APRIL 22, 1936

Full News Archive

• Headline: La Guardia's Push Against Market Abuses. Impact: In a twist of fate, La Guardia's crusade against racketeering led to the rise of organic farming and the term 'locavore' becoming a trendy buzzword. If only he knew that in 2023, people would be paying $12 for a single avocado.. Fact: La Guardia was not just a politician; he was also known for his love of jazz, which probably explains why he tried to hit all the right notes in politics too..
• Headline: Devastating Buffalo Fires of 1936. Impact: The Buffalo fires sparked a new trend in insurance policies—'fireproof everything' became the motto of the day. Little did they know that this would eventually lead to the invention of self-extinguishing marshmallows.. Fact: Buffalo is often associated with wings, but after these fires, they probably wished they could fly away instead..
• Headline: Britain's Uncertainty on Mandate Issue. Impact: The indecision in Britain over the mandate issue set a precedent for future political debates, where 'we're not sure' would become the favorite phrase of politicians everywhere, leading to a global increase in eye-rolling.. Fact: If only J.H. Thomas had a crystal ball; he could have saved a lot of time and just said, 'Let me check Twitter first.'.
• Headline: Fascist Craftsmen Vie; ITALY CELEBRATES FOUNDING OF ROME. Impact: The Fascist Craftsmen contests inadvertently paved the way for reality TV competitions. Today, we have 'The Great British Bake Off,' which is a much more palatable way to celebrate labor achievements.. Fact: Labor Day in Italy became a showcase for all things fascist, proving that even dictators need a good PR campaign every now and then..
• Headline: Telephone Club to Honor Behn. Impact: Col. Behn's honor at the Telephone Club led to the widespread belief that talking on the phone with friends was the height of socializing, setting the stage for today's Zoom calls where nobody knows how to unmute.. Fact: Back in the day, being honored at a club like this meant you were a big deal—now it just means you know how to hold a phone..
• Headline: Hughes Sets Mark in Flight From Miami; Time Is 4 Hours 21 Minutes 32 Seconds. Impact: Hughes' record-breaking flight inspired a century of 'firsts' in aviation, including the unfortunate first of 'air traffic jams'—because nothing says progress like circling the same point in the sky for hours.. Fact: Flying from Miami to New York in record time sounds impressive until you remember that he had to deal with the same air traffic controllers who still can't figure out how to manage a short line at Starbucks..
• Headline: Heads Pennsylvania Society. Impact: The election of a Pennsylvania Society head subtly encouraged a series of increasingly boring society meetings, eventually leading to the creation of the modern-day book club that no one wants to attend.. Fact: Being the head of a society sounded fancy back then, but it's basically the ancient version of being the designated planner for group outings..
• Headline: POWER UNIT TO EXPAND; Head of American Water Works & Electric Tells of Rise in Demand.. Impact: The expansion of power units foreshadowed the energy crisis of the 1970s, as everyone suddenly realized that demand could outstrip supply—who knew that would lead to everyone hoarding candles like they were gold?. Fact: American Water Works & Electric probably never imagined they would one day be competing with solar panels and hipster wind turbines for our affections..
• Headline: SILVER OFF 1/4 CENT TO 45 1/2 AN OUNCE; Quotation Here Again Below the Dollar Equivalent of Price in London. FOREIGN EXCHANGES QUIET Market Ignores Breakdown of Deal for Loan to France by Dutch Bankers.. Impact: The fluctuation of silver prices inadvertently sparked the world's fascination with precious metals, leading to countless treasure hunts and a reality show based on gold digging—no, not that kind.. Fact: Silver prices dropping was a big deal back then, but today it’s just another reason for people to dig through their grandma's jewelry box..