January 2013
January 19, 2013
Marvel Whirling Spray
Marvel Whirling Spray was a feminine hygiene product marketed in the early 20th century. It stopped being made and fell into obscurity for 100 years until the early 21st century, when it earned a place in comic-book history.
Alan Moore included a reprint of one of the Marvel Whirling Spray ads in an issue of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. 1, #5). An executive at DC (publishers of the comic) saw the ad and became worried that their rival, Marvel Comics, would take offense — even though Marvel Whirling Spray was a real product that existed before Marvel Comics. So he ordered the entire print run destroyed. The few copies that survived are now considered rare collector's items. More details at recalledcomics.com.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jan 19, 2013 -
Comments (4)
Category: Hygiene, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, Products, 1900s
Women Vigilantes of 1913
There's a lot more to this story, including many pictures, fascinatingly recounted here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 19, 2013 -
Comments (4)
Category: Vigilante Justice, 1910s, Women
Hello Kitty Terrorist Equipment
This is Weird Universe and this story, in it's entirety, couldn't be more dead on if it were especially designed for us!I've left my comments in the extended section because I'd like you to view the clip before continuing. At the least, start at the 1min mark.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Expat47 - Sat Jan 19, 2013 -
Comments (0)
Category: Guns, Terrorism and Terrorists, Toys
January 18, 2013
Naked woman in a box of rabbit fur
The University of Washington Library staff posted this mysterious image on their flickr stream. Why is this naked woman lounging in a box of rabbit fur? No one knows. The only info the UW staff has is that the image was taken around 1930 by photographer Vern Grost, perhaps in Washington state. They speculate it may show some kind of promotional event for the Angora rabbit fur industry.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jan 18, 2013 -
Comments (5)
Category: Photography and Photographers, 1930s
Life Imitates THE FLY
Full article here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jan 18, 2013 -
Comments (3)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Health, Insects and Spiders, Science, 1950s
January 17, 2013
Win an Elephant
Remember when Bart Simpson won a radio contest and had to choose between a live elephant and lots of cash--and he chose the elephant?
I wonder if that happened back in 1970, when this contest ran?
I wish I could find a better scan to read the fine print. But the first sentence seems to promise the winner a real beast if desired.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 17, 2013 -
Comments (15)
Category: Animals, Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Television, Cartoons, 1970s
Name That List, #18
What is this a list of? The answer is below in extended.- Six pop bottles, three of them broken
- 38 rocks, some as big as baseballs
- Several marbles
- A 30-30 caliber rifle shell
- A china elephant
More in extended >>
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 17, 2013 -
Comments (11)
Category: Name That List
January 16, 2013
My Dog Can Skype
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 16, 2013 -
Comments (3)
Category: Communications, Internet, Dogs
Alexa Meade’s photographs that look like paintings
From her website:
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jan 16, 2013 -
Comments (4)
Category: Photography and Photographers
January 15, 2013
Zulu Blowgun Free
Oh, just imagine the glorious lawsuit possibilities if this toy were offered today!
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 15, 2013 -
Comments (7)
Category: Death, Stereotypes and Cliches, Toys, Lawsuits, 1920s, Africa
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction books such as Elephants on Acid. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Chuck Shepherd Chuck is the purveyor of News of the Weird, the syndicated column which for decades has set the gold-standard for reporting on oddities and the bizarre. Our banner was drawn by the legendary underground cartoonist Rick Altergott. Contact Us |
