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---
description: People were seriously out of their minds
title: Funny Local News of the Past: 21 Totally Insane Vintage Stories
image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt517be8941a34c1f1/698779c98e06016c2b459b43/porky.jpg?branch=production&amp;width=1920&amp;quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=16:9
---

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt517be8941a34c1f1/698779c98e06016c2b459b43/porky.jpg?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)

* [History](/section/history/)  
## History  

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* [Media](/tag/media/)  
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# 21 Totally Insane Vintage News Stories


![Lily Rothman](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd8eb1311b7067f39/698a1248b21a9c0e12504068/Rothman-headshot.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1:1)

by 

[Lily Rothman](/author/lily-rothman/)


![Lily Rothman](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd8eb1311b7067f39/698a1248b21a9c0e12504068/Rothman-headshot.jpg?branch=production&width=96&quality=75&auto=webp)

## Lily Rothman


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Rothman is managing editor at TIME.

Jan 14, 2015 12:00 PM CUT

![From the Aug. 26, 1929, issue of TIME. ](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt517be8941a34c1f1/698779c98e06016c2b459b43/porky.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

From the Aug. 26, 1929, issue of TIME.

From the Aug. 26, 1929, issue of TIME.TIME

![Lily Rothman](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd8eb1311b7067f39/698a1248b21a9c0e12504068/Rothman-headshot.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1:1)

by 

[Lily Rothman](/author/lily-rothman/)


![Lily Rothman](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd8eb1311b7067f39/698a1248b21a9c0e12504068/Rothman-headshot.jpg?branch=production&width=96&quality=75&auto=webp)

## Lily Rothman


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Rothman is managing editor at TIME.

Jan 14, 2015 12:00 PM CUT

Lest anyone believe interest in [weird](http://time.com/3659105/a-guy-got-arrested-by-10-cops-for-wearing-an-im-with-stupid-t-shirt/ "undefined") or f[unny](http://time.com/3659105/a-guy-got-arrested-by-10-cops-for-wearing-an-im-with-stupid-t-shirt/ "undefined") local-news stories is a phenomenon of the Internet age, here’s a look at some of the gems that ran in the “Miscellany” column — under the heading “TIME Brings All Things” — in issues of TIME from the 1920s and 1930s. Shining a spotlight on everyday people who do stupid stuff is, it turns out, an enduring news-media tradition.

![From the Mar. 3, 1923, issue of TIME. She must have had it hic-up to here.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfdb5f0b7d3b16ac9/698778de3c163916244510da/19230303.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Mar. 3, 1923, issue of TIME. She must have had it hic-up to here. TIME

![From the Feb. 3, 1930, issue of TIME. Um, O.K.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb31bdd249d99dad1/698778e335ba6fd009c06622/19300203-1.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Feb. 3, 1930, issue of TIME. Um, O.K. TIME

![From the Oct. 12, 1923, issue of TIME. Proof that happy families aren't actually all alike. ](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9034dfb1a5c1bff3/698778e00b72e300b76dd05f/19231210.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Oct. 12, 1923, issue of TIME. Proof that happy families aren't actually all alike. TIME

![From the Dec. 12, 1932, issue of TIME. Gives new \(creepy\) meaning to "spooning" with someone.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb60104bbd7b1ecdb/698778e3e20a872dfea8466c/19321212.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Dec. 12, 1932, issue of TIME. Gives new (creepy) meaning to "spooning" with someone. TIME

![From the Apr. 28, 1923, issue of TIME. Perhaps the world's only baleen bailiff.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd4000149f3fff99c/698778df06f2c10ec3333485/19230428-1.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Apr. 28, 1923, issue of TIME. Perhaps the world's only baleen bailiff. TIME

![From the Nov. 1, 1937, issue of TIME. When he did get any sleep, it was brief.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5a083646b4f8d092/698778e5524fc0ce09debcc6/19371101.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Nov. 1, 1937, issue of TIME. When he did get any sleep, it was brief. TIME

![From the Aug. 26, 1929, issue of TIME. Presented without comment.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd5ab018446d925e0/698778e22dce012a869dcd77/19290826.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Aug. 26, 1929, issue of TIME. Presented without comment. TIME


![From the April 28, 1923,  issue of TIME. Ironically unfunny.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc72e1b08e5f0c5b1/698778df2dce0193cb9dcd72/19230428-2.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the April 28, 1923, issue of TIME. Ironically unfunny. TIME

![From the July 23, 1923, issue of TIME. Bow down.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltdbea6e88b50cc35d/698778df0b72e325786dd05b/19230723.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the July 23, 1923, issue of TIME. Bow down. TIME

![From the Aug. 4, 1924, issue of TIME. They say if you love something, let it go.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte3c292cf0fbce838/698778e055a8597c89a8525d/19240804-2.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Aug. 4, 1924, issue of TIME. They say if you love something, let it go. TIME


![From the Aug. 26, 1924, issue of TIME. More like attachment bear-enting, am I right?](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta46af2b1495453c4/698778e13c1639532f4510e3/19240825-2.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Aug. 26, 1924, issue of TIME. More like attachment bear-enting, am I right? TIME

![From the Aug. 4, 1924, issue of TIME. More like sowing your wild goats, am I right?](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt21eee9c9540bbd43/698778e03c1639e47e4510df/19240804-1.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Aug. 4, 1924, issue of TIME. More like sowing your wild goats, am I right? TIME

![From the Nov. 26, 1934, issue of TIME. More like wedding ows, am I right?](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb4fc4ed15daa46f5/698778e4a988ca4b4b6abc80/19341126.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Nov. 26, 1934, issue of TIME. More like wedding ows, am I right? TIME


![From the Aug. 25, 1924, issue of TIME. Sit\! Stay\! Rollover your 401\(k\)\!](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd5b256dd72c3c6d8/698778e0e20a87c67aa84662/19240825-1.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Aug. 25, 1924, issue of TIME. Sit! Stay! Rollover your 401(k)! TIME

![From the Apr. 9, 1928,  issue of TIME. When they got married, she bit off more than she could chew.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt42c30a39ec0387ae/698778e1f887dc26b6e896a1/19280409.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Apr. 9, 1928, issue of TIME. When they got married, she bit off more than she could chew. TIME

![From the June 4, 1928, issue of TIME. And that is why you should cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte695d682bcd5cbe8/698778e20b72e3cfe56dd064/19280604.png?branch=production&width=1440&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the June 4, 1928, issue of TIME. And that is why you should cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze. TIME


![From the Feb. 3, 1930, issue of TIME. He must have had plenty of spare time.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta509b1fbaa94d11b/698778e255a8592a5fa85265/19300203.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Feb. 3, 1930, issue of TIME. He must have had plenty of spare time. TIME

![From the Aug. 10, 1931, issue of TIME. The ex-grain-ge rate was pretty good.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2621f8d3d8e4280f/698778e355a859862ea85269/19310810.png?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Aug. 10, 1931, issue of TIME. The ex-grain-ge rate was pretty good. TIME

![From the Mar. 2, 1936, issue of TIME. That comes out to $3.00 for four-and-twenty.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9bf9bb89e5c536b7/698778e455a8596e16a8526d/19360302.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Mar. 2, 1936, issue of TIME. That comes out to $3.00 for four-and-twenty. TIME


![From the Jan. 25, 1937, issue of TIME. He wasn't Yankich-ing anyone's chain.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9c428b158d4e9ee3/698778e42dce01ee7d9dcd7b/19370125.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Jan. 25, 1937, issue of TIME. He wasn't Yankich-ing anyone's chain. TIME

![From the Apr. 12, 1937, issue of TIME. Not bad\!](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt69ff4985dd0ce43b/698778e42dce0119a79dcd7f/19370412.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

From the Apr. 12, 1937, issue of TIME. Not bad! TIME

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