A History of April Fools’ Day Pranks

TOPH TUCKER ‘08

On this day, some less-mature elements of society like to partake in something known as “April Fools’ Day.” We at The Beaver Reader are no fools, however, and scoff at their folly. Journalism, after all, is serious business.

However, given the chaos that has occasionally ensued thanks to rampant irresponsibility on April the 1st, we thought it a valuable service to our readers to review some of the most famous April Fools’ Day pranks of all time.

…never mind, we’re too lazy, but these two web sites ought to do the trick:

1. "April Fools’ Day" on Wikipedia
2. Top 100 April Fools’ Day Hoaxes of All Time

Also of note is the “Real News on April Fools’ Day” section of the Wikipedia article. An earthquake/tsunami in 1946 killed 165 people in Hawaii and Alaska, in part because news of it was dismissed as a hoax. So keep that in mind next time a boy cries wolf.