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 June 2, 1956
Full News Archive
- Headline: Tito's Historic Visit to the USSR. Impact: This meeting sparked a chain reaction of socialist unity that eventually led to the creation of a secret society of mustachioed communists who believed they could control the world through poorly made vodka.. Fact: Tito once claimed that if you can't beat them, invite them over for borscht and then beat them at chess..
- Headline: Engineers Strike Agreement at Republic. Impact: This agreement led to engineers becoming the unsung heroes of society, paving the way for future labor disputes, and ultimately ensuring that the phrase 'let's settle this like adults' became a total joke.. Fact: The engineers were so good at negotiating that they could probably convince a cat to take a bath..
- Headline: Foreign Affairs and Uncertain African Futures. Impact: The U.S. failing to negotiate effectively with Morocco led to a new diplomatic strategy where they decided that just sending postcards was sufficient. Spoiler: it wasnβt.. Fact: The U.S. believed that by sending an invitation, they could magically fix international relations. Turns out, it takes more than just a party invite..
- Headline: SOUTHERN BAPTISTS AFFIRM AUTONOMY. Impact: This decision allowed churches to become mini-governments, leading to the creation of competing church property tax evasion strategies that are still in play today.. Fact: The vote against the North Carolina ruling was so close, it could've been decided by a game of rock-paper-scissors..
- Headline: LADY DOCKER OPTIMISTIC; Losing Gold-Plated Daimler, She Orders $21,000 Bentley. Impact: In her quest for the ultimate luxury vehicle, Lady Docker inadvertently sparked a trend of increasingly ridiculous car purchases, culminating in a gold-plated hovercraft in the 1980s.. Fact: Fun fact: Lady Dockerβs gold-plated Daimler was the first known vehicle to cause envy in parking lots..
- Headline: ANDREW M. WERNER OF NATIONAL CASKET. Impact: Andrew M. Werner's involvement in the casket industry led to the rise of coffin fashion shows, where the latest burial styles became the talk of the afterlife.. Fact: The National Casket wasn't just about caskets; they also offered great advice on how to make your final resting place a real home away from home..
- Headline: DOCTORS JOIN SERVICES; 2,000 Young Physicians Agree to Early Duty-Tour Starts. Impact: This mass enlistment led to a dramatic rise in medical dramas on television, as 2,000 young doctors sought to relive their glory days through scripted chaos.. Fact: It turns out that volunteering as a doctor during wartime was the original form of 'doctors without borders'βor as they liked to call it, 'doctors without sleep.'.
- Headline: Radford Warns Annapolis Class on 'Fetish of Tradition'; RADFORD ADVISES ANNAPOLIS CLASS. Impact: Radfordβs warning led to a cultural shift where tradition became a topic of debate, ultimately leading to a reality show: 'Keeping Up with the Traditions.'. Fact: Warning against a 'fetish of tradition' is one way to say, 'Letβs stop wearing our grandfathers' uniforms like they're in fashion.'.
- Headline: LITERACY DRIVE SLATED; National Council of Churches to Send Experts to Africa. Impact: This literacy drive initiated a global obsession with education that eventually resulted in the invention of the self-help book, 'How to Educate Yourself While Binge-Watching Netflix.'. Fact: The National Council of Churches believed that sending experts would solve everything, but little did they know, Wi-Fi was the real answer..
Wall Street Time Machine
PFE
Pfizer
Pfizer - If you invested $1,000 in 1956, it would be worth $168,691 today (168.7x return)
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1956, it would be worth $3,433,939 today (3433.9x return)
PG
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1956, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)