JUNE 20, 1948

Full News Archive

• Headline: Armchair in Hell by Henry Kane. Impact: This book, filled with the kind of existential dread only a 1940s author could muster, inspired future generations of armchair philosophers who would eventually lead to the rise of social media influencers. Yes, thank you, Henry Kane, for the endless scroll of despair. Fact: Did you know that 'Armchair in Hell' was the original title for a popular couch brand? True story.
• Headline: Solar Energy Research at GM Laboratories. Impact: Kettering's research led to a bizarre series of events where solar energy became a previously undiscovered fuel source, eventually enabling a future where cars run on sunshine and rainbows. Yes, we all know how that turned out—just like a bad sci-fi movie. Fact: Fun fact: Kettering also invented the self-starter for cars because he was tired of cranking them like it was the 1800s.
• Headline: Condemning the National Theatre's Ban. Impact: The ban on Negro patrons at Washington's National Theatre sparked a series of protests, leading to the eventual establishment of more inclusive policies. Just imagine if they had just put up a sign that said 'All Are Welcome'—think of how many fewer protests we would have had!. Fact: The National Theatre's legacy included hosting the first-ever performance of 'Innocent Bystanders,' a play about people watching the world go by while doing absolutely nothing.
• Headline: And in the Third Corner -- Father Time; Is Joe Louis too old to be champ? That is the question as he again defends his title.. Impact: Joe Louis's career continued to inspire future champions, albeit with an ironic twist where every aspiring boxer now thinks age is just a number—until they get knocked out by a 20-year-old, that is. Fact: Fun fact: Joe Louis once knocked out an opponent in under a minute, which is still quicker than most people's morning routines.
• Headline: BIG GREEK ATTACK AIMS TO END WAR; National Army Is Battling to Surround and Cut Up Foe in Grammos Region. Impact: Greece's National Army's efforts created a ripple effect that would ultimately influence US foreign policy for decades. Who knew a fight in a mountainous region would lead to complicated alliances and endless debates over foreign aid?. Fact: Interestingly, the only thing more complicated than Greece's post-war political landscape was the average Greek salad recipe.
• Headline: THE DOVE. By Wilson Tucker. 218 pp. New York: Rinehart & Co. $2.. Impact: Tucker's 'The Dove' led to a long tradition of literature exploring peace amidst chaos, which eventually inspired a generation of teenagers to write terrible poetry about their feelings. Thanks for that, Wilson. Fact: The Dove was originally supposed to be about a pigeon who became a jazz musician but was deemed 'too avant-garde' for its time.
• Headline: THE BOOK OF THE LION. By Elizabeth Daly. 218 pp. New York: Rinehart & Co. $2.. Impact: Daly's 'The Book of the Lion' inadvertently inspired a future generation of animal-based stories, leading to an entire genre of films about talking animals who can somehow solve human problems. Because nothing says 'realism' like a lion giving life advice. Fact: The lion on the cover was based on a real-life lion named Leo who, unfortunately, had a very short-lived career as a motivational speaker.
• Headline: THE CASTLE OF GRUMPY GROUCH. By Mary Dickerson Donahey. Illustrated by Pelagie Doane. 162 pp. New York: Random House. $2.. Impact: Donahey's whimsical work about grouchiness somehow planted the seed for countless internet memes featuring grumpy cats, leading to a cultural phenomenon where people relate more to cats than each other. Fact: The Castle of Grumpy Grouch was nearly a theme park until someone realized that grumpiness doesn't translate well into rides—who knew?.