SEPTEMBER 11, 1957

Full News Archive

• Headline: Jersey City Taps Reserve Water Supply. Impact: The water supply crisis in Jersey City led to an overzealous conservation campaign that spread across the country, ultimately resulting in the Great Water Bottle Boom of the 1980s. Suddenly, everyone was hoarding water like it was gold. Spoiler alert: it wasn't.. Fact: Did you know that people once thought bottled water was just a fad? Now we pay $3 for water that tastes like it was filtered through a gym sock!.
• Headline: DeKoning Struggles with Hepatitis in 1957. Impact: DeKoning's illness sparked a worrying trend of artists becoming health-conscious. This led to a bizarre movement where painters insisted on only using organic paint, resulting in a shortage of vibrant colors and a rise in the popularity of beige.. Fact: Hepatitis sounds scary, but did you know that it just means you’re not having the best time with your liver? Next time you’re at a party, raise a glass to your liver—it's working hard!.
• Headline: Rockefeller's Journey of Self-Discovery. Impact: Rockefeller’s existential musings inspired countless self-help books and motivational speakers, leading to the 'Find Your Purpose' craze of the 80s. Everyone suddenly needed a vision board—because who wouldn’t want a collage of their ultimate life?. Fact: Nelson Rockefeller defined his purpose in life, but if he had just Googled 'How to Find Your Purpose', he could have saved a lot of time and ink!.
• Headline: U.S. BIDS U.N. PUSH ISSUE OF HUNGARY; Urges Continued Discussion in Hope Soviet Union Will Relax Its Grip on Nation 36-Nation Move Supported U.S. BIDS U.N. PUSH ISSUE OF HUNGARY Secretariat Is Criticized. Impact: The U.S. push for Hungary at the U.N. set off a chain reaction of Cold War diplomacy that eventually led to the invention of the diplomatic handshake—a gesture that has since caused more awkward moments than any social gathering.. Fact: Did you know the U.N. is essentially just a fancy club where countries can argue politely? It's like a family dinner but with more snacks and less yelling—mostly..
• Headline: RADIATION DATA NEEDED; Proof of Amounts Harmful to Man Is Held Lacking. Impact: The demand for radiation data led to an unexpected boom in the field of scientific research. This eventually resulted in the rise of conspiracy theories claiming that the government was hiding alien technology—because, obviously, that’s where everyone’s mind goes.. Fact: Funny enough, the only radiation most of us are exposed to is from our smartphones. So, if you find yourself glowing, it’s probably just your screen time catching up with you!.
• Headline: Gromyko Accuses the West Of Armed Threat to Syria; Bars German-Unity Parley GROMYKO CHARGES A THREAT TO SYRIA. Impact: Gromyko’s accusations triggered a series of miscommunications that led to a decades-long game of international telephone, resulting in countries misunderstanding each other’s intentions—basically the world’s worst game of charades.. Fact: Who knew that a simple accusation could lead to years of mistrust? It's almost like a high school rumor gone global—only with more at stake and fewer lunch trays!.
• Headline: Nelson Rockefeller Offers Aid to Keep Dodgers in the City; ROCKEFELLER AID OFFERED DODGERS Wagner Is Optimistic Dodgers Confirm Bid Corporation Counsel Views Price to Be Negotiated Cost Put at 50 Million Rockefeller Statement. Impact: Rockefeller's efforts to keep the Dodgers in the city inadvertently set off a chain reaction of sports team relocations that left cities scrambling to build shiny new stadiums. The result? The Great Stadium Arms Race of the 1990s, where every city suddenly needed an overpriced baseball diamond.. Fact: Fun fact: Dodger fans were once so passionate that they would have followed their team to the moon—if only someone had offered them a good enough deal!.
• Headline: 7 SUSPECTS HELD IN SCHOOL BLAST; 71% of Nashville Children in Integrated Classes Kept Home--Kasper Booked NASHVILLE BLAST WRECKS SCHOOL. Impact: The Nashville school blast ignited a national conversation about school safety and integration, leading to a series of laws and reforms. Ironically, it also resulted in more metal detectors in schools than in an airport security line.. Fact: The fact that people would bomb a school over integration is a stark reminder that humanity has a long way to go. Let’s hope the future figures it out a bit better..
• Headline: 3 Hoffa Rivals Hint At a Coalition Move; 3 RIVALS OF HOFFA HINT AT COALITION. Impact: The hints at a coalition against Hoffa led to a surge in mobster movies in Hollywood, forever cementing the stereotype that organized crime is a glamorous life. Thanks a lot, guys, now everyone thinks they can pull off a fedora!. Fact: Did you know that in the world of crime, 'coalition' is just a fancy word for 'I can’t believe we’re all in this mess together'?.
• Headline: Friday Named John Barry Day. Impact: John Barry Day became a national phenomenon where people celebrated by doing absolutely nothing, proving that sometimes the best honor is a day off to binge-watch your favorite show.. Fact: You know you're really famous when you get your own day! But let's be real, most people just wanted an excuse to sleep in that day..