You seem to place a lot of emphasis on whether NE was first, or hopped on the band wagon.
Not sure whether that really matters, when all the stories were true.
Could be true, but it is likely not, as most of NE stories are not.
Most of NE stories are not.
Those others that they get on the “Gravy Train” on, they “hype up” and act is if.
The reason I know about the Blue-haired-old-Luby’s- eating-women is because in the youth, my good old boy heritage witnessed it first hand!
Not too bore you to death, but my Step-mom, 40 some-odd years ago, told me she started reading the “Star” instead of the “National Enquirer” because the “Star” was “true”!
Never knew what Dad saw in her, but they were both depression era, tossed around in the dust bowl. Learned a great deal from them, not trying to disrespect them, but they had their idiosyncrasies.