APRIL 16, 1939

Full News Archive

• Headline: Mystery Fleet Orders Spark Speculation. Impact: If the fleet hadn't retreated to the Pacific, the 1940s might have been described as the decade of the Atlantic, leaving future historians scratching their heads in confusion. Who knew a few ships could change the course of naval history? Maybe those ships were just avoiding a bad Yelp review about the Atlantic food scene.. Fact: The Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis was not just a fancy name for a bad band from the 30s. It was actually a real alliance that almost led to world domination. Talk about a bad career choice..
• Headline: Tragic End of P.H. Lacy in 1939. Impact: P.H. Lacy's tragic decision sent ripples through the shipping industry, leading to a sudden spike in demand for self-help books and mental health resources—because if you can't make it in shipping, maybe you can just float through life instead.. Fact: Suicide is a serious issue, and it's worth noting that mental health awareness was far behind in the 1930s. If only the shipping industry had invested in therapy instead of just logistics..
• Headline: First Television Broadcast to Theaters. Impact: The decision to start broadcasting television in movie theaters was the beginning of the end for many 20th-century social interactions. Who needs to talk to your neighbor when you can watch a sitcom together from the comfort of your couch?. Fact: Television has evolved so much since then that it’s practically a different species. At this point, it could probably run for president and win..
• Headline: INSTITUTIONS FACE REALTY PROBLEMS; Armstrong Estimates They Own $9,000,000,000 Worth of Property in Nation INSTITUTIONS FACE REALTY PROBLEMS. Impact: The $9 billion realty problem faced by institutions was the precursor to the 2008 financial crisis. Who knew that bad real estate decisions would one day lead to a nation-wide obsession with reality TV instead?. Fact: Real estate is often seen as a secure investment, but it turns out that just like a bad haircut, it can go out of style faster than you can say 'foreclosure.'.
• Headline: BY THE WAY. Impact: Describing the history of art congress plans probably led to thousands of future art students rolling their eyes and wondering, 'Is this really necessary?' Spoiler alert: It wasn't.. Fact: Art history is like trying to explain a meme to your grandparents—it's long, convoluted, and they still won't get it..
• Headline: Fiction in Lighter Vein. Impact: Fiction in a lighter vein may have set off a chain reaction of authors trying to out-funny each other, leading to the birth of countless dad jokes and the eventual creation of Twitter.. Fact: Fanny H. Lea's work is a reminder that humor in literature has been around longer than most of us can remember. It’s the original form of 'LOL'—just without the texting..
• Headline: 'ROUND ABOUT THE GARDEN; Give Them a Break. Impact: The concept of gardening advice likely led to a boom in backyard enthusiasts who thought they could grow their own food. Spoiler: they just ended up with a lot of weeds and an overabundance of zucchini.. Fact: Sweet peas were once a popular choice for gardens, proving that even plants have a social life—who knew they were so sweet?.
• Headline: BUILD 'LAB' EQUIPMENT; New Hampshire Students Have Home-Made Apparatus. Impact: New Hampshire students making lab equipment could have sparked a nationwide trend of DIY science experiments, causing future generations to wonder why they didn’t just buy a kit instead of nearly blowing up the kitchen.. Fact: Home-made lab equipment is basically the 1930s version of a Pinterest fail, with a side of potential explosion..
• Headline: LAGUARDIA WARNED COAL FOR SUBWAYS WILL GO IN 10 DAYS; Mayor Phones Another Plea to Miners and Operators After City Hall Conference DEADLOCK IS CONTINUED Lewis Leaves Morning Session of Negotiators Early and Fails to Return. Impact: LaGuardia’s pleas to coal miners likely led to a chain of events that resulted in the modern understanding of public transport crises—because who doesn't love a good coal shortage story?. Fact: The subway's coal dependency feels like a bad breakup; it was toxic and no one really wanted to deal with it, but somehow we all ended up on the same train..