SEPTEMBER 29, 1939

Full News Archive

• Headline: British Flying Boat Flees Iceland Amid Tensions. Impact: This daring escape set off an international game of tag that spiraled into a decades-long rivalry between the Danes and the British, ultimately leading to the creation of a popular board game called 'Parole Violation: The Game'.. Fact: Did you know that in Denmark, 'breach of parole' is actually a phrase they use when someone forgets to return their library books? Well, not really, but it sounds good, right?.
• Headline: First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt Inspires Jersey Crowd. Impact: This event led to a series of First Lady speeches that convinced the world that the 'First Lady' title should come with a side gig as a motivational speaker. Thank you, Eleanor Roosevelt, for setting the bar so high that no one else has dared to try.. Fact: Did you know that Eleanor Roosevelt once said, 'No one can make you feel inferior without your consent'? Clearly, she never faced a particularly judgmental crowd at a PTA meeting!.
• Headline: Silk Mill Executive's Shocking Injury. Impact: Rubin's unfortunate plunge sparked a nationwide safety campaign that resulted in the invention of the 'Dumbwaiter Safety Protocol', which is surprisingly still ignored at family gatherings.. Fact: Did you know that falling down a dumbwaiter is the leading cause of injuries in people who mistakenly think they can take shortcuts in life? Who knew?.
• Headline: RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS HELD VITAL TO CITY; Church Workers, Parents and Clergymen Hear Pleas for Expansion of Activities MORAL WELFARE IS AIM Annual Conference Brings Together Protestant Groups From Five Boroughs. Impact: This conference laid the groundwork for a moral crusade that would inadvertently inspire countless sitcoms about wacky church groups that just can't get along, leading to a boom in television ratings in the 90s.. Fact: Did you know that Protestant church meetings have historically been known for their potluck dinners? If only they could serve up some better conflict resolution skills along with the casserole!.
• Headline: LEGION TROPHY WON BY A TIMES ARTICLE; First Such Award at Convention Also Honors S.T. Williamson. Impact: The win of the Legion Trophy for a Times article was the catalyst for future awards ceremonies, leading to the creation of bizarre awards like 'Best Use of a Semicolon' and 'Most Flamboyant Headline', proving that journalism can be both prestigious and ridiculous.. Fact: Did you know that the Legion Trophy is rumored to have once been a simple paperweight before someone decided it needed a fancier backstory? Just like most awards, it seems!.
• Headline: Reds Clinch First Pennant in 20 Years by Beating Cards; DERRINGER TAKES DECIDING GAME, 5-3 His 25th Triumph Achieved Despite 14 Hits by Cards While Reds Make Eight SIRENS HAIL FLAG VICTORY Rivals' Poor Base-Running Saves Day for Cincinnati --Mates Lionize Hurler. Impact: The Reds' victory not only broke a 20-year drought but sparked a chain reaction of baseball fan loyalty that would lead to the invention of the foam finger, forever changing the way fans express their enthusiasm (and hand cramps).. Fact: Did you know that in baseball, a 'pennant' is not something you hang outside a sports bar, but rather a championship flag? For years, fans just thought it was a new type of hat..
• Headline: BERGDOLL 'HIDEOUT' DISPUTED AT TRIAL; Immigration Office Record Indicates His Stay in U.S. Lasted Only a Year HIS CHILDREN TESTIFY Boy and Girl, Brought Here 4 Years Ago, Say Father Was in Philadelphia Home. Impact: The controversy surrounding Bergdoll's brief stay in the U.S. complicated immigration laws for decades, leading to a game of legal 'hide and seek' that would baffle generations of bureaucrats.. Fact: Did you know that the only thing more confusing than immigration records is trying to explain to kids why their dad isn't allowed to play hide-and-seek anymore?.
• Headline: TALLINN GIVES WAY; Capitulates to Demands as Russian Planes Fly Over the City MUTUAL AID PROMISED Trade Treaty Signed by Selter and Molotoff-- Nazis Are Pleased. Impact: Tallinn's capitulation led to a series of geopolitical chess moves, resulting in a world where pigeons are now considered spies and every friendly chat comes with a side of paranoia.. Fact: Did you know that when planes fly over, it usually means either a war is brewing or someone's about to film a really intense documentary? Spoiler: it's usually the former..
• Headline: Russo-German Agreements; Texts of the Russo-German Accords. Impact: These accords set the stage for future conflicts, proving that when two countries shake hands, you might as well check your wallet and lock your doors. It’s like a geopolitical version of 'The Bachelor'.. Fact: Did you know that the only thing longer than the texts of these accords is the list of countries that wish they had stayed out of it?.