May 2014
May 31, 2014
Communists Stage Fake Birthday Parties, 1962
I never realized that the communists in America resorted to such underhanded tactics to promote their cause. Good thing the FBI was on top of this scheme!From the Chicago Daily Tribune - June 6, 1962.
Posted By: Alex - Sat May 31, 2014 -
Comments (8)
Category: 1960s
The Strangeloves
Here's the story of a fake band that had to become real.Their big hit:
Curiously enough, when the Strangeloves were marketed in France, they somehow became connected to another contrivance: a new manufactured dance "craze" called "the Monkiss." I can't see that they ever recorded the song heard in the following video, which was really by Rocky Roberts and the Airdales (last video).
Posted By: Paul - Sat May 31, 2014 -
Comments (5)
Category: Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Music, 1960s, Europe
May 30, 2014
Pet Me
Wow! Who'd have thought it?! Sharky the pettable shark.
Posted By: Alex - Fri May 30, 2014 -
Comments (5)
Category: Fish
McDonalds, the Musical
Posted By: Alex - Fri May 30, 2014 -
Comments (9)
Category: Advertising
Occult Betty Boop
Betty gets the better of two supernatural threats.
More on the second film here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri May 30, 2014 -
Comments (3)
Category: Horror, Music, Surrealism, Sex Symbols, Cartoons, 1930s
May 29, 2014
Food
Posted By: Paul - Thu May 29, 2014 -
Comments (5)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Food, Stop-motion Animation
Rat Roulette
Based on the description, it doesn't sound like this was particularly cruel to the rat, though perhaps slightly stressful for it. Apparently the Humane Society got custody of the rat once the game was closed down.
Source: Santa Cruz Evening News - Jun 15, 1939
Posted By: Alex - Thu May 29, 2014 -
Comments (16)
Category: Animals, Sports, 1930s, Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance
May 28, 2014
Name That List, #24
What is this a list of? The answer is below in extended.- L.L. Zamenhof, creator of Esperanto
- Jose Rizal, Filipino nationalist
- George Washington, first President of the United States
- General John Nicholson, Victorian era British military officer
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
More in extended >>
Posted By: Alex - Wed May 28, 2014 -
Comments (14)
Category: Name That List
Space Trainer
Original article here.
Original ad here.
Undoubtedly nicknamed "the vomit comet," like the famous edge-of-space jet flight trainer.
Used by "schools for the blind"...?!?
Posted By: Paul - Wed May 28, 2014 -
Comments (7)
Category: Toys, 1960s, Brain Damage, Nausea, Revulsion and Disgust
| Get WU Posts by Email | |
|---|---|
| Who We Are |
|---|
| 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 |
