Weird Universe Archive
February 2018
February 28, 2018
Handshake Etiquette
From Amy Vanderbilt's complete book of etiquette: a guide to gracious living (1957).SHAKING HANDS
A handshake is as much a part of personality as the way we walk, and although we may modify and improve a poor handshake if someone calls our attention to it, it will usually be just like us, assured or timid, warm or cool.
Bad handshakes include the bone crusher—the grip that makes the other person, especially a woman wearing rings, wince. Or a limp, damp handshake that seems to say, "I am not really happy to meet you at all!" Or it may be the kind of straight-arm shake that seems to hold the other person off, or the octopus grip that draws you inexorably toward the shaker, who never seems to want to let go. Then there's the pump handle, or country bumpkin shake, and the very Continental style—reserved for women—which, though not a hand kiss exactly, is cozy and overlong, ending in an intimate little squeeze.
The good handshake is elbow level, firm and brief. A man does not offer to shake hands with a woman unless she makes the move first. Outdoors, it is no longer necessary for him to keep her waiting awkwardly while he removes his glove, nor need he apologize for taking her hand with his glove on. Whether he is shaking the hand of a man or a woman, the shaker must look the person he is greeting firmly in the eye and, at least, look pleasant, if he doesn't actually smile.
A handshake is as much a part of personality as the way we walk, and although we may modify and improve a poor handshake if someone calls our attention to it, it will usually be just like us, assured or timid, warm or cool.
Bad handshakes include the bone crusher—the grip that makes the other person, especially a woman wearing rings, wince. Or a limp, damp handshake that seems to say, "I am not really happy to meet you at all!" Or it may be the kind of straight-arm shake that seems to hold the other person off, or the octopus grip that draws you inexorably toward the shaker, who never seems to want to let go. Then there's the pump handle, or country bumpkin shake, and the very Continental style—reserved for women—which, though not a hand kiss exactly, is cozy and overlong, ending in an intimate little squeeze.
The good handshake is elbow level, firm and brief. A man does not offer to shake hands with a woman unless she makes the move first. Outdoors, it is no longer necessary for him to keep her waiting awkwardly while he removes his glove, nor need he apologize for taking her hand with his glove on. Whether he is shaking the hand of a man or a woman, the shaker must look the person he is greeting firmly in the eye and, at least, look pleasant, if he doesn't actually smile.
The Octopus Grip
The Bone-Crusher
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Nov 21, 1952
Posted By: Alex - Wed Feb 28, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Etiquette and Formal Behavior, 1950s
Ted Serios and his Thoughtographs
Theodore Judd Serios (1918-2006), a bellhop from Chicago who appeared to possess a genuinely uncanny ability. By holding a Polaroid camera and focusing on the lens very intently, he was able to produce dreamlike pictures of his thoughts on the film; he referred to these images as "thoughtographs..."
Full article here.
Collection of thoughtographs here.
Wikipedia page here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Feb 28, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Eccentrics, Freaks, Oddities, Quirks of Nature, Photography and Photographers, Unsolved Mysteries, 1960s
February 27, 2018
The McRazor
Disposable razors were first introduced in 1974, by Bic. In 1976, Gillette came out with its own competing product, the Good News twin blade disposable. And in 1978 McDonald's decided to run a promotion in which they gave away free Gillette Good News razors with orders of breakfast meals.They must have thought the promotion was fairly successful, because it seems that they repeated the offer a couple of times throughout the 1980s. I can't imagine them giving away free razors today.
Honolulu Star Bulletin - Apr 17, 1978
Posted By: Alex - Tue Feb 27, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Restaurants, 1970s
Magma’s Invented Language
Vander invented a constructed language, Kobaïan, in which most lyrics are sung. In a 1977 interview with Vander and long-time Magma vocalist Klaus Blasquiz, Blasquiz said that Kobaïan is a "phonetic language made by elements of the Slavonic and Germanic languages to be able to express some things musically. The language has of course a content, but not word by word."[1] Vander himself has said that, "When I wrote, the sounds [of Kobaïan] came naturally with it—I didn’t intellectualise the process by saying 'Ok, now I’m going to write some words in a particular language', it was really sounds that were coming at the same time as the music."[2] Later albums tell different stories set in more ancient times; however, the Kobaïan language remains an integral part of the music.
Their Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 27, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: Languages, Music, 1970s, Europe, Cacophony, Dissonance, White Noise and Other Sonic Assaults
February 26, 2018
“Captured” Vietcong Slipper Sandals
Back in 1967, the Haband mail-order company of New Jersey wasn’t selling many of its sandals, until it came up with the idea of advertising them as “captured” Vietcong slipper sandals, claiming they were the “First big style find of the war!”You had to read the fine print to realize that it was simply the design of the sandals that had been captured. And even so, not really, because they had been selling the same sandals for years.
The company later reported that it was the most successful ad they had ever run, and that the 'captured' sandals sold "like mad."
As far as I can tell, they ran this ad for at least a year.
Palm Beach Post - Feb 11, 1968
Sydney Morning Herald - Mar 19, 1967
Posted By: Alex - Mon Feb 26, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Advertising, Shoes, 1960s
Cigar Girl
From a travel article: "Stopping in front of King Corona Cigars & Café, I’m quickly reminded that Ybor City was once the “Cigar Capital of the World.” Factories within just a few miles of where I’m standing produced 700 million cigars a year, and all of those cigars were hand-rolled in the Cuban tradition. "
Posted By: Paul - Mon Feb 26, 2018 -
Comments (5)
Category: Regionalism, Tobacco and Smoking, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, Twentieth Century
February 25, 2018
Pullman Fragrance
For the man that wanted to smell like a train.Travel in the best circles... go first class, arrive in style with Pullman, Dana's great new luxury fragrance for men!
Pullman puts you on the right track to an enlightening new experience in good grooming. Use it without reservation... Pullman's subtle scent underscores, never overpowers your masculine assurance. Board the Pullman train decisively with After Shave... Eau de Cologne... Talc... Deluxe bath soap... Shower soap on rope.
Pullman puts you on the right track to an enlightening new experience in good grooming. Use it without reservation... Pullman's subtle scent underscores, never overpowers your masculine assurance. Board the Pullman train decisively with After Shave... Eau de Cologne... Talc... Deluxe bath soap... Shower soap on rope.
Someone has a bottle of this stuff for sale on eBay, if you wanna try some 50-year-old fragrance. Only $180!
Philadelphia Inquirer - Oct 29, 1967
Posted By: Alex - Sun Feb 25, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: 1960s, Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents
Riding Table Saw
What could possibly go wrong?
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Feb 25, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Death, Hobbies and DIY, Chindogu, 1950s
February 24, 2018
Sing-Along in Yiddish
The album Sing-Along in Yiddish came out in 1960. Part of a fad for sing-along records. The clips below are from the follow-up, More! Sing-Along in Yiddish.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Feb 24, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Music, 1960s
Sal Mineo Drum Contest
Posted By: Paul - Sat Feb 24, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Movies, Television, 1950s, Cacophony, Dissonance, White Noise and Other Sonic Assaults
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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 |
