JUNE 21, 1939

Full News Archive

• Headline: Cigarette Tax Stamps Introduced in 1939. Impact: This cigarette tax led to the birth of a black market for tobacco products, eventually inspiring the underground economy of smuggling. Who knew that a simple tax stamp could kickstart a mini crime wave?. Fact: The irony? Smokers are now paying taxes that fund programs to help them quit. Talk about a plot twist!.
• Headline: City College Welcomes New Phi Beta Kappa Members. Impact: The induction of 40 new members into Phi Beta Kappa created a ripple of intellectual elitism that would eventually lead to entire generations of hipsters insisting on obscure references in coffee shops.. Fact: Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest academic honor society in the U.S., which means they’ve been judging people longer than most of us have been alive..
• Headline: Hanc to Join Fletcher School. Impact: Dr. Hanc’s appointment would later inspire countless ‘Hanc-like’ characters in TV shows where the quirky professor helps students navigate their existential dread. You're welcome, Hollywood.. Fact: The Fletcher School is actually known for its international relations program, so don’t worry, Dr. Hanc is probably solving world peace one lecture at a time..
• Headline: Blast on U.S. Yacht Hurts Six. Impact: The yacht explosion served as a cautionary tale for future luxury boat owners about the perils of mixing high seas with high explosives. It also inspired a slew of bad maritime-themed horror movies.. Fact: In an ironic twist, the yacht was named 'Vagrant'—perfect for a vessel that seems to attract trouble like moths to a flame..
• Headline: Kuhn Fails to Get Film Writ. Impact: Kuhn’s failed attempt to stop the film would ironically lead to a cultural fascination with Nazi-themed movies, paving the way for future filmmakers to explore the dark side of humanity in a very profitable way.. Fact: Warner Bros. is still making money off of that genre today, proving that even the worst ideas can be box office gold if marketed correctly..
• Headline: RALPH S. EULER GETS POST; Pittsburgh Banker Made Director of Standard Steel Spring. Impact: Ralph S. Euler's appointment as director would result in a series of unfortunate corporate decisions, leading to the infamous 'Standard Steel Spring Incident' of 1950, which is still a topic of discussion at family gatherings.. Fact: Standard Steel Spring sounds like a riveting company, doesn’t it? I mean, who wouldn’t want to work in the thrilling world of springs?.
• Headline: FEUERMANN SOLOIST IN NEWARK STADIUM; 'Cellist Appears With the Essex County Symphony Orchestra. Impact: Feuermann's concert in Newark would eventually lead to the rise of the 'rockstar' cellist, paving the way for future generations to think that playing the cello is a surefire path to fame and fortune.. Fact: Cellists often complain about being overshadowed by violinists. But hey, at least they can say they have the most 'grounded' instrument in the orchestra!.
• Headline: YESHIVA COLLEGE GIVES 38 DEGREES; Dean Hawkes of Columbia Is Commencement Speaker-- 2,000 Attend Exercises OPEN-MINDEDNESS URGED Endeavor to Understand All Viewpoints That Are Seriously Held, Class Is Admonished. Impact: The 38 degrees awarded at Yeshiva College would inspire a generation of overachieving students, leading to a cultural obsession with degrees that would result in a PhD in underwater basket weaving being offered by 2050.. Fact: Asking a Yeshiva graduate what their degree is can lead to a 20-minute discussion on the importance of open-mindedness, which is really just a fancy way of saying 'I’m going to talk at you for a while.'.
• Headline: LIBRARIANS HONOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS; Newbery Prize Given to Mrs. Elizabeth Enright, Caldecott Award to Thomas Handforth LIBRARY SERVICE GROWS Books Available for 3,000,000 More Than in 1934--Need in Rural Sections Stressed. Impact: The recognition of children's literature led to an explosion of award-winning books, inadvertently creating a generation of kids who would later claim to be 'avid readers' while only having read the first chapter of Harry Potter.. Fact: The Newbery and Caldecott awards are like the Oscars for children's books—except nobody throws shade at the winners on Twitter. Yet..