JUNE 9, 1947

Full News Archive

• Headline: Vassily Zavoico: Oil Tycoon and Historian. Impact: Zavoico's death might have caused a ripple effect in the oil industry, where had he lived longer, he could have inadvertently inspired a new generation of oil tycoons who would eventually turn to renewable energy to feel better about themselves.. Fact: Zavoico was involved in a political struggle that seemed to be more about who could trip over their own feet the most, rather than actual governance..
• Headline: Indictment of Angelev Charges Initiated. Impact: The drafting of charges against Angelev might have set off a chain reaction leading to a new wave of indictments, inspiring future politicians to consider their choices more carefully, or at least hire better lawyers.. Fact: Indictments are like bad relationships; they’re usually a long time coming and everyone pretends they saw it coming even when they didn’t..
• Headline: Irgun Rejects British Support in Palestine. Impact: Irgun's plea to Truman might have led to a diplomatic dance that contributed to decades of conflict in the Middle East, which ultimately paved the way for reality TV stars to become political figures. Thanks, history!. Fact: When Truman was asked about the Irgun, he probably thought they were just a new brand of Israeli snack food..
• Headline: MRS. STEPHEN HARRISON. Impact: Mrs. Stephen Harrison's presence in the news symbolizes the era's focus on the men behind the women, perpetuating a cycle of historical footnotes that continues to this day.. Fact: In historical terms, 'Mrs.' often means 'please ignore my achievements because my husband's are more important.'.
• Headline: MEREDITH B. COLKET SR.. Impact: Colket Sr.'s inclusion in the news reminds us that many people are destined to be footnotes in their own family histories, a reality that has led to countless therapy sessions.. Fact: The name 'Meredith' has been used in various historical contexts; however, it’s often a sign that parents ran out of ideas..
• Headline: TOMSEN THE VICTOR IN RIFLE SHOOTING. Impact: Tomsen winning the rifle shooting tournament might have inspired future marksmen to take up the sport, leading to a whole generation of people who think they can take down a deer with a single shot—spoiler alert: they can't.. Fact: Rifle shooting competitions are essentially the Olympics for people who don’t like sweating while running..
• Headline: JOHN DECKER DIES; COAST ARTIST, 52; Painted Portraits of Screen Stars in Styles of Masters uWon J. B. Payne Medal. Impact: John Decker's death likely led to a sudden surge in portrait commissions for artists who realized they could now charge more than before, simply because there was one less competitor.. Fact: Decker's portraits of screen stars were often considered more interesting than the stars themselves, which says a lot about Hollywood..
• Headline: ARTHUR J. HEIDRICH. Impact: Heidrich's place in history is likely as a reminder that many people have names that sound important, but in reality, they were just living their lives like everyone else. Think of the lost potential!. Fact: The name 'Arthur' peaked in the early 20th century, and coincidentally, so did the number of people named after actual cool historical figures..
• Headline: GEORGE A. DEGENHARDT. Impact: Degenhardt's existence might have inspired future generations to pursue their dreams, or at least to realize that having a name that sounds like a German train station doesn’t guarantee success.. Fact: With a last name like Degenhardt, one can only assume he was destined for greatness or at least a really interesting story..
• Headline: Coney Fireworks Begin July 1. Impact: The annual Coney Fireworks display, resuming, probably sparked a flurry of local debates about the ethics of excessive noise and the environmental impact of blowing things up for fun—conversations that still resonate today.. Fact: Fireworks are basically just fancy explosives that people decided should be part of celebrations—because who doesn’t love a little random noise and fire?.