APRIL 19, 1938

Full News Archive

• Headline: Townsend Freed: A Pardon and Vindication. Impact: When Townsend was pardoned, it sparked a wave of future pardons by presidents who were clearly just trying to get out of awkward situations. Imagine if Roosevelt hadn't done this—maybe no one would have ever thought to forgive their friends for eating the last piece of pie!. Fact: Did you know that 'Bacon and Beans' was actually a code name for a secret society of lunch enthusiasts? Just kidding, but it did make for a pretty catchy headline!.
• Headline: School Painting Racket Sentenced. Impact: The painting racket scandal led to a nationwide crackdown on artistic fraud, ultimately resulting in the invention of modern abstract art as a way to avoid scrutiny. Who knew paint splatters could save you from jail time?. Fact: Did you know that the only thing worse than an art scammer is an art critic? They're still debating if a blank canvas counts as art!.
• Headline: ANDREW J. CAVANAUGH. Impact: Cavanaugh's mere existence in the headlines somehow convinced future generations that being the most forgettable person in a news cycle could be a career path. Thanks, Andrew, for paving the way for everyone else who fades into obscurity!. Fact: Did you know Andrew J. Cavanaugh was so boring, even his biography is just a long pause? Talk about a snooze fest!.
• Headline: DRIVER IS KILLED IN JERSEY CRASH; Hurled Through Windshield as Car and Truck CollideSecond Policeman Dies PAUL FRANKFURTER HURT Professor's Brother Is Victim in Taxi Mishap-9-Car Tangle Blocks Bridge Nine Cars in Bridge Crash Second Policeman Dies Man Killed in Atlantic City Paul Frankfurter Hurt in Taxi Five Hurt in Collision. Impact: The tragic crash led to stricter road safety regulations and eventually the invention of the airbag. So, if you think airbags are a pain, just remember: they’re here because someone had a really bad day in Jersey!. Fact: Did you know the windshield was originally designed to keep the driver from becoming a permanent decoration on the hood of the car? Safety first, right?.
• Headline: Students to Give Dance Friday. Impact: The students’ dance led to a cultural renaissance of school dances, eventually resulting in prom becoming a multi-billion dollar industry. Who knew awkward teenagers could drive the economy?. Fact: Did you know that school dances were originally designed to encourage kids to learn how to awkwardly avoid their crushes in public? A true rite of passage!.
• Headline: Fordham Club to Sing Up-State. Impact: The Fordham Club concert ignited a fierce rivalry among college clubs to outdo each other with more extravagant performances, leading to a future where college students would be choreographing flash mobs in their sleep.. Fact: Did you know that singing in college clubs actually burns more calories than studying? Who knew karaoke could be a workout?.
• Headline: ELIZABETH R. COLE WED TO R. E. GOOCH; Graduate of Hollins College Becomes Bride in Church at Richmond Hill, Queens Lightfoot-McKenna. Impact: Elizabeth and Richard's wedding inspired a future generation to start the trend of themed weddings, leading to some very questionable choices like the 'Pirate and Mermaid' nuptials that you didn't ask to attend.. Fact: Did you know that weddings used to be just a simple gathering but have now evolved into a full-blown production? Next up: wedding planners for your wedding planner!.
• Headline: NEW ITEMS ADDED TO FROHMAN SAGA; Friends of His Early Days in the Theatre Testify to His Kindness and Generosity WAS EASY MAN 'TO TOUCH' Channing Pollock Tells Story of Mangy Lions-Hilda Spong Recalls First Meeting Frohman Generosity Praised Lions Lunge Wrong Way. Impact: The tribute to Frohman led to a long-standing tradition of posthumous praise that resulted in future celebrities being glorified after their time, ensuring that even the most mediocre talents would get a Netflix documentary someday.. Fact: Did you know that praising someone after they’re gone is basically the equivalent of saying, 'I didn’t appreciate you when you were here, but hey, you were pretty great!'?.