SEPTEMBER 9, 1950

Full News Archive

• Headline: Lucas Assures Steel Curbs Won't Halt Production. Impact: Lucas's optimistic statement inspired a generation of auto workers to unionize and demand better pay, leading to the rise of the 'living wage' movement. Ironically, the steel curbs caused a boom in the bicycle industry, because who doesn't enjoy a good bike ride after a long day of labor?. Fact: Steel curbs were originally meant to control the flow of metal and not the flow of sarcasm. Unfortunately, they failed miserably at both.
• Headline: Truman Appeals to Film Stars for Support. Impact: Truman's request for film stars' help against Communist propaganda sparked a trend where Hollywood stars became political activists. This ultimately led to the rise of the 'celebrity politician' phenomenon, which we all know has worked out perfectly. Fact: In the 1940s, film stars were considered the best weapon against communism, which explains why there were so many bad movie adaptations of history.
• Headline: SERIES CONFERENCE SET FOR THURSDAY; Chandler Invites the Officials of Leading Clubs to Attend Meeting in Cincinnati Different Play-Off Plan Asks for a Hearing. Impact: This meeting was the catalyst for the endless debate over sports play-off formats. It eventually led to the invention of the 'play-in game' and thus gave millions of fans something else to complain about. Fact: Sports meetings are the original 'let's discuss our problems' gatherings, minus the donuts and coffee. Just a lot of men in suits arguing about how to make a game more complicated.
• Headline: Ship Sinks Off Newfoundland. Impact: The sinking of the Foudroyant sparked a series of maritime safety regulations that would later prevent a Titanic-level disaster. It also inadvertently inspired a bestselling novel about a shipwreck that included a talking crab. Fact: Shipwrecks have been the inspiration for many stories, but none quite so memorable as the one where the crab becomes the hero and starts a seafood restaurant.
• Headline: MIDDLETOWN'S THREE HUNDRED. Impact: The 300th anniversary celebration led to a cultural renaissance in Middletown, inspiring generations to hold onto their local history. This eventually resulted in an annual 'Throwback Thursday' festival that featured costumes from the 1700s and really bad reenactments. Fact: Three hundred years is just enough time for a town to forget its original purpose and focus more on annual festivals and questionable historical accuracy.
• Headline: DR. F.N. SPERRY, 77, YALE EX-PROFESSOR; Member of the Medical School Faculty 46 Years Is Dead-- Led Hard of Hearing Group. Impact: Dr. Sperry's death marked a significant loss for the hard of hearing community, which led to increased advocacy for accessibility and better hearing technologies. Ironically, his legacy lives on through the very advancements he fought for. Fact: Dr. Sperry was known for his dedication, and his work laid the foundation for many accessibility improvements in hearing aids. It's almost like he could hear the future calling.
• Headline: ALBERT A. VOLK, 70, TORE DOWN HOUSES; Head of Demolition Concern That Worked on Brick Church and 9th Ave. 'El' Dies. Impact: Volk's passing marked the end of an era in urban demolition, which ironically led to the rise of preservation movements in cities. People began to realize that tearing down everything might not be the best way to honor history. Fact: Albert Volk was known for his demolishing prowess, but little did he know he was also paving the way for future preservationists who would argue that not every building needs to meet the wrecking ball.
• Headline: PEIPING BARS STUDY OF U.S. AIR INCIDENT; Rejects U.N. Inquiry in Charge of Strafing in Manchuria-- Ties Stand to Seat Issue PEIPING BARS STUDY OF U.S. AIR INCIDENT Nationalist Ouster Pressed. Impact: Peiping's rejection of the U.N. inquiry set off a chain reaction of diplomatic tensions that would later inspire numerous spy novels and conspiracy theories about secret meetings in smoke-filled rooms. Fact: International relations are often like a game of chess, except everyone forgets the rules and just moves pieces around until someone flips the board.