Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
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The biggest hits of the year β Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers
HEADLINES ON July 22, 1955
Full News Archive
- Headline: New Deputy Commissioners for SLA Appointed. Impact: The swearing-in of Multer and Fiore led to a series of questionable liquor regulations that would eventually inspire a reality TV show about bartenders and their dramatic livesβcheers to that!. Fact: Fun fact: 'State Deputy Commissioner' sounds way cooler than it actually is. They mostly just make sure the liquor doesn't get too rowdy..
- Headline: Nehru and Eisenhower Discuss China Relations. Impact: These talks between Nehru and Eisenhower sparked a decade-long debate about what constitutes a 'talk'βleading to a rise in coffee shop discussions that would later fuel the hipster movement.. Fact: Did you know that 'talks' can also be a euphemism for arguing over who has the best tea? This was an early version of that..
- Headline: Talbott's Controversial Partnership Offer. Impact: Talbott's sacrifice was the catalyst for a series of political scandals, leading to the creation of a secret society of politicians who only meet to discuss sacrificeβmostly of their integrity.. Fact: Spoiler alert: Talbott's firm probably wasn't on the up-and-up. Politics, am I right?.
- Headline: MORHOUSE SCENTS DEMOCRATIC PLOT; G.O.P. State Chairman Says Tammany Would Take Over Westchester, Rockland. Impact: Morhouseβs paranoid musings about a democratic plot set off a chain reaction where state chairmen began wearing tinfoil hats during meetingsβbecause nothing says 'serious politics' like headgear.. Fact: In the spirit of democracy, these meetings eventually turned into a costume party. You haven't lived until you've seen a senator in a cape..
- Headline: Objectives of U. S. Broad; Britain for Smaller Gains; U. S.-BRITISH AIMS HELD DIVERGENT. Impact: The divergent aims of the U.S. and Britain led to a secret competition to see who could come up with the most convoluted diplomatic jargonβspoiler: the U.S. won.. Fact: If you think international relations are confusing now, just imagine the meetings where everyone was trying to one-up each other's proposals!.
- Headline: LOYALTY EVICTION BY U. S. IS BARRED; Court Says Refusal to Deny Subversive Link Can't Oust Housing Tenant LOYALTY EVICTION BY U. S. IS BARRED. Impact: The court's decision to bar loyalty eviction triggered a nationwide trend of tenants refusing to sign anythingβleading to an uptick in the number of people living in homes without any semblance of order.. Fact: Turns out, refusing to sign a loyalty oath is a surefire way to get a rebellious streak goingβwho knew housing could be so dramatic?.
- Headline: ADJOURNMENT HOPE DIM; McCormack Says Rules Tie-Up Blocks July 30 Goal. Impact: McCormack's adjournment woes led to Congress adopting the infamous 'procrastination policy', where all important decisions must be delayed until the last possible momentβan art form still practiced today.. Fact: In political circles, 'adjournment' is code for 'let's talk about this next year'βperfect for avoiding actual work!.
- Headline: 'Cello Bow Tests Airplane Parts. Impact: Fairchild's innovative use of a cello bow turned the aerospace industry into a bizarre world of classical music enthusiasts who now test airplane parts while singing ariasβbecause why not?. Fact: They say the sound of a cello can soothe even the most turbulent of enginesβif only it worked for turbulent politicians too!.
- Headline: Antiaircraft Chief Auto Victim. Impact: The tragic auto accident of the antiaircraft chief inspired a series of safety regulations that, ironically, made it safer to drive near airports than to actually fly in planesβthanks for that!. Fact: While the antiaircraft chief couldn't dodge cars, the aviation community learned a valuable lesson: driving skills should not be confused with flying skills..
- Headline: 15,000 Acres Acquired in Jersey To Build Community of 200,000; Realty Group Plans Homes, Plants, Shopping Centers on Ocean County Tract TOWN FOR 200,000 MAPPED IN JERSEY. Impact: The ambitious plan to build a community for 200,000 launched a nationwide trend of suburbanization, leading to an explosion of lawn gnomes and neighborhood watch groups striving to outdo each other.. Fact: Fun fact: 200,000 people in a single community means a lot of awkward encounters at the mailbox. Welcome to suburban life!.
Wall Street Time Machine
IBM
IBM
IBM - If you invested $1,000 in 1955, it would be worth $205,272 today (205.3x return)
PFE
Pfizer
Pfizer - If you invested $1,000 in 1955, it would be worth $168,691 today (168.7x return)
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1955, it would be worth $3,433,941 today (3433.9x return)