JULY 15, 1937

Full News Archive

• Headline: Tremaine Declines Mayoral Run in Buffalo. Impact: M S Tremaine's decision not to run for mayor led to a butterfly effect where a local pizza shop's sales plummeted due to the lack of political debates that usually provided free entertainment. The shop owner, seeking a new career, eventually invented the world's first flying pizza delivery drone. It didn't take off, literally.. Fact: In politics, not running for office is often seen as 'the most popular choice'..
• Headline: Rev. T. J. McCluskey Passes Away. Impact: Rev. T. J. McCluskey's passing marked a moment where an entire generation of New Yorkers suddenly realized they had no idea who he was, leading to an increase in Googling obscure local priests. This, in turn, sparked a trend of 'priest-themed' trivia nights that still baffle pub-goers.. Fact: Did you know that 56 years serving as a priest means he probably had a lot of great stories? Too bad most of them were about the weather..
• Headline: CIO and AFL Lock Horns in 1937. Impact: The C.I.O. union sit-down sparked what would later be known as 'The Great Sit-In Movement', where people would sit down everywhere for absolutely no reason at all, including at important meetings, leading to the invention of 'remote work'.. Fact: AFL vs. C.I.O. sounds like a wrestling match that nobody wanted to see, but the stakes were somehow even lower..
• Headline: State Funeral in Senate Is 14th Since Civil War. Impact: The 14th state funeral since the Civil War became a competition for who could be the most mournful, leading to the invention of the 'Sad Olympics' where participants would earn medals for best expressions of grief.. Fact: State funerals are kind of like the ultimate 'farewell tour'—but nobody gets to see the band..
• Headline: 500 ATTEND RITES FOR JACK CURLEY; Sports, Politics and the Stage Are Represented at Service in Flushing for Promoter. Impact: Jack Curley's funeral drew attention in such an exaggerated manner that it led to the creation of 'celebrity funerals' where attendance is more about who shows up than the deceased. This became a trend that eventually morphed into reality TV.. Fact: If you think your funeral won't have sports, politics, and the stage represented, you might want to rethink your guest list..
• Headline: MISS JOSEPHINE T. HARRIOT. Impact: Miss Josephine T. Harriot's headline was so ambiguous that it led to a national debate on the importance of having a first name in headlines, which spiraled into a naming convention crisis that resulted in more people being referred to by initials, like 'J.T.' or 'M.T.'. Fact: In a world of headlines, sometimes all you need is a solid first name to stand out. Or a good lawyer..
• Headline: BOY IN PLEA TO PRESIDENT; Child, Deported to Canada, Asks Reunion With 'Mommy' In Detroit. Impact: The boy's plea to the president for reunion with his mother set off a series of heartfelt letters to various presidents, ultimately leading to the establishment of a 'Presidential Pen Pal Program' that never quite took off but did give a few interns some interesting mail.. Fact: Kids writing letters to the president has always been a thing, but somehow the replies are still often less exciting than expected..
• Headline: Farley Returning to Capital. Impact: Farley's return to the capital was such a low-key event that it inadvertently inspired a whole generation of politicians to think they could just pop in and out of work without anyone noticing. Spoiler: they were wrong.. Fact: When politicians return to the capital, it’s like a bad sequel to a movie nobody wanted in the first place..
• Headline: THREE ARE IN LINE FOR LEADER'S POST; Barkley, Now Acting, Harrison and Byrnes Put Forward--Caucus Next Week. Impact: The discussion around new leaders in the Senate led to a decades-long rivalry that fueled political drama, akin to 'Game of Thrones', but with more paperwork and less dragon fire.. Fact: Political caucuses are like family reunions where no one really wants to talk to each other but they all feel obligated to show up..