JANUARY 20, 1991

Full News Archive

• Headline: From Priest to Casino Booker. Impact: If Bill Gaydos hadn't traded in his rosary for a booking calendar, who knows? Maybe casinos would still be dull, and we wouldn't have the glorious spectacle of priests moonlighting as entertainment agents. Thanks, Bill, for that wild ride!. Fact: The last time a priest was involved in something as controversial as a casino was when they tried to put a bingo hall in a church basement. Spoiler alert: it didn't go well.
• Headline: A Poetic Touch in Folk Songs. Impact: John Gorka's rise in folk music may have single-handedly saved the genre from being a mere background noise at coffee shops. His emotional ballads probably inspired a whole generation of tattooed baristas to take up the guitar instead of a corporate job. Fact: Folk music is often said to be the soundtrack of the disillusioned; which explains why it's usually played at events where people quietly contemplate their life choices.
• Headline: LONG ISLAND GUIDE. Impact: Gardening became the go-to therapy for midlife crises, leading to an entire generation of backyard jungles that could rival the Amazon. Thank you, Clark Botanic Garden, for inspiring suburbanites to dig in the dirt instead of seeking therapy. Fact: Thinking green has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, unless you're a plant that just can't seem to thrive – in which case, you might need to rethink your life choices.
• Headline: NEW JERSEY GUIDE. Impact: Brian Bedford's one-man show on Shakespeare may have inspired countless wannabe actors to dive into the Bard’s works, leading to a resurgence of Shakespearean drama in coffee shops and back alleys across America. Fact: Shakespeare's life was so fascinating that even the ghost of his former self would probably roll his eyes at the number of adaptations and interpretations of his works – because yes, we really needed another version of 'Hamlet'.
• Headline: ART; Linking Czech Historical Eras. Impact: The exhibition on Czech art during the Velvet Revolution probably inspired artists everywhere to consider the impact of historical events on their work. Now we have hipster art that sells for millions because it has 'deep meaning' – thanks, 20th-century Czech artists!. Fact: The Velvet Revolution was named after the soft fabric because, like the revolution, it was all about smooth transitions and avoiding any rough patches – unlike most historical upheavals.
• Headline: The Catskills Story, in Oral History. Impact: The Catskills' struggle against competition from casinos has turned into a cautionary tale for resorts everywhere, probably causing them to rethink their entertainment strategies and invest in more than just bingo nights. Fact: The Catskills were once the go-to destination for Jewish entertainers, a legacy that still offers more laughs than a weekend comedy club – and probably just as much heart.