Weird Universe Archive
June 2024
June 5, 2024
Voluntary Alcohol Consumption in Chimpanzees and Orangutans
A study published in the June 1968 issue of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol involved giving chimpanzees and orangutans as much vodka (mixed with fruit juice) as they wanted to drink in order to find out if they'd become alcoholics.Reportedly the chimpanzees were enthusiastic drinkers and became drunk repeatedly. But oddly, the orangutans, although they drank, never showed any signs of intoxication.
I'm curious to know more details about the study, but unfortunately the article itself is locked behind a paywall.
Central New Jersey Home News - Aug 22, 1968
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jun 05, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Animals, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Experiments, 1960s
Thrillington
There have been numerous occasions of artists hiding their involvement with their own work. Not just using a pseudonym, but actively encouraging a hoax. Here's one such. From the album's Wikipedia page:Thrillington is an album produced by English musician Paul McCartney, under the pseudonym Percy "Thrills" Thrillington.... [In] late 1976, McCartney decided to release the long-in-storage project, and devised a plan to publicize the album while obscuring his own involvement with it. In preparation for the release of Thrillington, McCartney invented the fictitious socialite Percy Thrillington, and even took out ads in various UK music papers announcing Thrillington's so-called comings and goings to generate curiosity and interest.
Released in April 1977, McCartney's name was mentioned only in the main liner notes where he is described as a friend of Percy. Thrillington went mostly unnoticed upon its release although it was reviewed by Rolling Stone magazine and mentioned in the "Random Notes" section.[5] Variety also reviewed the album, noting that "Whether Percy Thrillington is Paul McCartney or not is really irrelevant. What matters is that he (they) is (are) having fun."[6]
Listen to the other tracks at the link.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 05, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Hoaxes and Imposters and Imitators, Music, 1970s, United Kingdom
June 4, 2024
TWA’s Foreign Accent Flights
In 1968, TWA introduced "foreign accent flights" on its domestic service. Travelers could choose to go on a French, British, Italian, or American-themed flight. The stewardesses were dressed in uniforms inspired by the respective countries. For instance, on the British flights the stewardesses wore an "English serving wench" outfit.
Time - Apr 24, 1968
More info from TWA Museum Guides Blog:
Begun on April 1, 1968, "Foreign Accent Service" was TWA's attempt to leverage its international image to attract passengers to its domestic U.S. flights. Certain longer-haul flights (such as New York - Los Angeles) were themed to create a foreign, cosmopolitan atmosphere. It could have been French, Italian, British or American (an inquisitive young visitor once asked our guide what was "foreign" about the American theme). To "brand" that experience, hostesses were outfitted in one of four appropriately themed uniforms, made from paper (that's right, paper). Hostesses donned the uniform prior to the flight and disposed of it when the flight was over...
These "wear once and dispose" dresses were designed as wrap-arounds, secured with velcro fasteners. Hostesses typically carried a pair of scissors and tape to adjust the length. The promotion was short-lived. Logistical problems involving coordination of the dresses with the flight's theme developed and supply problems meant later uniforms had to be constructed with a lighter-weight paper, which was more prone to tearing. Some senior hostesses were reluctant to wear the dresses, including legendary flight attendant, Ida Staggers. Ms. Staggers, hired in 1936, was not pleased with this promotional role. Despite a large financial outlay for logistics and advertising, the program died quietly, never making it past 1968.
These "wear once and dispose" dresses were designed as wrap-arounds, secured with velcro fasteners. Hostesses typically carried a pair of scissors and tape to adjust the length. The promotion was short-lived. Logistical problems involving coordination of the dresses with the flight's theme developed and supply problems meant later uniforms had to be constructed with a lighter-weight paper, which was more prone to tearing. Some senior hostesses were reluctant to wear the dresses, including legendary flight attendant, Ida Staggers. Ms. Staggers, hired in 1936, was not pleased with this promotional role. Despite a large financial outlay for logistics and advertising, the program died quietly, never making it past 1968.
Hollywood Studio Magazine - July 1968
Sports Illustrated - Mar 25, 1968
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jun 04, 2024 -
Comments (3)
Category: Fashion, Air Travel and Airlines, 1960s
Money Card
No need for a subliminal hook for future customers in this one--it's all explicit! Buy American Express Traveler's Cheques.The entry at Board Game Geek.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 04, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Business, Advertising, Games, Money, 1970s, Europe
June 3, 2024
Mrs. Wilmer Steele’s broiler house
In 1974, Mrs. Wilmer Steele's broiler house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It has the distinction of being the only chicken coop included in the Register.
Mrs. Wilmer Steele's broiler house, located at the University of Delaware Substation near Georgetown, Delaware
The documentation shows that the folks responsible for maintaining the Register were reluctant to add a chicken coop. They initially rejected the application. But finally they were won over, convinced by the argument that it was in Mrs. Wilmer Steele's chicken coop that the modern broiler industry (i.e. breeding chickens for meat rather than for eggs) began.
More info from Wikipedia:
Cecile Steele of Ocean View, Delaware was the first person in Delaware to raise chickens specifically for meat production, separately from her laying flock that was primarily meant to produce eggs. The wife of a Coast Guardsman stationed at the Bethany Beach Lifesaving Station, she raised her first flock of 500 in 1923, selling 387 two-pound chickens for 67 cents per pound. She ordered 50, but was accidentally shipped 500 which she decided to keep and sell at a discount. Her business model was profitable. In 1924 she doubled to 1,000 chickens, and in 1925 leaped to 10,000. By 1973, 50 years later, the industry processed 3 billion chickens per year.
"Ike Long, a broiler caretaker, two of the Steele children and Mrs. Wilmer Steele in front of a series of colony houses during the pioneering days of the commercial broiler industry."
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jun 03, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Animals, Farming, Landmarks
The Art of Orlan
Her Wikipedia page.Her website.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jun 03, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Art, Avant Garde, Body, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Europe
June 2, 2024
Miss National Parole Board
In the 1960s and '70s, female employees of Canada's National Parole Board got to compete for the honor of being chosen Miss National Parole Board.Whoever was chosen Miss National Parole Board could then go on to compete to be "RA Queen of the Year." As far as I can tell, RA stood for 'Recreation Association.' It was the government organization that sponsored a beauty contest for Canadian civil service workers.
Miss National Parole Board would compete against other title-holders such as 'Miss Fisheries,' 'Miss Defence Production,' 'Miss Solicitor-General,' and 'Miss Canadian Penitentiary Service.'
Insight (The National Parole Board Newsletter) - Summer-Fall 1968
Insight (The National Parole Board Newsletter) - Fall 1969
Ottawa Citizen - May 1, 1968
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jun 02, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Government, 1960s
Mystery Gadget 111
What will this machine do? Hint: atmospheric.The answer is here.
Or after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 02, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Technology, 1930s
June 1, 2024
Alien Abduction Perfume
"Abduction is a unisex eau de parfum inspired by scents described by close encounter experiencers – the product of a collaboration between Joe Merrell and perfumer Christopher Gordon."It can be purchased for $85 from THE EYES ARE ALWAYS THERE.
A description of it from a review on parfumo.com:
On first blast, there is some sweet spice that could be cinnamon or clove, and then the main body of the fragrance enters, which is a very well done "damp" accord that smells like wet concrete or cardboard. It's a scent that you swear you've smelled somewhere before but can't quite place it. It's not quite a pleasant smell, which is what makes the fragrance a little eerie and disquieting. There is a bit of sour metals mixed in, which we can take to be the smell of the interior of the alien ship, and the ozonic notes make the scent light and transparent.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jun 01, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Aliens, Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents
Von Hutch The Mad Martian Pinstriper
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jun 01, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Music, Space Travel, 1950s, Cars
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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 |
