APRIL 24, 1956

Full News Archive

• Headline: Bonwit Teller Expands to Long Island. Impact: The Bonwit Teller store opened so many doors that it inadvertently caused the birth of mall culture, leading to the rise of the food court and the eternal struggle over which pretzel stand to choose.. Fact: Bonwit Teller was like the hipster of department stores—always one step ahead of the trends that are now embarrassingly retro..
• Headline: STEVENSON HOPES GROW AT CAPITAL; He Makes Political Hay and Gets Optimistic Reports on Chances for Comeback Holifield Neutral Urges Home Rule. Impact: Stevenson's optimism created a ripple effect that led to the rise of political spin doctors, who would later master the art of making everything sound exciting, including a budget meeting.. Fact: Stevenson was so hopeful that he could have convinced a room full of accountants that tax season was the most thrilling time of the year..
• Headline: Washington Accepts Claim By Soviet on Guided Missile; U.S. Progress Indicated RUSSIAN'S CLAIM NOT DENIED BY U.S. Crews Simulate Action Accuracy Claimed. Impact: The U.S. accepting the Soviet missile claim led to a series of missile races, which ultimately resulted in a lot of awkward silences during Cold War negotiations and a few overly dramatic spy movies.. Fact: This incident was so tense that it inspired a whole genre of movies where spies had to save the world with nothing but a briefcase and a witty one-liner..
• Headline: WRONG FLAG STIRS AD MEN'S SESSION; Spanish Delegates Walk Out as Red Emblem for Them Is Flown on Dais. Impact: The Spanish delegates walking out over the flag mix-up created a rift that would later inspire countless sitcoms about misunderstandings, proving that miscommunication can be hilariously disastrous.. Fact: If only they had a flag emoji back then, maybe they could have just texted their way through the crisis..
• Headline: Moses Fences Off Park Area at Night; MOSES FENCES IN PARK LOT IN DARK. Impact: Moses fencing off the park area led to an ongoing debate about public space usage, ultimately inspiring a future generation of urban planners to create parks that are too perfect to use.. Fact: Moses was like the original gatekeeper; he probably would have made sure that even the squirrels had to apply for a permit to use the park..
• Headline: EDUCATOR'S PLEA FAILS; Supreme Court Denies Hearing to Ousted Coast Professor. Impact: The Supreme Court's denial of the educator's plea inspired a wave of disgruntled professors to take up blogging, leading to an avalanche of academic rants that would echo through the halls of the internet.. Fact: This case was a prime example of how sometimes the highest court in the land can also be the loudest 'no' in your life—like a parent who just doesn’t understand your dreams..