OCTOBER 7, 1950

Full News Archive

• Headline: Anti-Smoke Week Expands Participation. Impact: The anti-smoking movement led to the creation of various smoke-free zones, which eventually inspired the invention of the air purifier as a trendy home accessory. Who knew a little fresh air could also spark a multi-billion dollar industry?. Fact: Fun fact: The real reason for anti-smoke weeks? To give non-smokers an excuse to judge smokers in public without feeling guilty..
• Headline: Draft Registration for Medical Professionals. Impact: Truman’s draft of doctors inadvertently created the first-ever medical reality show, where physicians had to compete for the title of 'Most Likely to Save Your Life' – a title that’s still hotly contested in waiting rooms today.. Fact: Did you know that the military’s ultimate plan was to draft doctors so they could finally settle the age-old debate on whether a doctor’s handwriting is intentionally illegible?.
• Headline: Death of Chicago Banker Charles F. Glore. Impact: The passing of Charles F. Glore led to his art institute being run by a series of increasingly eccentric trustees, culminating in a cat-loving art curator who believed all masterpieces should feature at least one feline.. Fact: It's rumored that Glore’s last words were, 'Don’t let them turn my art into a cat meme!'.
• Headline: Columbia Receives $100,000 Gift From Brewery for Its Aid to TV; Cultural Uses of Fund. Impact: Columbia University's $100,000 gift from a brewery sparked the academic trend of funding research with unconventional sources, paving the way for future studies like 'The Correlation Between Beer and Impressive Dance Moves'.. Fact: Did you know that this gift led to the establishment of the 'Brewology' major, where students learned that drinking beer can be both art and science?.
• Headline: DR. KILIAN BLUHM. Impact: Dr. Kilian Bluhm's legacy inspired an entire generation of doctors who believed that saving lives was optional as long as they had a good Instagram following.. Fact: Dr. Bluhm was known for his groundbreaking research on the effectiveness of lollipops to cheer up patients. Spoiler: it worked..
• Headline: JOHN M. BISCHOFF SR.. Impact: John M. Bischoff Sr.'s contributions helped cement the idea that last names can have an expiration date, leading to the eventual rise of people changing their names to be more 'hip' or 'marketable'.. Fact: Rumor has it that Bischoff once tried to trademark his last name but lost it to a hot dog vendor who had a better marketing pitch..
• Headline: CURTIS B. JOHNSON, 74, PUBLISHER IN SOUTH. Impact: Curtis B. Johnson’s legacy as a publisher gave rise to an entire subgenre of self-help books that promised to teach you how to publish your own book in just 24 hours – yet here we are, still waiting for the next great American novel.. Fact: Johnson once published a book entitled 'How to Make Friends and Annoy Your Neighbors' – it became an instant hit in suburban America..
• Headline: 20 SPEAKERS LISTED FOR CHURCH FORUM; 'Shaping Things to Come' Is Topic of 2-Day Sessions at Christ Church, Methodist. Impact: The church forum on 'Shaping Things to Come' inspired a series of poorly received sci-fi sermons, ultimately leading to an annual 'Hymns from the Future' music festival that’s still a hot topic of debate among churchgoers.. Fact: Some attendees joked that the only thing being shaped was the church’s potluck menu, which somehow always included five types of casserole..
• Headline: LUTHERAN LEADER ASKS NEW U.N. UNIT; Church Session Hears Plan for Body to List Points of Conflict for World Judgment. Impact: The suggestion for a new U.N. unit to list conflict points led to a series of bureaucratic meetings that inadvertently created the world's longest game of 'Telephone', where the original points of conflict were lost in translation.. Fact: The Lutheran leader's plan was so convoluted that it inspired a new genre of board games: 'The U.N. Negotiation Challenge – Can You Find the Peace?'.
• Headline: CAPTIVES SAY REDS ALIENATE KOREANS; Friendly Reception Predicted for U.N. Army From 80% of Northern Populace. Impact: The reports from Korean POWs indicating a friendly reception for U.N. forces inadvertently inspired a series of misguided military strategies that included sending in a marching band to win over hearts and minds.. Fact: It turns out that 80% of the Northern populace was also friendly towards pizza delivery, which made for a very different military strategy..