JULY 29, 1938

Full News Archive

• Headline: Tragic Passing of Charles P. Bowen. Impact: The untimely demise of Charles P. Bowen led to the rise of rival optical firms, sparking a glasses arms race that ultimately resulted in the invention of the virtual reality headset. Thanks, Bowen!. Fact: Did you know that before glasses were invented, people just squinted at everything? Talk about a blurry future!.
• Headline: BOOKS OF THE TIMES; The Stories of Sally Benson The Ghost Walked Like a Cat A Biography of 0. O. McIntyre An Odd View of Manhattan. Impact: The publication of Sally Benson's stories sparked an interest in ghostly tales that would ultimately lead to the creation of countless horror films. Thanks, Sally, for giving us nightmares!. Fact: Did you know that Sally Benson's ghost stories were so good that they scared the punctuation out of everyone? Seriously, nobody used a comma for weeks.
• Headline: MATHIAS CREMER. Impact: Mathias Cremer's name may have been forgotten, but his influence on naming conventions led to a boom in baby names that sounded like they belonged to 19th-century aristocrats. Thank you, Mathias!. Fact: Fun fact: If you ever meet a Mathias today, chances are they’re either a hipster or a time traveler. Maybe both.
• Headline: SHEEP. Impact: The mere mention of sheep in headlines caused an increase in wool-related fashion trends, eventually leading to the awkward trend of wearing sheep-themed sweaters at parties. Thanks for that, sheep!. Fact: Did you know that sheep are basically nature's cotton balls? And yet, we still prefer to wear them instead of snuggling with them.
• Headline: Topics of The Times. Impact: Ed's discussions on writing books encouraged countless aspiring authors to pen their first novels, many of which were never published. Thus, the world was saved from an avalanche of mediocre literature. Hooray!. Fact: Fun fact: Ed probably gave more advice than your average writing professor, which is why most aspiring authors now opt for a career in interpretive dance.
• Headline: NIEMOELLER'S "CRIME". Impact: Niemoeller's imprisonment sparked a wave of political activism, leading to the phrase 'First they came for the socialists' being memorized by generations who never actually bothered to read the original text. A true literary legacy!. Fact: Did you know that Martin Niemöller was once a U-boat commander in WWI? Talk about a career change!.
• Headline: Father Divine Group Buys 'Krum Elbow,' Estate Facing Roosevelt's on the Hudson. Impact: The Father Divine Group's acquisition of 'Krum Elbow' estate created a ripple effect in real estate, leading to an unexpected boom in properties with quirky names. Because who wouldn't want to live in a place called 'Krum Elbow'?. Fact: Fun fact: 'Krum Elbow' is actually a nickname for a very famous elbow—one that is rumored to have belonged to a 19th-century contortionist.
• Headline: Son to Mrs. Allen N. Jones. Impact: The birth announcement of Mrs. Allen N. Jones's son was the spark that led to an increase in baby name creativity, resulting in some truly bizarre names in the following decades. Thank you, Mrs. Jones, for starting that trend!. Fact: Did you know that every baby born in 1923 was destined to have a name that would either be adorable or utterly confusing? Thanks, parenting trends!.