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 September 1, 1955
Full News Archive
- Headline: Paris Fall Fashion Trends of 1955. Impact: The fashion choices made in Paris that day inspired a future generation of influencers to post selfies in questionable outfits, leading to a global crisis known as 'What Were We Thinking?' in the 2020s.. Fact: Did you know that the 'top of the figure' is just a fancy way of saying 'let's ignore the rest of the body'? Perfect for fashion designers who prefer sketching instead of anatomy..
- Headline: Iowan Becomes Moose Fraternal Leader. Impact: The election of P E McCarville as Moose Chief sparked a secret society of moose enthusiasts, which later influenced the founding of several obscure wildlife protection organizations. Who knew moose had such a powerful lobby?. Fact: Did you know that being elected Moose Chief is like being crowned prom king, but with less glitter and more antlers?.
- Headline: Last Laugh's on Readers Of 'Comic' Book Series. Impact: The release of the 'good' reading comic book series sparked an underground movement of rebellious readers who demanded more superheroes and fewer moral lessons, ultimately giving rise to the anti-hero genre.. Fact: Did you know that comic books were once considered 'good reading'? Yeah, they were also once considered literature, right before they started featuring caped crusaders..
- Headline: Lehigh Railroad Man Gets One of 2 Posts of Predecessor; BINGHAM JOB GOES TO RAILROAD MAN. Impact: The appointment of T J McLernon to the Bingham job set off a chain of events that led to the infamous 'Harbor Wars' of the late 20th century, where different railroad factions battled for supremacy over cargo and coffee breaks.. Fact: Did you know 'lighterage' is a real word? It sounds like something you'd get at a barbecue, but it's actually about moving stuff around. Exciting, right?.
- Headline: GREEK MAKES BID FOR FREER CYPRUS; Foreign Chief Asks Britain for Self-Determination of Island in 'Fixed Period'. Impact: Greece's bid for a freer Cyprus set off a series of diplomatic conversations that resulted in the idea that asking nicely might actually work, leading to a bizarre era of 'please' and 'thank you' in international relations.. Fact: Did you know that self-determination sounds great on paper but usually involves a lot of paperwork and very little actual determination?.
- Headline: 750 French Tourists in Russia. Impact: The arrival of 750 French tourists in Russia led to an unexpected cultural exchange, resulting in the invention of the 'French-Russian fusion' cuisine that no one asked for but everyone was too polite to criticize.. Fact: Did you know that mixing French and Russian cuisine can lead to some questionable choices? Just imagine borscht crepes β not exactly Michelin-star material!.
- Headline: Nashua Beats Swaps in Match Race. Impact: Nashua's victory over Swaps in the match race incited a rivalry that resulted in the creation of the 'Horse Racing Hall of Fame,' where no horse was ever truly a loser (except for Swaps).. Fact: Did you know that losing a match race is just a horse's way of saying, 'I prefer the grass here'?.
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)