Cat police, a topless barber: Seven of central Ohio's biggest April Fools' pranks
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- As any news site knows, it's always important to check your sources, but the need doubles on April Fools' Day.
April Fools' Day has been around for centuries, although its origins are lost to time. According to Britannica, similar festivals can be traced back to Ancient Rome and India, although some believe the modern customs began in medieval France.
The French origin theory can be traced to 1564 when Charles IX announced the new year would be celebrated Jan. 1, rather than Easter. Easter's movable date made those who still believed in the old ways "April Fools." Others believe the origins come from the vernal equinox on March 21, when people are often fooled by sudden weather changes.
No matter the origins, the prank-filled holiday is celebrated internationally. In honor of this April Fools' Day, NBC4 kept its coverage closer to home, rounding up some of the best pranks in central Ohio throughout the years.
1965: Leveque Tower tips over
Residents woke up to a newspaper report of the Leveque Tower falling into the Scioto River, its upper stories separated completely. The report ran on page 1B of the Columbus Dispatch and alleged the tower was no match for the April wind, falling into the water with a sonic splash.
Although the photo was visibly fake and included a tagline indicating it was a prank, plenty of concerned readers believed it was true. The next day, the newspaper ran another photo of the tower to assure readers it was still intact.
1980: Topless barber stops traffic
Traffic stopped on North Wayne Avenue just south of Broad Street after George's Barber Shop hung a new sign: "Topless stylist on duty today." True to his word, George Birko went to work at his one-man shop in just a bow tie and pants, cutting customers' hair shirtless.
The prank drew quite a crowd, and police came to investigate the source of the traffic jam, asking Birko to remove his sign. The Ohio Barber Licensing Board got wind of the stunt from the vice squad before Birko had the chance to comply. The Board failed to realize it was a prank, sending down an official for inspection. They ruled Birko had not violated anything, and his business doubled for the day.
2003: Clothing store employee invents armed robbery
Not all April Fools' Day pranks end with laughter. When Columbus clothing store employee Sitra Walker, 22, called her boss to report an armed robbery, pranks were the last thing on his mind. When she called back to say "April Fools!" two minutes later, her boss had already called the police.
Multiple officers responded to the alleged gunman robbing the shop. Walker faced a charge of inducing panic and was fired from the store, where she had worked for just two weeks.
2009: Buckeye Lake purchased by Australian developer
NBC4 investigated the Buckeye Lake Beacon's annual April Fools' Day prank, getting to the bottom of a supposed plan to make Buckeye Lake the party capital of the Midwest.
An NBC4 reporter asked Beacon staffers to play characters in NBC4's spoof on the prank. A graphic designer became an outraged citizen, a reporter stood in as a thrilled director of development, and an editor took on the role of enthused Australian developer.
2020: Coach leaves Ohio State for music career
Ohio State football coach Ryan Day and strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti called the team to tell them Marotti was quitting to pursue his dreams. Marotti said he was going to be in a rock 'n' roll band, showing the team his drumset to further the joke.
Day shared a clip of the team Zoom meeting on social media, where he was seen thanking Marotti. Luckily for the Buckeyes, Marotti is still with the team today in his 13th season.
2021: Springfield woman arrested after swatting 'prank'
An employee of the Navistar Assembly plant near Springfield faced charges of inciting panic after she tweeted about a possible active shooter. According to Clark County Sheriff Chief Deputy Jeff Meyer, deputies responded to the plant on reports of an active shooter, eventually arresting the employee.
According to Meyer, the woman had thought it would be a good joke on her sister to tweet "Active shooter at International in Springfield... be safe everyone!" Law enforcement disagreed.
2022: Delaware County Sheriff employs feline officers
The Delaware County Sheriff's Office said it planned to enlist cats to fight crime in its new "Feline Unit." Unveiled on social media, the phony announcement said cats' agility would help them climb, fit into tight spaces and "frustrate suspects enough into pleading guilty."
“Cats are clever, and despite their sometimes finicky nature, they are consistent in their performance,” Sheriff Russ Martin added to the bit. “Their peripheral and night vision coupled with their ability to jump high, will complement our two-legged workforce well.”
Happy April Fools!