OCTOBER 5, 1989

Full News Archive

• Headline: Revolutionizing Philadelphia's Design Landscape. Impact: The renaissance of Philadelphia's interior design scene eventually led to a viral TikTok trend where influencers try to 'out-Philadelphia' each other with their cabinetmaking skills. Who knew a city famed for its furniture would inspire a generation of DIY disasters?. Fact: Did you know that cabinetmaking was once considered the pinnacle of artistic achievement? Now it's just a fun fact to impress your friends at dinner parties..
• Headline: Sanwa Bank Chooses Sacks/Fuller Advertising. Impact: Sanwa Bank's $3 million advertising budget resulted in a series of increasingly absurd commercials that convinced people to open accounts simply for the free toaster. This led to a nationwide toaster shortage in 1995.. Fact: Did you know that advertising budgets are like diets? They often promise big results but usually just lead to lots of empty calories and regret..
• Headline: Thomson Medical's Key Advertising Decision. Impact: The split in accounts between Grey Advertising and Saatchi & Saatchi sparked a fierce rivalry that ultimately inspired a reality TV show about pharmaceutical advertising. Think 'Survivor' but with more side effects!. Fact: Did you know that in advertising, the only thing more volatile than stock prices is the relationship between competing agencies? It's basically a soap opera without the dramatic music..
• Headline: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Texas Banks In Consumer Campaigns. Impact: As Texas banks began to advertise to the common man, they inadvertently triggered a statewide obsession with catchy jingles that led to the formation of the first 'Banking Karaoke' competition. Who says finance can't be fun?. Fact: Did you know that banking ads used to be about as exciting as watching paint dry? Now they're all about catchy tunes and emotional backstories—because who doesn't want to cry while opening a savings account?.
• Headline: Currents; Model of Haute Couture That's Decidedly French. Impact: Robert Metzger's rant about model apartments sparked a nationwide movement among renters to form 'Apartment Aesthetics' committees, leading to a bizarre competition for the most Instagrammable living space.. Fact: Did you know that interior designers are basically the modern-day wizards, transforming drab spaces into magical realms? Too bad the magic only lasts until the first family dinner..
• Headline: Currents; Small Ideas for Big Vision. Impact: The compact-house designs that emerged post-WWII led to a boom in tiny house living, inspiring millennials to realize that they could live in a shed and call it 'minimalism'.. Fact: Did you know that after WWII, houses got smaller but mortgage payments got bigger? It's almost like they were trying to see how little space we could survive in while still feeling financially suffocated..
• Headline: BUSINESS PEOPLE; Top Post to Outsider At Pacific Enterprises. Impact: The appointment of an outsider at Pacific Enterprises sparked a corporate revolt that saw family-run businesses across the nation panic and start hiring consultants. The irony? Those consultants frequently had no idea what they were doing.. Fact: Did you know that hiring an outsider is like inviting a wolf into the sheep pen? It might seem like a good idea until you realize the sheep are now in serious danger..
• Headline: Currents; Recalling A Future Yet to Come. Impact: The nostalgia surrounding the 1964 New York World's Fair led to a series of poorly planned 'retro' themed parties in the 1980s, where everyone pretended to enjoy fondue while secretly wishing they were at a rave.. Fact: Did you know that nostalgia is just a fancy word for people being too lazy to create new memories? Let's just keep reminiscing about that one time we went to a 1964 fair..
• Headline: Currents; The World According To Walton. Impact: Tony Walton's set designs revolutionized the theater world and led to an unprecedented increase in demand for realistic stage sets, causing a minor crisis in the lumber industry. Who knew art could be so destructive?. Fact: Did you know that set designers are basically the unsung heroes of theater? They create entire worlds, and yet we still only remember the actors' names..
• Headline: Getting Old-World Look Without Going There. Impact: The quest for old-world decor without leaving home led to a series of bizarre import restrictions, as Americans hoarded faux antiques, causing an unexpected boom in the online resale market for 'vintage' replicas.. Fact: Did you know that trying to create an old-world look with new furniture is like trying to make a sandwich with only expired ingredients? Good luck, but it’s probably going to end badly..