AUGUST 19, 1957

Full News Archive

• Headline: Economic Aspirations in Europe 1957. Impact: Had those econ planners not dreamt of Midsummer Night's economic policies, we might have avoided the Great Scone Crisis of 1978, where the price of pastries skyrocketed due to a flour shortage. Shakespearean pastry recipes were thrown into chaos!. Fact: Fun fact: The only thing more complicated than economic planning is interpreting Shakespeare's plays without a thesaurus..
• Headline: Maharaja Mahendrasinhji of Morvi. Impact: The Maharaja's reign was pivotal; had he not existed, the entire concept of opulent Indian royalty might have been replaced by an obsession with minimalist interior design. Just imagine a world without gold-plated elephants.. Fact: Maharajas were known for their extravagant lifestyles, which is probably why 'Keeping Up with the Maharajas' never made it to reality TV..
• Headline: BROOKLYN NOTES BOOM IN HOUSING; Building of 2-Family Homes Up 60% in '56, a 15-Year Peak, Cashmore Reports. Impact: This housing boom sparked an architectural revolution that led to the invention of the 'two-family home with a moat.' Future generations still debate the necessity of moats.. Fact: Real estate agents in Brooklyn today often point to this report as evidence that they've been selling overpriced shoeboxes since the dawn of time..
• Headline: MISS SARA SHOOP BECOMES A BRIDE; Sarah Lawrence Junior and Sheldon G. Weeks Wed at Friends Ceremony Here. Impact: The wedding of Sarah Lawrence Junior and Sheldon G. Weeks initiated a long line of couples who took their vows in quirky locations, leading to the modern trend of nuptials in escape rooms.. Fact: Fun fact: Sarah Lawrence College is known for its creativity, so I wouldn't be surprised if they had a major in 'Alternative Wedding Venues.'.
• Headline: RABBI AHARON ROKACH; Leader of the Hasidic Sect Dies in Jerusalem. Impact: Rabbi Aharon Rokach's passing sparked a resurgence in Hasidic cultural studies, which eventually inspired a Netflix documentary series that had absolutely nothing to do with his teachings but featured a lot of beards.. Fact: Rabbi Rokach was known for his wisdom, which is something we could all use more of—especially when trying to figure out how to fold a fitted sheet..
• Headline: MISS SUSAN SHAFFER BECOMES AFFIANCED. Impact: Susan Shaffer's engagement encouraged a decade-long trend of increasingly elaborate wedding proposals, culminating in the infamous 'flash mob with a marching band' proposal of 2025.. Fact: Engagements are just a fancy way of saying, 'I've found the one person I can annoy for the rest of my life.'.
• Headline: Hunter Adds Course on Stage. Impact: The addition of stagecraft courses set off a chain reaction that led to the rise of 'influencer acting,' where online personalities now think they can star in Broadway productions without any actual training.. Fact: Hunter College's course could have saved us from the 'influencer acting' disaster, but instead, here we are, watching TikTok stars butcher Shakespeare..
• Headline: JERSEY BUS CRASH KILLS 4, HURTS 29; Blowout on Parkway Causes Skid Into Bridge Base. Impact: The tragic bus crash not only highlighted the need for better vehicle maintenance but also inspired a popular action movie franchise about heroic bus drivers who save the day, though none actually resemble the original events.. Fact: Statistics show that the odds of getting into a bus crash are almost as high as the odds of someone yelling 'Are we there yet?' on a long trip..
• Headline: MAJOR BILLS FACE CONGRESS IN RUSH FOR ADJOURNMENT; Civil Rights and Foreign Aid Share Spotlight With Hoffa Appearance JURY ACCORD IS SEEN But Republicans Continue to Assail Senate Plan on Contempt Trials. Impact: The rush for adjournment in Congress led to an unpredictable series of bipartisan debates over whether to keep the 'Civil Rights' and 'Foreign Aid' bills or swap them for a pizza party. Spoiler: they kept the pizza.. Fact: Congressional adjournments are like trying to get a toddler to leave the playground—everyone knows it’s time, but no one wants to admit it..