November 2017
November 25, 2017
Shampoo as suicide prevention
The idea of people who try to kill themselves three ways at once is something that occasionally pops up in weird news. Though I'm not sure if it really belongs to weird news or is more of an urban legend.Back in 2014, I posted about an attempted 4-way suicide that was reported in 1922. A man tried to torch, hang, poison, and shoot himself simultaneously. But I was also suspicious of that reporting.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Nov 25, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Advertising, Suicide, 1950s
The Land of Oz Playground
Alas, for human failure:The Land of Oz playground was located within the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks War Memorial Park located at 14201 Huston Street in Sherman Oaks. Planning for the playground, which broke ground on November 27, 1964, began as a joint venture between the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department, the Van Nuys Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Children's Play Park Association. However, lack of funding for the 'Wizard of Oz' themed playground caused construction to drag on for more than a decade. In the end, the city withdrew further support for the failed project which was left incomplete and with only a few structures standing, the 'Over the Rainbow' bridge and 'Munchkinland' castle. Over the years, with no funding for maintenance or security, the play area and its structures fell victim to gang and drug activity, vandalism, and decay and were demolished in the late 1980's.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 25, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Disasters, Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, Government, Fantasy, 1960s
November 24, 2017
Atomic Hairdos
How the atomic bomb inspired hairdressers.
La Grande Observer - July 30, 1946
(AP Wirephoto — Mar 2, 1951)
Mansfield News-Journal - Apr 29, 1946
Posted By: Alex - Fri Nov 24, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1940s, 1950s, Hair and Hairstyling
Follies of the Madmen #336
Original ad here.
Wow. This sets the bar pretty high, or pretty far out in the hi-falutin' and pretentious end of the spectrum, in order for a person to purchase or own a ring from Zale's.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 24, 2017 -
Comments (7)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Eccentrics, Family, 1960s
November 23, 2017
Ham Kills Turkey
Back in 1984, the social studies class at Highland Middle School in Louisville had a six-week study of the American pioneers' way of life, in honor of Thanksgiving. This included having the eighth graders decapitate a live turkey named Willy Wally. Some of the students held down Willy Wally while a student named Robin Ham swung an ax down on its neck.Said Ham, "It was bleeding everywhere. It was flapping around a little. It was kind of grossing me out." Then added, "It was a neat experience. I feel it was pretty enriching, but I don't think I want to do it again. I've had enough of enrichment."
Louisville Courier-Journal - Nov 16, 1984
Posted By: Alex - Thu Nov 23, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving 2017!
Posted By: Paul - Thu Nov 23, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Food, Holidays, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art
November 22, 2017
Ferrous Faucets
Back in 1977, a small-time huckster named Eric Herrmann bought a bunch of old, porcelain Hot and Cold faucet handles and got the idea of selling them as necklaces.On the theory that nothing sells like scandal, he called them "Ferrous Faucets," and then asked Farrah Fawcett to endorse them. In response, her lawyers threatened to sue him for capitalizing on their client's name, which apparently was exactly the response he wanted. The controversy was deemed newsworthy, and newspapers throughout the nation ran the photo he supplied them of a model wearing his Ferrous Faucets, thereby boosting his sales.
Shenandoah Evening Herald - July 15, 1977
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - May 25, 1980
image source: worthpoint.com
Tampa Bay Times - Nov 24, 1977
Posted By: Alex - Wed Nov 22, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Jewelry, Publicity Stunts, 1970s
On Horseback and By Highway: Administrative Facilities of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, 1902-1960.
It's been way too long since we set the Gold Standard of Boredom with the TIMBER BRIDGE INSPECTION video.But maybe we can match it with this pamphlet. Feel free to read all 214 pages at the link.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 22, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Boredom, Government, Twentieth Century
November 21, 2017
Skiing Mt. Everest
May 6, 1970: Japanese extreme skier Yuichiro Miura became the first person to ski on Mt. Everest. And amazingly, he didn't die. The stunt was filmed and was the subject of a 1975 documentary, The Man Who Skied Down Everest. Check out the clip below.Miura later became the oldest person to reach the summit of Everest, climbing it at the age of 70 and again when he was 80.
Burlington Free Press - May 12, 1970
Posted By: Alex - Tue Nov 21, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Sports, 1970s
Messy Girls Gift Book
With Xmas just around the bend, the search for presents intensifies. Who wouldn't like a book of photos of women covered in foodstuffs?
More pix here at eBay for as long as the auction is up.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Nov 21, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Art, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Food, Hygiene, Misbehavior, Rebellion, Acting-out and General Naughtiness, Photography and Photographers, Fetishes, Women, Body Painting
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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 |
