Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
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The biggest hits of the year β Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers
HEADLINES ON July 19, 1955
Full News Archive
- Headline: Brooklyn Milk Truck Driver Robbed. Impact: The robbery triggered a nationwide trend of milk truck drivers forming unions, demanding better pay and security. This eventually led to a bizarre reality show called 'Milk Wars: The Cream Rises.'. Fact: Did you know that $9,500 back then was enough to buy a small island? Too bad the milk truck driver didn't have a receipt for that heist!.
- Headline: Eisenhower and Zhukov Meet; Khrushchev Breaks In on Chat; PRESIDENT MEETS ZHUKOV AT PARLEY. Impact: The meeting between Eisenhower and Zhukov was so intense that it caused a time ripple, leading to the creation of a time-traveling spy organization that would later become a plot in countless sci-fi movies.. Fact: Khrushchev barging in was just a preview of future awkward family gatherings where one relative always interrupts the serious conversations. Thanks for the drama, Nikita!.
- Headline: President Seeks to Block 'Frightful' War Surprises; EISENHOWER ASKS AN ALARM SYSTEM. Impact: Eisenhowerβs call for an alarm system ironically led to the development of the first home security systems. Unfortunately, they were all equipped with the worst sound alarms, causing more heart attacks than burglaries.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'war surprises' is just a euphemism for 'we didnβt see that coming'? It's like being surprised by your neighbor's cat showing up at your barbecue..
- Headline: SUBVERSIVES BILL VOTED; House Passes Measure to Bar Them From U. S. Employ. Impact: The subversives bill led to a bizarre trend where people began to overanalyze their hobbies, fearing they might be deemed 'subversive' for liking knitting or gardening.. Fact: Fun fact: Being called a 'subversive' is basically a badge of honor for anyone who ever tried to put pineapple on pizza..
- Headline: LEAGUE LOSES MOVE; U. S. Refuses to Drop Case Against Socialist Group. Impact: The refusal to drop the case against the socialist group created a backlash that inspired a series of underground art movements, leading to a renaissance of sorts for avant-garde performance art involving mime and interpretive dance.. Fact: You know itβs serious when the U.S. government refuses to drop a case. It's like when your mom insists on keeping your childhood drawings up on the fridge long after you've moved out..
- Headline: RIFT OVER FAURE DISTURBS FRENCH; U. S. Officials Said to Believe Premier Went Further in Talk Than His Preview RIFT OVER FAURE DISTURBS FRENCH. Impact: The rift over Faure led to a secret society of French diplomats who started a wine-tasting club to bond over their grievances, inadvertently creating the world's most pretentious wine list.. Fact: When French officials are disturbed, itβs usually over something very serious, like an undercooked soufflΓ© or a poorly paired wine. Clearly, their priorities are different..
- Headline: U. S. STUDIES PAY FOR DIXON-YATES OUTSIDE CONTRACT; Settlement Within the Pact Unlikely -- Head of First Boston Tells of Role U. S. STUDIES PAY FOR DIXON-YATES. Impact: The study on Dixon-Yates' contract led to an unexpected boom in DIY energy projects, resulting in an entire generation of homeowners thinking they could single-handedly save the planet with solar panels and duct tape.. Fact: In the world of energy, 'studying pay' sounds remarkably like 'let's talk about money while sitting on our butts.'.
- Headline: PENSION BILL WINS IN HOUSE, 372-31; SENATE LAG SEEN; Measure Would Liberalize Social Security to Women and Disabled Persons G. O. P. DENOUNCES PLAN But Boards the Bandwagon With the Democrats for the Two-Thirds Majority PENSION BILL WINS IN HOUSE, 372-31. Impact: The pension bill led to a dramatic rise in retirement parties, where everyone suddenly thought they were going to live forever, resulting in an uptick in retirement home karaoke competitions.. Fact: 372-31 is a pretty impressive score for any bill, but it's also the exact ratio of how many people want to join a social security plan versus how many actually understand it..
Wall Street Time Machine
IBM
IBM
IBM - If you invested $1,000 in 1955, it would be worth $205,272 today (205.3x return)
PFE
Pfizer
Pfizer - If you invested $1,000 in 1955, it would be worth $168,691 today (168.7x return)
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1955, it would be worth $3,433,941 today (3433.9x return)