🇺🇸 This Week In History - Battle of Gettysburg Ended

Welcome back History Nerds,

This week we have some interesting topics to cover, like Brazil’s first World Cup win, the birth of Walmart, and the battle of Gettsburg. But before we get into that, we want to thank you for sticking along with us here at LOL History. It’s truly been a pleasure seeing all the responses back to these emails, so if you’re reading this one, respond back with a ❤️ to make our day! Now, let’s get into this week’s history.

Did You Know? On April 2, 1902, the first full-time movie theater in the U.S. opened in Los Angeles—it was called The Electric Theatre, and admission cost just a dime. People lined up to watch silent shorts through a projector that sometimes caught fire mid-show. Still, it kicked off a national obsession that turned flickering black-and-white images into the billion-dollar movie industry we know today.

During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• 1958: Brazil’s First World Cup Win

• Gettysburg: Three Brutal Days That Changed the War

• The Birth of Walmart: A Small-Town Store That Changed Retail

• Shakespeare’s Stage Goes Up in Smoke

Seventeen and Unstoppable: Pelé and the 1958 World Cup

On June 29, 1958, Brazil won its first FIFA World Cup, defeating host nation Sweden 5–2 in Stockholm—and the world took notice. The match was more than a final; it was a breakout moment for a young Brazilian team whose style, flair, and joy on the pitch captured the world's imagination. At just 17 years old, Pelé scored twice, including an insane volley that instantly made him a global star. Alongside him, the brilliant Garrincha and cool-headed Didi helped turn the game into a masterclass of what would become known as futebol arte—the art of football.

For Brazil, the win was personal. Eight years earlier, they had suffered a devastating loss in the 1950 final at home, a national trauma known as the Maracanazo. The 1958 victory washed away that pain and reshaped Brazil’s football identity. They redefined how the game could be played: free-flowing, skillful, and full of heart. Even after conceding the first goal to Sweden, Brazil never lost their composure. Instead, they played their way back, one dazzling goal at a time.

A team from the Global South, on European soil, had not only won, but enchanted the world while doing it. The celebrations back home were euphoric, and Pelé’s rise from barefoot kid to international sensation became the stuff of legend. Brazil had arrived—not just as winners, but as a team that changed how the world saw the game.

Gettysburg: Three Brutal Days That Changed the War

On July 3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg finally came to a bloody, exhausted end after three days of chaos, cannon fire, and bayonet charges. What started as a chance encounter between Confederate and Union forces in the small Pennsylvania town turned into one of the most important battles of the American Civil War. By the time the smoke cleared, over 50,000 soldiers were dead, wounded, or missing, making it the war’s costliest clash.

The Union army, led by General George Meade, held the high ground and fended off General Robert E. Lee’s final, desperate gamble—a full-frontal assault known as Pickett’s Charge. It was bold, dramatic, and an absolute disaster for the Confederates. Lee’s army was forced to retreat, and from that moment on, the momentum of the war began to shift in the Union’s favor. The South had invaded the North—and got sent packing.

Gettysburg didn’t end the Civil War, but it was the battle that changed everything. It gave the Union a much-needed morale boost and put the Confederacy on the defensive. A few months later, Abraham Lincoln would stand on that battlefield and deliver the Gettysburg Address, reminding a weary nation why the fight mattered. What happened over those three days in July proved that the war for America’s soul was far from over—but victory was finally within reach.

Big Ideas, Low Prices: The Walmart Origin Story

On July 2, 1962, Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in the small town of Rogers, Arkansas—and retail would never be the same. Tucked inside a modest building and offering low prices on everyday goods, Walmart didn’t look like the beginning of a global empire. But Walton had a vision: bring big savings to small-town America. That first store was more than a business—it was the start of a retail revolution.

For Walton, this wasn’t his first step into commerce. He’d already run a successful Ben Franklin franchise, learning the basics of discount retail and the importance of keeping shelves stocked and customers happy. But he wanted to do things differently. Lower prices. Higher volume. Rural locations, often overlooked by bigger chains. In a world of department stores and downtown shops, Walmart was a gamble—and one that paid off fast.

By the end of the decade, Walmart had expanded across the South, powered by Walton’s relentless drive and famously frugal ways. He flew in a beat-up plane, wore a trucker cap, and walked store aisles taking notes. But behind the folksy charm was a sharp operator who knew exactly what he was building. From that first store in Arkansas, Walmart grew into the world’s largest retailer—reshaping shopping, supply chains, and even small-town economies. It all started with one store, one idea, and one man who believed that saving people money could be big business.

Shakespeare’s Stage Goes Up in Smoke

On June 29, 1613, London’s beloved Globe Theatre went down in flames—literally—during a performance of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII. In what might be the worst case of special effects gone wrong, a stage cannon fired to mark the king’s grand entrance accidentally lit the thatched roof on fire. Within minutes, the flames spread, and in less than an hour, the entire theater was reduced to ashes. Talk about bringing the house down.

Miraculously, no one died in the fire, though one man's breeches did catch fire—and legend has it he was saved by some quick-thinking audience members and a bottle of ale. The show, needless to say, did not go on. But the Globe was too important to stay gone for long. Thanks to the determination of Shakespeare’s company (and some wealthy patrons), the theater was rebuilt the following year and reopened better than ever.

Today, the reconstructed Globe stands as a tribute to both Shakespeare’s legacy and the fact that 17th-century fire safety was... a work in progress. It's a reminder that theater has always been dramatic—sometimes onstage, and sometimes from a flaming rooftop.

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See You Next Time!

We hope that you enjoyed this edition of the LOL History newsletter! See you next week!

— Evan & Derek - LOL History Co-Founders