MAY 16, 1939

Full News Archive

• Headline: First Widow Secures City Job in 1939. Impact: This widow getting a job led to an era where everyone thought, 'If she can work, maybe I can too!' Little did they know, this would eventually lead to the rise of the entire modern workforce and the inevitable question, 'Why are there so few snacks in the break room?'. Fact: Did you know that the first office coffee machine was invented in 1933? Coincidence? I think not.
• Headline: Roosevelt Addresses Foreign Affairs Debate. Impact: Roosevelt’s foreign policy discussions likely led to countless debates in philosophy classes on the merits of 'keeping calm and carrying on'—a mantra which would be hilariously misapplied by future generations during online arguments. Fact: Fun fact: Roosevelt once had a pet dog named Fala. Yes, even the dog had more political influence than some politicians today.
• Headline: "TRISTAN' IS SUNG AT METROPOLITAN; Kirsten Flagstad Offers the Isolde Role, With Melchior Appearing as Tristan ARTUR BODANZKY DIRECTS Kerstin Thorborg in Part of Brangaene in the World's Fair Wagner Cycle Melchior's Work Praised List Sings King Mark Role. Impact: The performance of 'Tristan und Isolde' at the Metropolitan Opera redefined opera-goers' expectations, leading to a world where we now expect all musical performances to involve dramatic gestures and someone fainting in the audience. Fact: Kirsten Flagstad's voice was so powerful, it was rumored she could shatter glass—though that might just be opera gossip.
• Headline: Fromer to Quit Assembly. Impact: Assemblyman Fromer quitting might seem trivial, but it sparked a wave of politicians realizing they could just walk away from their jobs—leading to the modern phenomenon of 'ghosting' in politics. Fact: Did you know that quitting your job can sometimes lead to better opportunities? Just ask anyone who's ever left a job for a food truck adventure.
• Headline: WOES IN PRODUCING OF FILM DESCRIBED; Creator of Chrysler's ThreeDimensional Movie Tells ofVaried Obstacles Met Overhead Tracks Erected Music is Furnished. Impact: The woes of film production foreshadowed the endless struggles of filmmakers everywhere, leading to the creation of the phrase 'That's a wrap!'—which ironically means the struggle is never truly over. Fact: The first film ever made was only 2.11 seconds long. That’s right—most modern TikToks are longer than the first movie ever made!.
• Headline: LARGE REICH CREDIT TO YUGOSLAVIA NEAR; 200,000,000-Mark Ten-Year Loan to Be Discussed Saturday. Impact: Yugoslavia accepting a massive loan set off a chain of international financial dependencies that would lead to a future where countries trade minerals like they're Pokémon cards—because who doesn’t want to 'catch 'em all'?. Fact: 200 million Marks in 1930s currency is like winning the lottery, except instead of cash, you get stuck with a bunch of rocks—literally.
• Headline: ART COLLECTION OF MACKAY SHOWN; Items at Seligmann Galleries, on View Through Summer, to Have Private Sale FIREARMS ARE DISPLAYED Notable Examples of Italian Sculpture and Flemish Tapestries Exhibited Only Two Paintings Shown Marble Fountain Exhibited A Group Exhibition Art Notes. Impact: The exhibition of Mackay's art collection influenced countless art enthusiasts to believe they could also become collectors, leading to a rise in hipster art fairs and overpriced avocado toast on gallery opening nights. Fact: Art collectors today are often just regular people with an expensive taste for things they can't understand—much like wine connoisseurs.