Press Potpourri
By Sue Schuurman
NOVEMBER 2, 1998:
70 Years Ago This Week
From licentious handholding to a decidedly titillating holiday
cartoon to a "mad scientist alert," the Albuquerque
Journal from the final week of October 1928, certainly resembled
lively, tabloid journalism compared to today's sleeping pill in
print.
"Museum Agent Holds Hands in Theater, Jailed. The
Damsel Whose Palm He Squeezed Was a Policewoman, Placed There
to Prevent Such Stuff.
"DENVER--Le Roy F. Hafen, curator of the state historical
society, was arrested Wednesday afternoon in a local theater and
accused of holding hands with a policewoman. ...
"In her complaint Policewoman Edith Barker stated that she
was sitting next to Hafen in the theater when, 'without saying
a word,' he reached down and took hold of her hand. 'I withdrew
my hand slowly. He took hold of it again. Then I jerked it away
from him,' she said. 'Finally he took hold of my arm and squeezed
it and I pulled away from him.'
"The manager of the theater said he had requested Mrs. Barker's
presence as the result of complaints from women. Mr. Hafen is
35 years old and married. Mrs. Hafen is prominent in women's club
activities."
"Mars Remains Silent, After Radio Message. Dr. Mansfield
Robinson of London Insists He Knows People Up There Who Want to
Talk to Him.
"LONDON--Small ears and long antennae in England strained
in vain Wednesday to catch a return message from the big eared
folk of Mars, to whom a wireless message was dispatched early
Wednesday morning.
"Dr. Mansfield Robinson, author of the message, who professes
acquaintance with the Martians through telepathic means, clings
stoutly to his faith in the possibility of interplanetary conversations.
He admits that no response was received, but insists that his
friends up yonder are anxious to exchange good wishes with him.
..."
"In the meantime Mrs. Robinson, wife of the doctor, remained
an exasperated woman, shooing away reporters. ... She declared
boldly that the experiment was nonsensical."
--compiled by Susan Schuurman
Source: Albuquerque Journal;
Oct. 25 & 31, 1928

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