Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON July 27, 1954
Full News Archive
- Headline: $100 Million Power Station Initiative. Impact: This $100 million power station inadvertently led to the rise of Jersey's most notorious superhero: Captain Coal. As he fought the evil forces of renewable energy, he unknowingly inspired a generation of environmental activists.. Fact: For just $100 million, you could power a small country or fund a questionable reality TV show. Decisions, decisions!.
- Headline: Women Lead in School Job Applications. Impact: The flood of applications from women for school jobs eventually led to the 'Great Teacher Rebellion' of 1965, where teachers demanded coffee breaks, more vacation days, and, shockingly, equal pay.. Fact: 85% of applicants were women? Guess the remaining 15% were just trying to get a free coffee at the interview..
- Headline: The Legacy of William P. Kennedy. Impact: William P. Kennedy's brief mention in the headlines sparked a confusion that led to a series of movies titled 'Kennedy's Lost Adventures,' featuring a time-traveling dog and a very confused squirrel.. Fact: There are approximately 1,823 William P. Kennedys in the U.S. today. Good luck sorting that out!.
- Headline: ROBERT V. SWEET JR.. Impact: Robert V. Sweet Jr.'s name barely made it to the headlines but later inspired a line of artisanal ice creams that became a sensation in the 1980s. Who knew mediocrity could be so delicious?. Fact: Robert V. Sweet Jr. is still waiting for his ice cream flavor to be recognized. Stay patient, Rob..
- Headline: 2D CANDIDATE BACKED; Eisenhower Gives Approval to House Aspirant in Ohio. Impact: Eisenhower's casual endorsement of J Henderson set off a chain reaction of political endorsements that ultimately led to the invention of the selfie stick. Ah, democracy in action!. Fact: A photograph with a politician is basically the 1950s equivalent of a TikTok duet. Ah, the good old days of political strategy..
- Headline: Corporate Secretaries Pick Executive Director. Impact: B H Young's election as executive director led to an unprecedented rise in the number of corporate meetings about meetings. The world is still recovering from the resulting paperwork avalanche.. Fact: Fun fact: most executive directors are really just professional meeting attendees. Congrats, B H Young!.
- Headline: MRS. CYRIL NAST. Impact: Mrs. Cyril Nast's inclusion hints at a time when women's contributions were often overshadowed. This eventually led to a secret society of women who vowed to make sure their names were remembered... or at least had better initials.. Fact: Being a 'Mrs.' in the 1950s was basically the equivalent of being a ninja. Stealthy and often overlooked..
- Headline: Union Builds a Plant In 'Civil War' on Jobs; UNION GOES SOUTH TO FIGHT JOB WAR. Impact: The ILGWU's move to counteract 'runaway shops' resulted in a bizarre chain of events where labor unions became the unlikely champions of the local pizza parlor industry. Yes, pizza is a serious business.. Fact: Who knew that a 'Civil War' of jobs would eventually lead to a pizza renaissance? Slice of history, anyone?.
- Headline: MRS. F. O. WHITTEMORE. Impact: Mrs. F. O. Whittemore's name suggests a possibly glamorous life, leading many to believe she was actually the secret identity of a 1950s superheroine fighting against boring dinner parties.. Fact: F.O. Whittemore? Sounds like she was either a trendsetter or just really bad at picking names..
Wall Street Time Machine
GE
General Electric
General Electric - If you invested $1,000 in 1954, it would be worth $487,500 today (487.5x return)
IBM
IBM
IBM - If you invested $1,000 in 1954, it would be worth $205,272 today (205.3x return)
PFE
Pfizer
Pfizer - If you invested $1,000 in 1954, it would be worth $168,691 today (168.7x return)