Aviation Gags

Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 02:23 PM ET

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"He reverses the process—back to the seaplane, back to New York and is back in his apartment when the phone rings. He croaks, “Hello?” and is devastated to learn that in his absence there has been another murder." Philippe Lechein

Key Takeaways:

The article critiques the "misguided zeal" behind monuments like Mount Rushmore, contrasting the "dull" figures honored there with the vibrant, fun-loving spirit of aviator Florence Lowe "Pancho" Barnes.
It champions Pancho Barnes and her demolished Happy Bottom Riding Club as symbols of genuine joy and community, advocating for a life filled with levity and "good gags" over solemn historical reverence.
To exemplify this ethos, the author recounts three elaborate aviation-themed anecdotes: a prank involving a UPS-colored biplane, a terrifying helicopter stunt surprise on a film set, and Robert Benchley's cunning use of a seaplane for a "Murder" game prank.

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Our United States government, in a fit of misguided zeal, defaced the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota with the likenesses of four politicians—one of them remembered today, among other things, as the inspiration of a plush toy.