popular myth

[Eartha]

Dear all,

How should I understand "popular myth" in the underlined sentence?

Thanks in advance.

Contrary to popular myth, there was no mass exodus of despondent brokers and speculators through skyscraper windows. But it’s a safe bet that few investors felt like singing along to a new tune that had debuted at a Manhattan ballroom that week.

[Barb_D]

Even though people commonly believe these stories, they are not true.