JANUARY 29, 1950

Full News Archive

• Headline: British Hotels Target Middle-Class Visits. Impact: In an attempt to woo the middle class, these British hotel men inadvertently set off a chain reaction that led to the invention of the five-star rating system, which is now used for everything from hotels to pizza places. Thanks, guys!. Fact: Did you know that ‘home comforts’ used to mean a place to avoid your in-laws? Now it just means a Wi-Fi password and a mini fridge..
• Headline: Wynn and Berle's Historic TV Awards Win. Impact: The decision to give awards for television performances sparked a revolution in the industry, culminating in the creation of reality TV, as the universe collectively decided mediocrity needed a trophy too.. Fact: Fun fact: the first TV awards were like participation trophies for funny people. The only difference? They actually put on pants to accept them..
• Headline: On the Fiction List: Fire Novels of Interest; Labor Strife. Impact: The rise of novels around labor strife led to a literary movement that ultimately inspired the world's least-read book club, proving that even fiction can't escape the horrors of real-life job dissatisfaction.. Fact: Did you know that 'Labor Strife' is just code for 'I’m not getting paid enough to deal with this nonsense'?.
• Headline: Dempsey Voted Greatest Fighter In 50 Years, With Joe Louis Next; A HIGHLIGHT IN JACK DEMPSEY'S FIGHTING CAREER. Impact: Dempsey's victory paved the way for countless boxing movies, all of which feature a montage that inevitably makes you believe you, too, could punch a kangaroo—if you really tried.. Fact: Interestingly, Dempsey's legacy includes inspiring people to argue about who would win in a fight: him or a grizzly bear—because that’s what we do with history..
• Headline: Volumes Of Verse; Renaissance Singer. Impact: The publication of 'Sixty Poems of Sceve' inspired countless coffee shop poets to believe they, too, could produce a masterpiece—while simultaneously driving baristas to the brink of existential crises.. Fact: Did you know that poetry was once considered the 'cool' form of communication? Now, it just means you can’t afford therapy..
• Headline: A Day's Callers on 'HST'. Impact: This article about HST's callers led to a bizarre trend where people started scheduling their own callers, creating a new profession called 'friendly nuisance'.. Fact: Fun fact: 'HST' stands for 'Had Some Tea'—a common phrase used when avoiding awkward social interactions..
• Headline: F. H. A. SETS RECORD FOR 1949 BUSINESS; Report Shows Biggest Gains in All Branches Since Bureau Was Established in 1934. Impact: The FHA’s success in 1949 led to an explosive growth in suburban sprawl, and soon everyone was living in identical houses, resulting in the world's first neighborhood identity crisis.. Fact: Did you know that the FHA’s biggest gain was convincing people that beige is, in fact, a color? Because nothing screams excitement like beige..
• Headline: SPEAKING OF BOOKS. Impact: Adams' commentary on the relationship between sexes inadvertently led to the rise of self-help books, creating a multi-billion-dollar industry that has convinced us all we need a 'relationship detox' every six months.. Fact: Did you know that 'Speaking of Books' is often a euphemism for 'I have no idea what to say next' in awkward social gatherings?.
• Headline: Labor and Tories Vie for the Middle Class; The 'solid core' of British society has grown under socialism and may decide the election.. Impact: The struggle between Labor and Tories not only shaped British politics but also inspired a new wave of memes about adults arguing over who gets the last biscuit, forever tainting snack time.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'middle class' was originally code for 'we're too rich to be poor, but too poor to be rich'? Such a fine line!.