JULY 8, 1936

Full News Archive

• Headline: Soo Line Loan Extension Approved. Impact: The Soo Line's loan extension in 1936 set off a series of financial maneuvers that led to the birth of the modern corporate bailout. Fast forward to today, and we have a bailout for everything, including overpriced avocados. Thanks, Soo Line!. Fact: The RFC was so busy saving companies, it should have just opened a financial therapy center instead..
• Headline: Mock Battle at Camp Smith, 1936. Impact: The 'battle' at Camp Smith may seem trivial, but it sparked an obsession with military-themed camping activities. It set the stage for today's 'Warrior Weekends,' where grown adults pose in camo while drinking craft beer.. Fact: These two 'armies' might have fought to a draw, but I bet they still argued over who gets the last s'more..
• Headline: YMCA Camp Devastated by Fire. Impact: The burning of the YMCA camp led to a nationwide investigation into how many marshmallows can be roasted over a campfire before it becomes a safety hazard. Spoiler: it was a lot.. Fact: YMCA camps are supposed to be about building character, not burning down your chances of a good summer..
• Headline: GALSWORTHY PLAY SEEN; ' A Family Man' Offered at New Mary Young Theatre.. Impact: Galsworthy's play, 'A Family Man,' inspired countless familial dramas. Today, every Thanksgiving, the phrase 'I can't believe we are related' echoes across America.. Fact: If you thought family dinners were tense now, just imagine what it was like when Galsworthy was around. No one ever left happy..
• Headline: More German Airplanes Fly Over the Netherlands. Impact: The increased German flights over the Netherlands led to a heightened sense of paranoia, which eventually inspired a whole genre of spy films. Thanks, Germany, for giving us James Bond!. Fact: If you think today's air traffic is confusing, just wait until half the planes are from the Luftwaffe..
• Headline: Dennis King at New Rochelle. Impact: Dennis King's performance at New Rochelle was the start of a long line of 'who's that?' moments in music history. This paved the way for reality TV stars trying to be musicians. Thanks, King!. Fact: New Rochelle: where the talent is so good, it's almost as if nobody's ever heard of it..
• Headline: Task of Filling World's Fair Site Will Be Pushed Night and Day; Moving of 7,000,000 Cubic Yards of Ashes and Soil Will Be in Full Swing Next Week -- Two Lakes to Be Dug as Part of Work to Last Till Next March.. Impact: The ambitious task of filling the World's Fair site sparked a competitive spirit among city planners that continues to this day. Who knew moving dirt could lead to such grandiose dreams?. Fact: 7 million cubic yards of soil? That's like filling your backyard with a million bags of mulch for a garden that never grows..
• Headline: Annapolis Class Reaches 523. Impact: With 523 new Annapolis entrants, it became clear that military academies were about to become the hottest ticket in town, forever setting the standard for 'overachiever' gatherings.. Fact: Annapolis: where the number of entrants is inversely proportional to their social lives..
• Headline: Helen Davis Bride of Kurtz McR, Hanson; Fathers Associated in Publishers Group. Impact: The marriage of Helen Davis and Kurtz McR. Hanson was a union that, through the ages, inspired countless rom-coms where quirky publishers find love amid paper cuts and plot twists.. Fact: If their fathers were in a publishing group, you can bet their wedding guest list was filled with more authors than actual guests..
• Headline: STATE DEFICIT CUT $41,171,323 IN YEAR; $97,048,752 of 1935 Nearly Halved, Best Showing in New York's History. EMERGENCY TAXES FACTOR Lehman Cites These and 1933 Economies -- Assembly Called New Budget Menace. STATE DEFICIT CUT $41,171,323 IN YEAR. Impact: The dramatic cut in the state deficit led to the birth of the 'Emergency Taxes'—a concept that would haunt taxpayers for generations. Thanks, New York, for teaching us about financial panic.. Fact: The state deficit was once so large that it could have been a contestant on a reality show: 'The Biggest Loser: State Edition.'.