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2008 is nearly upon us, which means we’ll again have to pay attention when filling out forms, writing checks, and referencing dates. A pain, yes, but there’s at least one good thing about 2008 before it even begins: it’s the 50th anniversary of the year 1958.
And what’s so special about 1958? Why, it was the year that Explorer I, the first U.S. satellite, reached space. It was the year that Ian Fleming published Dr. No. It was the year the first Grammy Awards were presented. It was the year that baseball moved to California, as the Giants and Dodgers headed west. It was the year the first Pizza Hut opened. The Boeing 707 went into service. The American Express Card made its debut. Elvis Presley entered the military. The ruckus behind the TV game show “Twenty-One” was revealed.
We could go on and on, but that would defeat the purpose of this weekend’s Genius Challenge. And that’s for you to come up with the oddest, coolest, most anniversary-worthy event that occurred back in 1958. If we’re going to celebrate the New Year, we need to know what we’re celebrating. So offer your submissions by commenting to this post.
The winner will receive a T-shirt of his or her choice from the mental_floss store. As always, please include the style and size of T-shirt you’d like along with your entry. We must approve comments before they appear, so don’t worry if your entry doesn’t show up right away. We’ll get to it as soon as we can. We’ll vote on a winner Monday, and if we’re conscious on Tuesday, we’ll post the winner. If not, we’ll post it Wednesday, and you’ll know that we spent the morning of January 1 toasting the fact that 2008 is the 50th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo by having a glass of champagne and spinning around wildly in our swivel chairs.
Good luck!
(Cleanup, aisle three.)
Comments (69)
Comment
I was born. You can’t beat that. But don’t vote on it.
posted by Miss Cellania on 12-29-2007 at 9:41 am
Peace symbol designed and completed by Gerald Holtom, commissioned by Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, in protest against the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment.
posted by Grace on 12-29-2007 at 9:41 am
What a year! The Smurfs are born!
posted by Cass on 12-29-2007 at 9:53 am
Dec 28, 1958: A Chipmunks song (Alvin, Simon & Theodore with David Seville) hit #1. “The Chipmunk Song” went on to win 3 statues in the Grammys. Who knew chipmunks singing would become that popular?
Now, 49 years later, the song was reintroduced in the movie “Alvin and the Chipmunks”.
posted by Ash on 12-29-2007 at 10:20 am
Denatonium was discovered. This is the bitterest substance known and is used as an aversion agent to keep kids from drinking things that could kill them. Liquid parenting.
posted by David on 12-29-2007 at 10:34 am
a chrome dream — the most chrome ever from Detroit — the 1958 Buick Limited Riviera. The absolute apex of post-WWII car culture!
posted by Mike Jackson on 12-29-2007 at 10:45 am
Without a doubt the event in 1958 that is most anniversary-worthy was the invention of the integrated circuit (a.k.a. the microchip) by Jack Philby.
posted by tillerman on 12-29-2007 at 10:45 am
In August of 1958, the price of a first class stamp rose from $0.03 to $0.04.
posted by jzimm on 12-29-2007 at 10:53 am
January 24, 1958: After warming to 100,000,000 degrees, 2 light atoms are bashed together to create a heavier atom, resulting in 1st man-made nuclear fusion
posted by jzimm on 12-29-2007 at 10:58 am
February 1958 St. Clare of Assisi is declared the Patron Saint of Television by Pope Pius XII. For the sake of being exhaustive, she is also the Patron Saint of clairvoyance, eyes, eye disease, goldsmith, laundry, embrodiers, gold, good weather, needleworkers, telephones and telegraphs.
posted by Jess on 12-29-2007 at 11:14 am
After Sputnik in 1957, I think we should celebrate the fact that it came back to hit the earth in 1958.
posted by Marcel on 12-29-2007 at 11:58 am
Bigfoot was born in August 1958!
A large footprint was discovered at a northern California construction site. Strange things started happening as well, which got the police involved. A reporter caught wind of the whole thing, and the term “Bigfoot” was coined.
(It should be mentioned that the first accepted sighting of this creature occurred in 1811, but the term Bigfoot didn’t come into being until 1958.)
posted by Anita on 12-29-2007 at 12:19 pm
Oops, forgot to include t-shirt info:
Rhesus, large
posted by Anita on 12-29-2007 at 12:22 pm
Isn’t that when Al Gore invented the internet???
posted by Genghis Con on 12-29-2007 at 12:38 pm
05/08/1958 - VP Nixon is shoved, stoned, booed & spat upon by protesters in Peru.
Beethoven - Large
posted by Denise Smith on 12-29-2007 at 12:42 pm
Sweet’N Low was invented. Later on, scientist would learn that, despite it saving women from the horrors of extra calories, it is linked to cancer, but most notably, bladder cancer. So, an event that sparked thousands of women’s interest and had them thinking they could eat all the fake sugar they wanted actually caused more good than bad. Nothing like some good cancer with your morning coffee! (It’s crazy to read all the horror stories they’ve found from Sweet’N Low, as well as the way they created it. By accident, no less! Yuck.)
Shirt in size small: Simple as 3.141592
posted by Colleen on 12-29-2007 at 12:53 pm
The first successful American satellite, Explorer I, is launched into orbit. Hello TV, star wars, and skylab! goodbye, gee isn’t the moon pretty! :)
pavlov - large
posted by Jeffrey Strange on 12-29-2007 at 1:11 pm
The first successful American satellite, Explorer I, is launched into orbit. Hello, Cable TV, “star wars”, and Skylab! Goodbye, “gee, the stars are really pretty tonight!” :)
posted by Jeffrey Strange on 12-29-2007 at 1:15 pm
1958 was the year of INVENTION… many important items first appeared in this year, including:
The Hula-Hoop
Sweet-N-Low
Coco Krispies AND Coco Puffs
The Chevy Impala
Pizza Hut
Friskees
AND Rice-A-Roni, the San Fransico Treat
posted by Patrick Spears on 12-29-2007 at 1:17 pm
NASA is developed by congress. Helping us spend a butt load of money for very important and work with lots valuable additions to society…eventually leads to Tang and velcro walls.
binary social club in large
posted by Paul on 12-29-2007 at 1:35 pm
Instant noodles go on sale for the first time! Whoo-hoo! Many college students start becoming better nourished. Oh, and probably a bit hypertensive…
posted by Mark Terry on 12-29-2007 at 1:41 pm
Ooops, forgot to mention Rhesus T-shirt, XL.
Hope I didn’t just disqualify myself…
posted by Mark Terry on 12-29-2007 at 1:43 pm
Actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were married, leading to the eventual release of thousands of organic food products and several superb salad dressings featuring amusing renderings of Paul Newman, the benefits of which (the food and dressing, not the renderings) go to charity.
posted by Becca on 12-29-2007 at 2:13 pm
Oops, Pluto — Women’s Small
posted by Becca on 12-29-2007 at 2:14 pm
The Jim Henson Company was founded in 1958 and won its first emmy that same year for Sam & Friends.
Where would we all be without muppets, I say?
simple as 3.14… ladies med
posted by adoxograph on 12-29-2007 at 2:15 pm
instant noodles (later ramen noodles) were invented in 1958.
how would students survive without them?
pluto, ladies med
posted by nina on 12-29-2007 at 2:56 pm
On Dec 10, the first domestic passenger jet flight took place in the United States as a National Airlines Boeing 707 flew 111 passengers from New York City to Miami
50 years of lost luggage!!!!!
Mens Pluto L
posted by Mike on 12-29-2007 at 3:29 pm
2/5/58 - A hydrogen bomb known as Tybee Bomb is lost by the US Air Force off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, never to be recovered. Scary.
Women’s Pluto XL
posted by Jill on 12-29-2007 at 3:38 pm
In 1958, William Higinbotham, then head of Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Instrumentation Division, designed what may have been one of the first video games.
BNL had visitors days each fall and thousands of people came to tour the Lab and see exhibits set up in the gymnasium. To entertain the visitors with something more interesting than a static display that year he came up with an idea for a hands-on display – a video tennis game made of an analog computer hooked up to an oscilloscope and two boxes with knobs and buttons to control the game (sounds like Pong, huh?). It was in place for two of the open houses than taken apart for the parts to be used for other displays.
But the idea lived on…spawning a revolution in home entertainment…and overweight kids in the US!
pluto, mens med
posted by Pete on 12-29-2007 at 3:39 pm
4/15/58 - A U.S. federal court rules that poet Ezra Pound be released from an insane asylum.
Women’s Pluto XL
posted by Jill on 12-29-2007 at 3:40 pm
July 7, The first International House of Pancakes (IHOP) opens in Toluca Lake, California
posted by Kevin A on 12-29-2007 at 5:20 pm
Sorry, that’s a L Pavlov’s dog please.
posted by Kevin A on 12-29-2007 at 5:21 pm
The year the Harlem Jazz Portrait was taken (containing just about every great jazz musician EVER).
One large Lady McBeth
posted by DanielW on 12-29-2007 at 6:12 pm
Per JohnFishersr net : 05/08/1958 - VP Nixon is shoved, stoned, booed & spat upon by protesters in Peru
Hmmm…. only nearly 20 yrs before the US wanted to do the same!
Pavlov, long sleeved Womans small
posted by Amy on 12-29-2007 at 6:33 pm
Again per JohnFishersr net:
5/13/1958 - Rioters attack US VP Nixon in Venezuela….
Only five days after the event in my previous posting. Boy, Tricky Dick was quite the popular guy!
Again, Pavlov, long sleeved womans small
posted by Amy on 12-29-2007 at 6:37 pm
Methinks I need a calculator…. that should be 16 yrs in first comment
posted by Amy on 12-29-2007 at 6:44 pm
The John Birch Society, a radical anti-Communist organization, is created in the U.S.
Womans small Pavlov, longsleeve
posted by Amy on 12-29-2007 at 6:45 pm
The Jolly Green Giant appears on TV with less than stellar results! In his first incarnation he looks like a monster which scares kids. So they lightened him up and added “Ho, ho, ho” and the lilting “Good things from the garden” song.
Pavlov, long sleeved womans small
posted by Amy on 12-29-2007 at 6:47 pm
Modern consumer credit is born. The American Express Company introduces a charge card meant to compete with the successful Diners Club card. The Bank of American introduces the BankAmericard, which will become the Visa card.
Pavlov long sleeved womans small
posted by Amy on 12-29-2007 at 6:48 pm
March 1958: George Harrison passes his audition with the Quarrymen, officially uniting him with John and Paul - the core unit of the Beatles was now in place.
Entropy, mens XL
posted by Vic on 12-29-2007 at 6:49 pm
Crest toothpaste inaugurates the “Look, Ma! No cavities!” ad campaign.
Pavlov, long sleeved womans small
posted by Amy on 12-29-2007 at 6:49 pm
Friday November 05:
Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) is inaugurated in the UK by the Queen when she dials a call from Bristol to Edinburgh and speaks to the Lord Provost.
Pavlov, long sleeved womans small
posted by Amy on 12-29-2007 at 6:53 pm
in 1958, 1700 people raced to the San Diego County Council of Churches’ 6 a.m. service at the Organ Pavilion because it was raining extra hard that day.
posted by Angelica on 12-29-2007 at 7:16 pm
In 1958, the novel “Lolita” was released in the U.S. after having created much tension and controversy in France and the U.K.. The American release was received well, being the first book since “Gone with the Wind” to sell 100,000 copies in the first 3 weeks of publication, and taking the number 3 spot for most popular fiction.
Pluto Women’s medium!
posted by Whitney on 12-29-2007 at 8:02 pm
Japanese cars arrive in California. The Toyota and Datsun (later Nissan) brand names made their first appearances in the United States at the Imported Motor Car Show in Los Angeles, California. Previously, these auto makers had sold in the U.S. only under American-brand names, as part of joint ventures with Ford and GM. Welcome to the future!
Alfred Nobel T-Shirt - Large Men’s
posted by Philip on 12-29-2007 at 9:54 pm
The first Major League Baseball regular season game ever played in California as the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-0 at San Francisco’s Seals Stadium. BTW, I hate the Giants. Good thing they’ve never won a World Series in California.
Marco Polo XXL
posted by joeyerik on 12-29-2007 at 9:59 pm
Michelle Pfeiffer AND Sharon Stone were both born.
posted by Dail on 12-29-2007 at 10:24 pm
July 2, 1958 My mother and father met each other for the first time…….
(Sometimes I’m not sure if that was a good or bad thing.)
posted by Tdave on 12-29-2007 at 10:28 pm
Dorothy Straight, 4 year old author, was born on May 25, 1958.
She wrote the book “How The World Began” in 1962 for her grandma and her family found it so impressive they found a way to get it published in 1964, making her the youngest author ever published…as far as I could tell from my limited research.
pavlov, long-sleeved, large.
posted by Paige on 12-30-2007 at 12:47 am
Pope Pius XII declares St. Clare the patron saint of television (because once when she was too sick to go to mass, she saw and heard the whole thing on the wall of her room) in February of 1958.
Apparently however, this did not sit well with “The Man Upstairs” because Pope Pius XII died only a few months later (he was succeeded by John XXIII, who was chosen as a stop-gap pope but became one of the most important and beloved pope’s of all time, and presided over the second Vatican Council, but that was many year’s later (I’ll save it for the 2012 edition).
posted by Julia on 12-30-2007 at 5:28 am
woops, pluto women’s xl
posted by Julia on 12-30-2007 at 5:29 am
December 1, 2008 will be the 50th anniversary of the Our Lady of the Angels school fire.
The fire killed 92 children and 3 nuns. This fire changed fire procedures in every school in the nation, requiring fire doors, sprinklers, fire exits & mandatory fire drills in all schools.
It was an horrific event that no doubt has saved countless lives of children due to the reforms. The survivors have a website oulining the events if you are interested.
posted by Regina on 12-30-2007 at 10:30 am
“The Adventures of Superman” starring George Reeves concluded its 104 show series which began in 1952.
Achilles (mens/large)
posted by Stick on 12-30-2007 at 10:46 am
In reference to comment#4, I forgot to include T-shirt info:
Gregor Mendel T-shirt, Small.
posted by Ash on 12-30-2007 at 12:45 pm
September 3, 1958: In Greece, police start shaving the hair of youths called “teddy boys” to the skin.
Paul Newman and his wife were married this year, too.
posted by Holly on 12-30-2007 at 12:50 pm
forgot t-shirt…
Pluto womens size M
posted by Holly on 12-30-2007 at 12:51 pm
Osmonds celebrate their 50th
Pluto - XL
posted by Miss Nae on 12-30-2007 at 4:34 pm
Movie
An Affair to Remember
Pluto XL
posted by Miss Nae on 12-30-2007 at 4:36 pm
Bill Watterson, creater of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, is born in July 5, 1958.
Calvin: “As far as I’m concerned, if something is so complicated that you can’t explain it in 10 seconds, then it’s probably not worth knowing anyway.” The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes p25
Calvin (writing, after being asked to explain Newton’s First Law of Motion “in his own words”): Yakka foob mog. Grug pubbawup zink wattoom gazork. Chumble spuzz. (speaking) “I love loopholes.” There’s Treasure Everywhere p133
(Wikipedia)
Rhesus short-sleeve size L
posted by Missile Tow on 12-30-2007 at 6:10 pm
Kevin Bacon was born…allowing for an arcane game called six degrees of kevin bacon to be created.
lady macbeth, womens small
posted by kate on 12-30-2007 at 6:31 pm
February 17 - Pope Pius XII declares Saint Clare the patron saint of television
pluto, womens large
posted by Sharon on 12-30-2007 at 8:34 pm
1958 is also the first instance of the term ‘beatnik’, first used by San Francisco columnist Herb Caen… Perhaps ‘beatnik’ would have been an Oxford choice for 1958 if the latest in coined phrases were being sought in the times of being kept down by the man. Maynard G. Krebs soon followed (in 1959). Far out, man.
Pluto, man, medium. Too bad it’s not in turtleneck style. [bongo beat out]
posted by Wiley on 12-30-2007 at 8:42 pm
Another great phrase was coined in 1958… “pop art”. In an issue of ‘Architectural Digest’ critic Lawrence Alloway used the phrase in referece to the art movement that incorporated popular culture as the visual vocubulary.
Idioms please, WMN medium.
posted by Stephanie on 12-30-2007 at 10:24 pm
The Gibson EDS-1275, the first double necked guitar, was introduced in 1958 as a special order custom instrument. For the first time, guitarists could switch from a six-string to a twelve-string without changing instruments.
This guitar was popularized by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, who used it most famously in live performances of “Stairway to Heaven” so he would not have to pause to switch guitars.
Beethoven small, please.
posted by Bethany on 12-30-2007 at 11:12 pm
The “punch in the neck” fighting technique was pioneered by the Pearson family. It was passed down through the generations.
posted by dorkface on 12-31-2007 at 12:45 am
Both Madonna (August 16, 1958) and Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958) (and my mom) will be turning the big 5-0 next year. Who would have thought they’d make it this far? (Well, not my mom. She’s sans stardom).
Alaska - small
posted by Maggy on 12-31-2007 at 12:50 am
Hey - I din’t see a post with the answers to “Weekend Genius Challenge #12: Soft ‘70”. Anyone know what they were?
posted by Ben Stucky on 12-31-2007 at 8:49 am
Prince, Madonna, and Michael jackson were all born in 1958 thereby changing the face of pop music in the 80s (for better or worse is open for debate…please, talk among yourselves)
posted by Zane on 12-31-2007 at 9:36 am
You can see the winner and correct answers to WGC #12 at www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/10916
The original post mysteriously disappeared, but I’ve recreated it in all its original glory.
posted by Sandy on 1-4-2008 at 8:40 am