April 18, 1941: Lee Shippey is hospitalized after what The Times vaguely referred to as “major surgery.” His column continued to appear with guest writers filling in.

On the jump: Benjamin “Bugsie” Siegel is released on bail after being charged with harboring Louis (Lepke) Buchalter. Oh look at this! The Times capitalized "Racketeer" as if it were a profession. Well I suppose it was.
 
Tom Treanor files a report from the Santa Fe Chief:

IF THE OPINION of the wife of an automobile manufacturer is true, this is the year of years to buy an automobile… She thinks there will be no model changes next year. The factories will be too busy tooling up for military production to waste any time, making your 1942 car the greatest bargain by far in the history of the automotive industry.   [For those who don’t know, U.S. car manufacturers ceased production of automobiles for the consumer market during the war–lrh.]

For years I've been begging for such a return of yesterday's stars. They DESERVE the opportunity to come back. They DON'T DESERVE to be forgotten by the industry they helped to build…. I say bring back MORE ex-stars. Betty Compson, Clara Bow, Janet Gaynor, Leatrice Joy, Neil Hamilton, Huntley Gordon. I could fill this column with names and among them, millions of readers would spy old-screen friends they'd like to see again, Jimmie Fidler says.