NOVEMBER 18, 1946

Full News Archive

• Headline: Atheism Broadcast Sparks Outcry in 1946. Impact: The decision to air atheism on the radio sparked a nationwide existential crisis, causing more people to question the universe than ever before. Who knew a Sunday broadcast could lead to a spike in philosophy classes?. Fact: Protests from churchgoers led to a dramatic increase in 'What If?' conversations at brunches everywhere, significantly raising the average level of eye-rolling..
• Headline: Truman's Florida Vacation Adventure. Impact: Truman’s zest-filled vacation became legendary, inspiring future presidents to take vacations in exotic locations—often leading to the belief that the more they relax, the more they ignore pressing issues at home.. Fact: Did you know that Truman’s zest was later bottled and sold as a popular energy drink for politicians? It’s a little-known secret that fueled many late-night debates..
• Headline: JAILED FILM PICKETS GO ON HUNGER STRIKE. Impact: The hunger strike by jailed film pickets inadvertently led to the rise of snack-food brands that catered specifically to protestors, forever changing the landscape of protest cuisine.. Fact: Fun fact: The word 'picket' is thought to have originally referred to the snacks brought by protestors—because what's a protest without a little nosh?.
• Headline: Buses, Street Cars Share 42d St., With One Electric Line Supplanted; TROLLEYS' CLANG, CLANG GIVE WAY TO MOTOR HUMS. Impact: The transition from trolleys to buses on 42nd Street sparked an urban transportation revolution, eventually leading to the invention of ride-sharing apps—but not before a lot of people got really good at complaining.. Fact: Fun fact: The sound of trolleys was replaced by the hum of motors, which led to a significant increase in the sales of earplugs in urban areas. Who knew that noise pollution could lead to a booming business?.
• Headline: Russian Chutist Claims Falls Total 1,242 Miles. Impact: The Russian chutist's claim to fame ignited a bizarre trend of extreme sports, leading to an era where people would jump from increasingly absurd heights—eventually culminating in the invention of extreme knitting.. Fact: Did you know that after his record, 'chutist' became a popular title for anyone who attempted to fall gracefully? It’s a prestigious title, closely guarded by only the most daring of souls..
• Headline: EX-JUDGE MANTON OF U.S.BENCH HERE; Head of the Appeals Court Who Served Time for Accepting $186,000 Dies Up-State. Impact: The death of Ex-Judge Manton raised eyebrows and led to the phrase 'the judge is dead, long live the judge,' sparking debates about ethics in the judiciary for decades to come.. Fact: Manton's career highlights included a brief stint as a cautionary tale in law schools—because who doesn’t love a good 'what not to do' story?.
• Headline: AIKEN IS OPPOSED FOR LABOR POST; Senate Republicans Seeking to Keep Him From Taking Rule of Committee. Impact: The opposition to Aiken for the labor post caused a ripple effect of political maneuvering that ultimately led to the invention of the phrase 'politics makes strange bedfellows'—and a lot of awkward dinner parties.. Fact: Fun fact: The political drama around labor posts has since inspired countless soap operas. Who knew that political intrigue could make for such riveting entertainment?.
• Headline: HO FAMILY DINNER; Gen. Ho Ying-chin Honored at Affair in Hotel Here. Impact: Ho Ying-chin's family dinner inadvertently led to a long-standing tradition of honoring family members in public, resulting in the modern phenomenon of Instagram family dinners—complete with hashtags.. Fact: Did you know that Ho’s dinner was the first documented case of a family trying to one-up each other with fancy meals? It’s the origin of the phrase 'keeping up with the Joneses.'.