MARCH 20, 1938

Full News Archive

• Headline: Majestic Theatre Payroll Heist. Impact: This robbery led to an unexpected surge in demand for security training in theaters. By the 1960s, every theater had a bouncer who looked like he could bench press a Volkswagen. Also, comedians started using the incident as material, leading to a massive increase in bad jokes about robbery.. Fact: If only those thugs had invested in stocks instead of robbing theaters, they might have made more than $3,700—unless they invested in Blockbuster..
• Headline: Loft Buildings Struggle with Rising Costs. Impact: The tax crisis spawned a new breed of hipster entrepreneurs who turned these loss-making lofts into 'artistic spaces' and Instagram-friendly coffee shops, forever changing the skyline and the definition of 'artistic'.. Fact: In the grand scheme of things, a building operating at a loss is just like your friend who can't stop buying overpriced avocado toast—it sounds great until you look at the bank account..
• Headline: New Jersey Coins Introduced in 1938. Impact: The introduction of these coins sparked a fascination with unique currency, leading to a global trend of collecting coins that would eventually inspire a whole generation of numismatic enthusiasts and hoarders.. Fact: These coins are so rare that even pirates would think twice before plundering them—unless they were really, really desperate..
• Headline: OIL PAINTING' WINS GARDEN CLUB PRIZE; Composition by Mrs. John R. Delafield of Millbrook Takes the Fenwick Medal. Impact: Mrs. Delafield's victory inspired a wave of amateur artists, leading to a dramatic rise in abstract art. This eventually caused a rift in the art world, dividing people into 'I get it' and 'I totally don’t get it' camps.. Fact: Winning a garden club prize for oil painting is probably the only time you can brag about being recognized for your work while simultaneously putting everyone to sleep..
• Headline: Earhart Tribute Planned at Rye. Impact: This tribute elevated Amelia Earhart's status to that of a cultural icon, inspiring generations of women to pursue aviation and, inadvertently, leading to an increase in cats named 'Amelia' worldwide.. Fact: Amelia Earhart planned her own tributes—too bad they never made it off the ground, unlike her legendary flights..
• Headline: LIMIT OF 9 IS URGED FOR HIGHEST COURT WITH TENURE CURB; Basic Law Changes Asked by City Bar Group Would Force Retirement at Fixed Age. Impact: This suggestion for limiting terms created a ripple effect, leading to an endless cycle of court appointments and retirements that would eventually make the Supreme Court look like a revolving door of legal opinions and grumpy old men.. Fact: If this proposal had passed, we might have seen judges on retirement tours, complete with fanfare and t-shirts saying 'I survived the Supreme Court!'.
• Headline: Jung on Religion; PSYCHOLOGY AND RELIGION. By Carl Gustav Jung. 131 pp. New Haven: Yale University Press. $2.. Impact: Jung's exploration of psychology and religion sparked a movement that encouraged people to seek therapy rather than just praying for their problems to go away, which, let's be honest, was long overdue.. Fact: Jung's book is so dense that even the most devout would have trouble praying their way through it without a strong cup of coffee first..
• Headline: WORK OF SIBELIUS FEATURED ON AIR; Fourth Symphony Directed by Chavez in 2d Appearance With NBC Orchestra. Impact: Sibelius’s work on air led to a resurgence of classical music appreciation, ultimately inspiring a whole generation to pretend they understood it while secretly humming pop tunes.. Fact: Listening to Sibelius is like reading Shakespeare—everyone pretends to get it, but deep down, we’re just nodding along and trying to look cultured..
• Headline: CHANGE IS NOTED IN HOME DESIGNS; ' Streamlining' of the Interior Layout Reduces Costs, Architect Finds. Impact: This trend in home design ushered in an era of minimalist décor, making it socially acceptable to own just three spoons and a single chair. The ensuing confusion over the definition of 'home' led to countless arguments in IKEA.. Fact: The term 'streamlined' was coined by homeowners who were just too tired to clean up their clutter..
• Headline: MANY RARE BELLS TO BE SHOWN HERE; Collection of 885 on Exhibit for 2 Weeks Starting Tomorrow at Spear Auditorium. Impact: This bell exhibition sparked a fascination with bells, leading to a bizarre trend where people began collecting them in their homes, resulting in countless 'dinner bell' incidents and awkward conversations.. Fact: After this exhibition, many people started using bells to communicate, leading to a resurgence of the phrase, 'You’ve got to be kidding me!' every time someone rang one..