In late 1939, Jimmy Lederer, a news cameraman for Universal Newsreel’s San Antonio bureau, was pitched a story idea that sounded interesting on paper. A man had invented a safety device to prevent slipping in bathtubs and Lederer figured it would make for a halfway decent story.

The man was more than happy to invite Lederer out to his home to shoot a story on his new invention. So Jimmy packed up his camera, lights and sound equipment and headed off from San Antonio to the man’s home in the Texas Panhandle – a day or so drive at best in that era.

When Lederer got to the man’s home after a rather long drive, he went into the bathroom to see the new invention for himself. After one glance, Jimmy packed up his gear, loaded up his car and headed home to San Antonio without shooting a single foot of film. There was no way for him to make chicken salad out of the s**t before him in that bathroom.

The invention that the man had so fervently pitched to Lederer was a rope hanging over the tub with a knot tied on the end as a handle for a person to hang onto while showering.

Next time the adults in the newsroom sends you out on a chicken salad story – remember Jimmy and be thankful you were not sent to drive 18+ hours across Texas to look at a rope.