Good morning. It's Saturday, May 30. Welcome to this week's Society & Culture newsletter. First time reading? Sign up here or click here to share with friends. |
|
|
|
Warren G. Harding became the first president to be heard on the radio 104 years ago, so today we dig into the history of the medium and its massive impact on culture. Then, we explore "The Simpsons," the long-running animated sitcom that concluded its 37th season earlier this year. Finally, we unpack the cult classic phenomenon to understand why people grow so passionately devoted to underappreciated works of art.
Like what we're doing? Think we missed the mark? Have an idea for a future edition? I'm all ears! Hit "reply" to this message and let me know what's on your mind.
—Kevin Kearney, 1440 Society & Culture Section Editor |
|
|
|
An introduction to radio
Radio is a technology that allows people to broadcast audio through radio waves. It began as an experimental tool and recreational hobby in the early 1900s. Commercial radio arrived in 1920 with a station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that broadcast the results of that year's presidential election hours before newspapers reported them. (See how the technology works.)
The year 1925 brought both the first live broadcast of a presidential inauguration and the premiere of "Barn Dance," later renamed the "Grand Ole Opry," the country's longest-running radio show. By 1929, there were 630 radio stations in the United States and 12 million radio sets in use. In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt debuted the first of his "Fireside Chats," a series that demonstrated radio's political power. (Hear the first.)
FM radio was invented in the 1930s but grew in popularity in the 1960s by offering higher-quality audio, more adventurous programming, and more options for listeners. Despite the arrival of podcasts and streaming services over the last few decades, radio remains a popular medium, with 84% of American adults listening to it every week.
... Explore everything else we learned about Radio.
Also, check out ...
> Exploring the lost art of the radio jingle. (Read)
> The story behind Orson Welles' too-real radio play, "The War of the Worlds." (Read)
> How underground FM radio revitalized rock music. (Read)
> Listen to live radio from around the globe, for free. (Listen) |
|
|
|
|
In partnership with Shopify |
|
Niche Is the New Mainstream of Ecommerce |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
I Will Not Make a Reference in the Headline |
'The Simpsons,' 101
"The Simpsons" is an American television show that began in 1989. Still on the air today, it is the longest-running American sitcom, prime-time scripted series, and animated program. (See a list of its best episodes.)
The show was created by Matt Groening, a cartoonist whose comic "Life in Hell" attracted the attention of producer James L. Brooks. Brooks wanted animated sketches for "The Tracey Ullman Show," a sketch comedy show on the upstart Fox network, and Groening proposed "The Simpsons," an animated sitcom based on his own family, to avoid signing over the rights to his "Life in Hell" characters.
The show quickly became a pop culture sensation and attracted some of the country's best comedy writers, including Conan O'Brien, fresh off a stint at "Saturday Night Live," and Greg Daniels, who would later adapt "The Office" for American TV. In its almost four decades on the air, "The Simpsons" has produced more than 800 episodes, been broadcast around the world in over 100 languages, and become an American institution.
... Explore everything else we learned about "The Simpsons."
Also, check out ...
> Watch an orchestra perform the show's iconic theme song. (Listen)
> A compilation of every one of the show's opening "couch gags." (Watch)
> The real-life "Simpsons" house in Nevada. (Read)
> The strange history of the show's inadvertent predictions. (Read) |
|
|
|
|
Cult classics, explained
Cult classics are films, television shows, albums, and other works of art that are initially unsuccessful or underappreciated upon release, but later reevaluated and appreciated. They often develop a dedicated fan base that outsiders believe takes on a "cultlike" devotion. (See a list of the best cult movies.)
Scholars suggest that many cult classics—like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" or "The Big Lebowski"—are initially unpopular because they're too idiosyncratic or transgressive for broad, mainstream audiences, but eventually find appreciative, niche audiences through independent or underground outlets. Other cult classics—like "The Room"—develop passionate followings because of their shortcomings, with audiences (ironically or earnestly) admiring the shoddy production values, sometimes believing them to be more endearing and authentic than traditional art.
While the internet has eliminated the middlemen that previously relegated cult classics to the margins, some media scholars argue that it has only consolidated mainstream tastemakers and crippled the independent outlets that introduced audiences to more obscure works.
... Explore everything else we learned about Cult Classics.
Also, check out ...
> How a Minnesota theater turned "Harold and Maude" into a cult classic. (Listen)
> A guide to the best cult TV shows. (Read)
> Daniel Johnston's home-recorded tapes influenced numerous rock legends. (Listen)
> Cult jazz legend Sun Ra and his band operated a grocery store in Philadelphia. (Watch) |
|
|
|
|
Beyond our weekly deep dives, we love finding great takes on the culture currently shaping our lives. Here are some of the best reactions, profiles, and think pieces we encountered this week.
> The Shaolin Monastery That Helped Build Victor Wembanyama
ESPN | Ramona Shelburne. The San Antonio Spurs center spent last summer training with kung fu experts in China to develop his mental acuity. Shelburne's story explains how the experience has helped the 7-foot-4 superstar become one of the greatest talents in the league. (Read | More on the NBA)
> Remember the Ronettes
POW Mag | DJ Short. The iconic girl group recorded one of pop's greatest songs in "Be My Baby," but most stories about the group end there. This article goes deeper, exploring the individual lives of the Ronettes to celebrate the life of member Nedra Talley, who died April 26. (Read | More on Girl Groups)
> The Phantom of the Bullpen
NY Times | Jonathan Abrams. The Savannah Bananas have become a stadium-packing sensation by repackaging baseball as a family-friendly, spectacle-forward extravaganza. Part of the magic is thanks to recruiting players like Derek Klena, a one-time UCLA pitcher who's also spent significant time on Broadway. (Read | More on Broadway)
> Dad Books Are a Dying Breed
WSJ | Pamela Paul and Jeffrey Trachtenberg. Nonfiction titles about presidents, World War II, and other topics in American history were once a reliable part of the publishing industry. Now, though, "dad books" are in decline, something experts say is due to a new media diet of podcasts and documentaries. (Read)
> The Secret to Winning on 'Jeopardy'
The Atlantic | Drew Goins. A former "Jeopardy!" champion explains the secrets to success on the legendary quiz show, detailing how he prepared using children's encyclopedias and a fan-generated database of past clues. (Read | More on Quiz Shows) |
|
|
|
|
In partnership with Shopify |
|
An AI-Built Analog Phone Hit $1M in a Year |
|
Cat Goetze taught people how to use AI for a living. Then she used AI to build the opposite: a Bluetooth landline phone for people who want to put their phones down. Her brand, Physical Phones, did $1 million in less than a year, built with the same tools she'd been teaching all along.
The full story is on In Stock, Shopify's newsletter about entrepreneurship. Subscribe for more like it. |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
"Simpsons" creator Matt Groening said the show's fictional Springfield was based on his childhood in Oregon, but the show has famously avoided stating where the town is located. |
|
|
Behind the Name. Why 1440? The printing press was invented around the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. More facts: In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. We’re here to make each one count..
Want to connect with 4.7 million insatiably curious minds? Become a 1440 partner here. |
|
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2026, 1440 Media, All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
