OCTOBER 14, 1941

Full News Archive

• Headline: Vichy Patrons Jeer Hitler Newsreel. Impact: The jeering of Hitler's newsreel convinced him to invest more in propaganda, leading to the world's first 'Jeer Cam'—a device that captured audience reactions. It was later repurposed into reality TV.. Fact: Did you know that Vichy France was so unimpressed by Hitler’s movies that they considered making their own, but ultimately decided nobody needed a low-budget sequel to a horror story?.
• Headline: Strengthening Fort Lamy's Garrison. Impact: The strengthening of Fort Lamy led to increased foreign legion recruitment, which eventually inspired a series of action movies involving overly dramatic accents and improbable stunts.. Fact: Fun fact: The Foreign Legion's motto, 'March or Die,' was almost replaced with 'Or You Could Just Take a Nap.'.
• Headline: Mass Production of Munitions Accelerates in WWII. Impact: The mass production of munitions helped the U.S. Army to win wars, but it also led to the invention of the world's first 'War Factory Reality Show,' where contestants compete to build weapons faster than their rivals.. Fact: Apparently, mass production of munitions means you can have both a war and a side of fries at the same time..
• Headline: Books of the Times. Impact: O'Donnell's 'Great Big Doorstep' inspired a generation of lazy door-to-door salespeople who believed they could sell anything, including broken dreams.. Fact: Did you know that literary critics once debated whether O'Donnell was referring to a metaphorical doorstep or just a really big front porch?.
• Headline: Houston Plant Picketed. Impact: The picketing at the Houston plant led to a nationwide trend of picketing anything and everything, including picket fences. It became a popular sport—who knew labor disputes could be so entertaining?. Fact: In a bizarre twist, the picketing carpenters were later recruited to build a 'Picket Line Theme Park' that never opened due to lack of funding—too many pickets, not enough rides..
• Headline: RFC FOND RISE BILL SENT TO PRESIDENT; Senate Passes Authorization Plan Adding $1,500,000,000 to Borrowing Power STEEL EXPANSION AN AIM Two-thirds of Capital to Aid in Increasing Production -- Taft Warns of Price Menace. Impact: The RFC's bill to increase borrowing power inadvertently led to a nationwide obsession with 'borrowing without accountability,' which became a popular theme in future financial crises.. Fact: Sen O'Mahoney's warning about price control was later interpreted by comedians as 'don't let the government near your shopping cart.'.
• Headline: MOVES TO ABATE HOUSING FRICTION; Judge Rosenman Makes Sur- vey at Roosevelt's Request to Evolve Coordination UNIT CHIEFS FURNISH DATA New Centralized Agency Is Held Likely for Defense and Civilian Works. Impact: The moves to abate housing friction eventually inspired the founding of a new agency focused on keeping the peace between neighbors—unfortunately, it was staffed entirely by cats.. Fact: Justice Rosenman’s survey was so thorough that it included a section on how to avoid awkward conversations with your neighbors, a skill many still lack today..
• Headline: U.S. Naval Aides in Melbourne. Impact: The arrival of U.S. naval aides in Melbourne was the beginning of a long-standing diplomatic tradition of sailors trying to charm locals with questionable dance moves and bad pickup lines.. Fact: Lt Comdr N McKenzie once famously declared, 'If you can dodge a cannonball, you can dodge a conversation!'.
• Headline: JAMAICA FREES INTERNEE; Defense Law Eased in Interest of Liberty, Local Paper Says. Impact: The freeing of the internee in Jamaica sparked a movement for personal liberties that eventually led to the 'Freedom 5K'—a run that encourages you to break free from your couch.. Fact: Ironically, the local paper that reported on the internment had previously published an article titled 'Jamaica: Where Freedom is Always a Good Idea—Except on Mondays.'.