AUGUST 24, 1939

Full News Archive

• Headline: Actress Heads to London Amid Unrest. Impact: This decision led to a cascade of filmmakers flocking to London, inadvertently starting a bizarre trend where people thought making movies in dangerous locales was 'cool'. Thanks to this actress, we now have countless action flicks set in war zones, where the real danger is usually the script.. Fact: Did you know that the last time someone made a film after such assurances, it resulted in a blockbuster? Or maybe they just wanted to cash in on the drama—who can tell?.
• Headline: Tragic Death of Playwright Sidney Howard. Impact: Howard's tragic death resulted in increased safety regulations for farm machinery, which ironically led to the creation of the world's first tractor safety manual—an unexpected legacy for a playwright.. Fact: Sidney Howard was a celebrated playwright, but sadly, not even he could escape the crushing weight of machinery. Lesson learned: sometimes, the real drama is off-stage..
• Headline: Clipper's Historic Survey Flight to New Zealand. Impact: This flight established an important precedence for future flights, leading to the eventual invention of in-flight movies—because watching clouds drift by just isn't cinematic enough.. Fact: 141 miles per hour? That's faster than most people can run to catch their connecting flight. Talk about high stakes!.
• Headline: HOTEL MEN TO AID IN CITY PROMOTION; Greater New York Campaign to Be Opened Soon to Sell Attractions Here FAIR EXHIBITORS TO HELP Fall Publicity Also Designed to Set Prospective Visitors Right on Rates. Impact: This campaign ultimately led to New York becoming the go-to destination for tourists and the birthplace of overpriced everything. Thanks to this initiative, we now have the iconic 'I Heart NY' shirts—great for tourists, terrible for locals.. Fact: You know it's a good promotion when the main attraction is just the high prices. Welcome to New York—where your wallet gets lighter and your heart gets fuller!.
• Headline: Lands Dolphin on Bass Rod. Impact: This fishing triumph inspired numerous fishing tournaments, including the infamous 'Biggest Fish Story' contest, where truth is as elusive as the fish themselves.. Fact: Catching a dolphin with a bass rod? That's like trying to play chess with a stick—impressive, but also slightly ridiculous!.
• Headline: Senator Bone Improves. Impact: Senator Bone’s recovery led to a renewed interest in political health initiatives, resulting in the phrase 'Stay alive for your constituents' becoming a rallying cry in politics—because nothing says 'I care' like surviving a health scare.. Fact: Senators and bones may not seem related, but when you think about it, every politician's job is to keep their 'bone' of contention alive. Get well soon, Senator!.
• Headline: MARTIN'S ANSWER REACHES LEHMAN; Document Forwarded to Governor, Who Is at Plattsburg. Impact: This mundane correspondence sparked a series of bureaucratic nightmares that led to the invention of the phrase 'I’m still waiting on that document'—a staple in every government office henceforth.. Fact: Ever wonder how many documents a governor can ignore in one day? Apparently, the answer is 'a lot.' The real question is, what's in the letter?.
• Headline: NEW METHOD USED IN REJUVENATION; Symptoms of Change of Life in Women Prevented by Synthetic Sex Hormone IT IS PLANTED UNDER SKIN Report Made on Experiments With Ten Cases at Mount Sinai Hospital. Impact: This medical breakthrough opened the door for a thousand beauty products claiming to turn back time—welcome to the age of overpriced serums and the eternal quest for youth.. Fact: Synthetic hormones to delay menopause? Great idea, until you realize it may also give you the mood swings of a teenager. Who doesn't want to feel like a hormonal mess again?.
• Headline: Duchess of Windsor Loses Gems. Impact: The loss of these gems triggered a wave of thefts among the elite, leading to the invention of better security systems and the phrase 'No one’s safe, not even royalty.'. Fact: When a duchess loses her gems, you know it's about to become a scandal. Just goes to show: even the wealthy have their 'I can't find my keys' moments!.
• Headline: CUTS INSURANCE OUTLAY; Jersey Saves $22,590 in 3-Year Policies on Bridges. Impact: This saving led to the establishment of a new trend in budget management where states began ‘insuring’ their potholes instead of their bridges—because who needs infrastructure when you can save a buck?. Fact: Saving money on insurance is great until you realize those savings are just going towards fixing the very potholes you avoided. Thanks, Jersey!.