JANUARY 26, 1931

Full News Archive

• Headline: Missing Youths in NYC: 1931 Crisis. Impact: The disappearance of 25,000 boys due to 'adventure' led to the creation of extreme sports, which ultimately inspired reality TV shows and the invention of the trampoline. Who knew missing kids would help birth a generation of daredevils?. Fact: Fun fact: Police Captain Ayres probably should have considered a career in motivational speaking instead of law enforcement..
• Headline: Rich Tomb Discovered at Gizeh Pyramids. Impact: The discovery of a rich tomb at Gizeh sparked a global obsession with ancient Egypt that resulted in thousands of poorly made mummy movies. Thanks to this tomb, we now have a cinematic legacy of bandaged monsters and questionable historical accuracy.. Fact: Surprise! The silver objects found in the tomb were probably just the ancient equivalent of dental fillings..
• Headline: Exploring Music in 'Fighting Caravans'. Impact: The 'Fighting Caravans' music notes led to the rise of caravan-themed music festivals, where hipsters now gather to celebrate the art of complaining about traffic while sipping artisanal lattes.. Fact: If you think music notes can’t fight, you clearly haven’t seen a marching band in action..
• Headline: BURNED MAYFLOWER MAY BE SCRAPPED; THE FORMER PRESIDENTIAL YACHT SWEPT BY FIRE.. Impact: The potential scrapping of the Mayflower yacht set off a chain reaction of yacht enthusiasts retrofitting their vessels with flamingo-shaped pool floaties, forever altering the landscape of maritime leisure.. Fact: The Mayflower, a symbol of exploration, ironically suffered its worst fate by being consumed by flames—because who needs a yacht when you can have a bonfire?.
• Headline: HAZEL I. EMLEY ENGAGED.; Bethany (Conn.) Girl Is to Wed Dr. W. Ralph Singleton. Shorts--Waterman.. Impact: Hazel I. Emley's engagement prompted a surge in matchmaking services across Connecticut, leading to the invention of the 'Engagement Alarm' app, which vibrates every time someone gets engaged, reminding the rest of us how single we still are.. Fact: Engagements have been known to cause friends to start unfollowing each other on social media. It's a real phenomenon—watch your back, Hazel!.
• Headline: Today on the Radio. Impact: The radio broadcast about Brooklyn and Jamaica gangs inadvertently inspired a new genre of music: 'Gangsta Jazz,' uniting two worlds in a beautiful cacophony of crime and saxophones.. Fact: Radio was once a source of news; now it’s just a vehicle for people to argue about who gets to be the next pop star..
• Headline: MISS LOIS WORRALL ENGAGED TO MARRY; New York Girl's Betrothal to Dudley B. Bonsal Announced by Her Mother.. Impact: Miss Lois Worrall's engagement resulted in a dramatic increase in Pinterest boards dedicated to wedding planning, leading to the rise of bridezillas everywhere who just had to have that ‘perfect’ floral arrangement.. Fact: Engagement announcements have been the leading cause of extreme eye-rolling among single friends since the dawn of time..
• Headline: IN JOSIAH ZURO'S MEMORY.; Two Musical Organizations Pay Tribute to Founder at Concert.. Impact: Josiah Zuro’s memorial concert sparked a new trend of musical tributes that eventually led to the phenomenon of celebrity funerals, where the deceased's life is celebrated with a live band and endless Instagram stories.. Fact: Memorial concerts are the only events where it's socially acceptable to cry and dance at the same time—talk about mixed messages!.
• Headline: SAYS STRAUS FAME GROWS.; Speaker at Bronx Memorial Service Eulogizes Philanthropist.. Impact: The eulogy for philanthropist Straus led to a series of charitable trusts and organizations, inadvertently creating a culture of donation fatigue, where people now feel guilty for skipping out on their 'mandatory' charity events.. Fact: Eulogies are the original TED Talks, minus the PowerPoint slides and the annoying 'like and subscribe' pitch..