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 12, 1957
Full News Archive
- Headline: Lincoln Square Project Controversy. Impact: The Lincoln Square project debates inadvertently sparked a nationwide trend of people arguing over the color of paint on walls, leading to an existential crisis for home decorators everywhere. The debate still rages on in online forums.. Fact: Nothing says progress quite like a bunch of people arguing about planners and blueprints. Truly riveting stuff..
- Headline: Circus Founder Charles T. Hunt Passes Away. Impact: Charles T. Hunt's death led to an unexpected decline in circus attendance as people slowly realized that the ringmaster was the only one keeping the lions from forming a union. The subsequent lion uprising led to the establishment of the first 'Animal Rights Circus'.. Fact: Circus performers were once the social media influencers of their day, minus the sponsored posts and filter apps..
- Headline: Missile-Killing Rockets Envisioned by Russian. Impact: The envisioning of missile-killing rockets inadvertently inspired a generation of science fiction writers, leading to an explosion of movies where missiles are the main characters, ultimately culminating in a box office hit called 'Missile Wars'.. Fact: In the future, missiles will surely be handed Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Role in blowing things up..
- Headline: SECOND SOVIET JET READY TO FLY TO U.S.. Impact: The launch of the second Soviet jet to the U.S. sparked a brief but frantic race to see who could build the fastest paper airplane, a competition still held annually in playgrounds across America.. Fact: If only the Soviets knew that paper airplanes could be just as effective in espionage as their jetsβimagine the budget cuts!.
- Headline: Jordanian Terrorist Jailed. Impact: The Jordanian terrorist's sentencing inadvertently turned him into a folk hero among misled individuals, leading to an underground movement advocating for 'bridge safety' that still confuses historians.. Fact: Terrorism and bridge-building donβt usually go hand in handβsomeone should really tell these folks that!.
- Headline: Final Results in Primary. Impact: The primary results led to an increase in coffee consumption across the nation as candidates' supporters engaged in increasingly wild discussions about who should win, resulting in a coffee shop boom that persists today.. Fact: Primary elections are like a bad reality show, but with even more drama and less actual entertainment..
- Headline: NAVY AIR MISHAPS DROP; Service Finds 99% of Flights Were Made Safely in Year. Impact: The Navy's report on air mishaps led to a series of motivational posters in military quarters, which ironically resulted in a higher number of accidents as pilots tried too hard to be inspirational.. Fact: It's comforting to know that 99% of Navy flights were safe, but that 1% still makes for a great story at the bar!.
Wall Street Time Machine
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1957, it would be worth $3,433,941 today (3433.9x return)
PG
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1957, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)
MO
Philip Morris
Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1957, it would be worth $23,651,363 today (23651.4x return)