October 2019
October 16, 2019
Tijuana Cows?
There's a tradition in Tijuana of painting donkeys to look like zebras.Now scientists have discovered that painting cows to look like zebras can protect them from fly bites.
More info: CNN, PLOS
Posted By: Alex - Wed Oct 16, 2019 -
Comments (0)
Category: Science, Cows
Follies of the Madmen #448
Kills germs with dictatorial efficiency!
Posted By: Paul - Wed Oct 16, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Dictators, Tyrants and Other Harsh Rulers, Hygiene, Stereotypes and Cliches, 1960s
October 15, 2019
Rent a Conversation
In 1973, entrepreneurs Richard and Christine Braunlich launched a business called Conversation. The idea was that it would allow people to pay to have a conversation with an expert "conversationalist." $5 for the first half-hour, and $3 for each additional half-hour. Some details from the SF Examiner (Feb 11, 1973):So far, however, the talkers have been few and far between — only about 40 customers have dropped in since Conversation opened.
About 60 percent of the customers have been women, the Braunliches report, and they talk about subjects ranging from poetry to small family problems.
Sitting in one of 14 tiny booths, customers can talk to one of 20 employees, who are called, appropriately enough, conversationalists.
And more details from the Moline Dispatch (Feb 13, 1973):
"She left her two kids at a movie and was here when the door opened," he said. "She just wanted to chat with somebody alive, warm and wiggling. Boy, did she want to talk."
Another woman explained that her husband was a nice guy but boring, and she needed to converse with somebody else once in a while...
"Lots of people with problems don't need professional help, but they do need to talk them over," Devendorf said. "They can go to the hairdresser, a bar or a coffee shop, but some are too shy."
At Conversation, persons with serious psychological difficulties are referred to professionals.
Evidently the business didn't succeed.
San Francisco Examiner - Feb 11, 1973
Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 15, 2019 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Jobs and Occupations, Psychology, 1970s
The Dream of a Rarebit Fiend
Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 15, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Dreams and Nightmares, Movies, Special Effects, Surrealism, 1900s
October 14, 2019
Farrah Fawcett Lookalike Contest Winners
In the late 1970s, Farrah Fawcett was, without a doubt, the most famous sex symbol in the world, thanks to her best-selling poster and role on Charlie's Angels. For a while, a Farrah craze swept the nation, inspiring a slew of lookalike contests. Below are some of the winners.
Gallagher posing in front of the Farrah poster.
Detroit Free Press - Feb 2, 1977
In her day job, Gallagher was a clerk for the UPS, but after winning the contest she signed up with a modeling agency and landed various paid appearances as a Farrah lookalike, such as a gig (below) at Rosella's furniture store in Greenville, Mississippi. (Dobbs was her married name.)
Delta Democrat-Times - Jun 24, 1977
Calgary Herald - Oct 7, 1978
More in extended >>
Posted By: Alex - Mon Oct 14, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Celebrities, 1970s
Midge, Barbie & Ken
After learning "the three of them go everywhere together," the occasion of a masked ball tips it over into EYES WIDE SHUT territory.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 14, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Sexuality, Toys, 1960s
October 13, 2019
Pig Poop Sniffer
If you think your job sucks, it could always be worse. You could be smelling pig excrement for $1 a day.
Cedar Rapids Gazette - Aug 25, 1978
Posted By: Alex - Sun Oct 13, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Animals, Jobs and Occupations, Excrement, 1970s
Beer-Drinking Camel(s)
Picture source.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 13, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Animals, 1950s, Alcohol
October 12, 2019
Underwear on head in restaurant
“How would you like to be eating a hamburger and turn around and see some dude wearing jockey shorts on his head?”
Indianapolis News - May 20, 1977
Posted By: Alex - Sat Oct 12, 2019 -
Comments (3)
Category: Eccentrics, Headgear, Underwear, 1970s
The Peep Show
The Peep Show, Kaj Pindal, provided by the National Film Board of Canada
Posted By: Paul - Sat Oct 12, 2019 -
Comments (0)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Cartoons, 1960s
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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 |
