America's First Supermodel: Audrey Munson

One woman's face is all over New York, although you've probably never heard of her. This was written with Amor Sciendi: go check it out! / amorsciendi
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Thanks also to Vivienne Gucwa for holding the camera: / poppiesandviolets

[@Stormfox93]

In about 1000+ years, archaeologists of a future society will think she must have been a goddess in ancient times.

[@jesusgonzalez6715]

Stormfox or they think there was a weird trend for many female depictions to look the same. Greco-Roman statues actually also look more alike than they look like the people they depict. Even if they are supposed to show real people who were alive at the time the statue was made

[@ShishirGaire]

This won't happen unless we somehow destroy the internet and books. The reason we don't know everything about 1000 years ago is because of destruction of books or they just didn't write it down.

[@ascra1693]

Shishir Gaire the chances of that happening is about 50/50 a few nuclear wars and we forget a lot

[@lanelafisking]

A lot of Greco-Roman statues didn't depict a particular person, and so they mostly all had the same face Also, the statues that did depict famous figures were usually touched up to make them look better - and if everyone wanted to look like the same ideal of beauty/handsomeness then they'll look very alike

[@Karbonics]

This is why Islam is the best religion, there are no idols. A way of life where the world may live in peace and prosperity.

[@psychosorcerer9438]

I thought I was hallucinating when you said 1996. She died really old.

[@HassanSelim0]

It's mind boggling to imagine someone who lived through world war 1 and died when I was six year old O_o

[@eicasasola]

104...imagine

[@safe-keeper1042]

When I'm committed to a nursing home I'm going to run away across a four-lane highway to the local bar to regale the youngsters with stories of my youth, too.

[@vatthikorn]

99% Invisible did a fascinating episode on her called Miss Manhattan

[@worthlesspeon13]

Was about to say the same thing. Brilliant episode.

[@SamuelJSAdamsI]

worthlesspeon13 I sent that episode to my friend when she started modeling

[@starsINSPACE]

Zack Apiratitham Totally where my brain went too

[@willrun4fun]

Zack Apiratitham thanks for reminding me where I heard about her from. I knew I already learned it somewhere!

[@MidtownSkyport]

+

[@larsvanwijgerden9246]

Don't blink, not even once!

[@sjcwoor]

I would loved to have been in that bar at the time. She sounds like an interesting character with many a good stories to tell.

[@BazukinBelyugovich]

I wish I was there too, I would have absolutely loved to have met someone so artistically important to that time. Not just that, someone willing to talk about it too! I feel like there were great history book references to be made in those bar meetings. Such a tragic story, though.

[@jamesthomson4186]

pretty dark to say that the beauty within is nothing but fiction

[@TomScottGo]

The phrase "is there in truth no beauty?" just appeared in my head, and I went to look up who said it. Turns out it's the title of a Star Trek episode. Never mind.

[@MaxArceus]

Brilliant

[@623pieman]

Tom Scott please pin this comment it's amazing

[@TorquemadaTwist]

Pursuit of Beauty leads to madness.

[@imveryangryitsnotbutter]

I thought for sure it must have been a TNG episode, because I could easily hear that line being delivered by Patrick Stewart.

[@WilliamBoothClibborn]

she sound s like one of the more down to earth models in history.

[@Silkendrum]

I love that you used "Might Not Know".

[@Silkendrum]

Thank you. 100% natural. I almost never wear polish, but my young granddaughter had polished my nails one day, to match hers, and we decided to memorialize the occasion. I'm glad we did, because I am now in chemotherapy for breast cancer, and my nails are too fragile to grow. So this photo has become a goal for the future.

[@hornyfuckinturtle]

Because his target audience isn't kids, even though kids are more likely to click on ads.

[@TyCetto]

I wish you all the best with your recovery! Greetings from Thailand!

[@Silkendrum]

+Ty Ceto Thank you.

[@TyCetto]

Silkendrum You are most welcome! I have no idea about how hard that must be for you, but at least a kind word is in its place. Also should you come to Thailand, I would be delighted to show you around here.

[@AmorSciendi]

Thanks for the shout out Tom! It was great to work with you. Thanks for the opportunity.

[@timothymclean]

"Truth" is male, and the female is "Beauty". I am not as surprised as I should be.

[@kalebbruwer]

So beauty always wins, but it's fake... This is deep stuff.

[@cappucino7908]

Most scientific, mathematical and philosophical progress is made by men. The modern, European beauty standard regards young women as the epitome of beauty. Nothing surprising there.

[@MartinBentley]

Most scientific, mathematical and philosophical progress was made by men. The modern, European beauty standard regards young women as the epitome of beauty. Nothing surprising there. FIFY.

[@cappucino7908]

+philsvideoaday The effects of social pressure on the ratio of women and men in sciences are greatly exaggerated. If someone wants to become a researcher but bails out due to social pressure they weren't the right person for that job to begin with. Besides most men who want to go the path of academia face similar social backlash as usually a more pragmatist occupation such as that of a lawyer or a doctor is appreciated more, especially in developing countries.

[@Orinslayer]

he's supposed to be a philosopher or something.

[@LlamaFluff]

Somehow this set off Google Now... Great video Tom!

[@TomScottGo]

I've been idly tempted to somehow fit an "OK Google" or "Alexa" phrase into a video somehow, but it seems a bit too much!

[@LlamaFluff]

Whatever you do, don't say "Play digger digger" after saying "Alexa".

[@jesusgonzalez6715]

LlamaFluff why not?

[@ActualCharky]

didn't do anything on mine, maybe your speakers distorted it somehow?

[@WowCoolHorse]

Please do insert one into a video!

[@robburgess4556]

Quite a sad ending :-(

[@Cosine_Wave]

Quite a sad middle :-( and a mundane ending with (possibly not true) some sprinkles of excitement.

[@CheeseInTheOven]

Rob Burgess Her suicide thankfully wasn’t successful, unlike Peg Entwhistle

[@Aar0nDavis]

Not quite as sad as I had thought it might turn out to be.

[@michaellyden2580]

If you're in New York, I recommend taking a stop at Ellis Island. You can do a video on how the Island is in both New York City, NY, and Jersey City, NJ. Also, take a trip in the Staten Island Ferry. It's free to all pedestrian passengers, and you get an incredible view of the Jersey City, Manhattan, and Brooklyn skylines. Also, take a stop at the American Museum of Natural History. On the fourth floor, there is a temporary display of the largest known animal to ever walk the earth; the Titanosaur.

[@queenofdramatech]

I work in Manhattan and go to that library as often as I can. I did not know this and was so excited to learn about this!

[@ShuriBear]

Why didn't I never heard this story when I had art history class? Her story is very interesting.

[@cosmicjenny4508]

Pretty sad ending really, poor Audrey :( Also, I'd like to know more about Audrey's escape act, sounds good.

[@WeirdSeagul]

104 not bad

[@2MeterLP]

there are better places than a psychiatric ward to become that old though.

[@nikkirennardo5100]

The ending gave me goosebumps. Great video, Tom!

[@mistercimba]

That was a lot sadder than I expected

[@ronaldjaramillo3804]

Thanks Scott, great delivery as always =). Something somewhat unrelated: you are probably aware that Google is using an horizontal red stripe to mark already seen videos. When scrolling quickly trough my subscriptions I have come to skip/ignore your videos due to my brain shorting on the vertical red branding stripe on your thumbnails. Probably it's just me, but wanted to share just in case.

[@Arakhor]

I think it's just you. :)

[@masons2442]

Ronald Jaramillo I keep having to catch myself, but I like the aesthetic so im not gonna complain

[@Aleth86]

i miss the way before,there was no confusion.

[@mylesperry7880]

I watched an entire 4 minute ad for u Tom, love me also it was Dave Rubin from the Rubin Report so interesting but still

[@robbiemurray2797]

you never fail to intrigue me Tom Scott. interesting content as always

[@MarkHatlestad]

Great video, and thanks for introducing me to another great channel!

[@dmzabo3914]

Really cool information there Tom! Could you imagine Old New York? Those were the days!

[@MicroBlogganism]

Definitely didn't know this!

[@iissacc]

Still not used to live action 60fps

[@YourMJK]

MOOD FM : MF DOOM I am and I find it quite pleasing to watch

[@webchimp]

That'll be why the video was lagging so bad. This old PC connected to my TV just can't quite handle 60fps, 50fps is fine (just).

[@wierdalien1]

webchimp because crt tvs had to use 50 init.

[@iissacc]

PacManAction same it takes me a minute to adjust properly to it

[@theothertomelliott]

Lived in NYC four years and never knew any of this. Loving these pseudo-obscure history videos :)

[@angerock49]

Fascinating!

[@dezent]

Tom you make fantastic videos!

[@bobbagum]

Didn't think I was going to enjoy this 'things I might not know' ended up enjoying and glad that I got to know this fact, thankyou.

[@blogblock]

Beautiful video and story of audrey

[@Maxo11x]

came from a 480p 30fps video to this and was blew away with the quality of the video! wow!

[@aaronwadzinski5761]

Thank you for a great story.

[@dianegentle6174]

Thank you

[@gianfelipe69]

Criei uma admiração por ela🇧🇷🎶

[@imveryangryitsnotbutter]

"Not the best actress"? How bad do you need to be to flunk at acting in the pre-talkies era??

[@Staals2]

+I'm Very Angry It's Not Butter Not that bad actually, not being able to say what you mean means having to use 100% expression, which is hard as hell.

[@Nhoj31neirbo47]

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty". - John Keats

[@no1fanofthepals]

this is good and i've only just seen this now

[@Mrkino]

Muy interesante. Gracias Tom.

[@james99700]

Neat, thx Tom

[@stormcrown9]

that is an amazing & very sad story =(

[@anderson52ma]

this is a really cool video. I like your videos like this.

[@DataStorm1]

@2:22 I found it weird looking with the zoomed in shot, till I realized that there is a net keeping out birds in front of it.

[@coleschubert8184]

The ending sounded a lot like the closing monologue of a twilight zone episode.

[@RaExpIn]

What a sad story, but very intersting, as usual! :)

[@mattcross2341]

I live in syracuse, ny.. found this video very interesting and I definitely did not know that!

[@GeeksThroughoutTime]

Might be my favourite of your videos, and I'm honestly not sure why.

[@cooleslplp1216]

bedankt

[@One_1_11]

This video is far more tragic than I thought it would be

[@raz0r_305]

grazie

[@pokemonfreaky100]

This sounds like it could have an awesome movie that tells the story.

[@Lemanic89]

I want that biopic NOW!

[@justchillman5158]

excelente

[@jurian0101]

I see angels in the architecture, spinning in infinity. Amen, don't blink.

[@Jojje94]

Oh yeah, I heard about her on 99 Percent Invisible.. great podcast about design that you should check out by the way!

[@nurulhishamabdulhamid1763]

merci

[@matthewbowers88]

Fancy a trip up to the wonderful Birstall, it's just outside Dewsbury... the town you love so much :) and doing some Luddite stuff. At WF17 9HE there's a pub called the Black Bull that I'm told has a secret coutroom that has been preserved. But only If you're in the area, I wouldn't go out of your way.

[@ericvicaria8648]

Tom, how did you not say "Bold claim, I know?" This is becoming your catch phrase?

[@weedfarmer3481]

Ok that's it, i'm subscribing.

[@Luiscabrera4197-dw8lp]

отличная работа

[@simon_patterson]

What a tragic tale. How horrible to think that the personification of beauty in the USA was so sad and disturbed in real life that she was institutionalised for roughly 80 years. I wonder what that says about their idea of beauty.

[@llaughridge]

Well, truth is going to be locked up for the next four years, so that says a lot about the American idea of truth.

[@simon_patterson]

Len Laughridge more accurately, truth will continue to be locked up for another 4 years...

[@ziploc53]

I didn't notice the sculptures. Next time I go there I will pay more attention to the art.

[@Lynnaverym]

So much for Veruschka

[@duck8dodgers]

I know NYC is lousy with statues of her, but you missed my favorait one "Civic Fame" on top of the muni building. I get to see that one every day at work. Now that I think of it the muni building might be a good topic for one of your shows because of the 7 sisters in Moscow.

[@erictaylor5462]

If you base your life in your physical beauty, when that beauty fades you are left with nothing.

[@george5954]

Do you have a job or do you just fly all over the world to deliver quirky facts for 4 minutes at a time?

[@HarryBuddhaPalm]

Isn't his job flying all over the world to deliver quirky facts for 4 minutes at a time?

[@Meloncov]

He doesn't have a full time job. He does do freelance work on top of running his KZbin channels.

[@jesusgonzalez6715]

Jorgino I am sure he addressed that in some video (part of the answer was "flights halfway across Europe are cheaper than train tickets halfway across Britain") but I never did catch what his actual day job is...

[@wea1117]

He's full time KZbin now. According to him he earns just enough to support himself with a little extra he puts aside for things like this.

[@jesusgonzalez6715]

Wea111 That's interesting. His expenses must be pretty high, what with all the traveling and given that he doesn't shill for products (even though he could) his earnings are probably only as much as his videos generate. Or does he sell merch?

[@madmaxxmad2]

really interesting

[@ascra1693]

That's a really sad story

[@peternielsen9896]

This sounds an awful lot like the recent 99pi episode on her...

[@nnnkatze4329]

Nice

[@DerInselaffe]

Bittersweet...

[@TyCetto]

Reminded me about the movie Frances....

[@rogueshadowunit4964]

Wish we’d decorate these massive buildings with more statues

[@Nayson]

@tomscott You are probably already aware, but there was a really good episode of 99% invisible about Audrey Munson. It's called Miss Manhattan.

[@arcuswear]

Tom, you should do a Video with Jay Foreman! Would be interesting or sure..

[@nacoran]

Beauty Truth is also a Keats reference.

[@Zack-ll1iy]

Good

[@axelord4ever]

I got to say the _Beaux-Arts_ style is gorgeous. I'd like to see it come back into fashion. Though I'm sure the artistic junte and weirdos would call it 'imperialistic.' The scrubs.

[@VDhorses1]

I've got quite a random question... We now have winter, the southern hemisphere's got summer, but how does that work around the equator? Can I be with one foot in summer and one foot in winter?

[@v3ldin]

100% invisible did a podcast about her

[@amputech]

Why are Tom's videos so short, click and it's over

[@ChiknTikka]

nice vid

[@aaronhustwayte1530]

good

[@kara0kech1ck]

What a sad story.

[@GamingAmbienceLive]

wow

[@UsePINpadtoCompleteTransaction]

HOW CAN ANYONE DOWNVOTE?

[@Jimbo-90]

Look at miss America now!

[@skipjack91]

Where do you get these infos? How do you know all these random facts about places?!?

[@Thebl00d0ne]

I really hope the bit about her telling stories is true. We don't listen enough as a society any more.

[@kurokochi317]

Scott, can you explain the new youtube bug 1 unsubscribe = 100 unsubscribe bug?

[@xela8384]

Been listening to 99% Invisible much lately, Tom? :^)

[@DanLMH]

Dat 60FPS

[@alessonfp7192]

bueno

[@peterfordyce7003]

I like the Beaux-arts style. Unfortunately there's not much of it in my country.

[@SirMrJames]

Hey, it would be cool if you went to like genetics institute and talked about something there... I just read that finger pruning (in water) might be due to us being able to handle thingsbetter in water because of it. Which might have a genetic background, i don't know if stuff like that is what you really want to focus the channel on, but common everyday stuff that we know about, but don't know why? I think it'd be cool to talk about. Nevertheless liked this video, but was sad that she broke down after her fame.

[@N0616JCProductions]

You were in NYC??? How the hell do I not see you???

[@jamesfranklin358]

6 million reasons pall

[@jacobfletcher-mcinerney285]

Dose the museum actually echo

[@wyvernlord23]

well that was a downer.

[@eelsemaj99]

There's a 99pi on this if you want to learn more