would lead to a national obsession with cleanliness.. Fact: P&G's profits were so high that they could have funded a small country’s budget. Instead, they chose to focus on getting everyone squeaky clean—because who needs a government when you've got soap?.