1900s
Boarding School Girls at Coney Island
I cannot believe that rolling drum ride...
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 24, 2018 -
Comments (9)
Category: Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, 1900s
Munyon’s Homeopathic Cures
Once, these remedies were state-of-the-art.
More photos here.
His Wikipedia page.
Although Munyon appears to be clutching a cigar in his upraised hand, that is indeed supposed to be his signature gesture of upraised index finger.
Original ad here.
Certificate here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 13, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Forgotten Figures and Where Are They Now?, Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil, 1900s
Helpful Dead Wife
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 02, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Crime, Death, Superstition, Marriage, 1900s
The Empire of the Sahara
In June 1903 a French sugar millionaire, one Jacques Lebaudy, a dapper little man with a sharp nose and a shrill high-pitched voice who was said to have a personal fortune of some pounds 3m, recruited a dozen Breton sailors and landed them on the coast of Spanish Morocco, commanding them to go forth and establish an empire. Lebaudy then informed the French authorities that he was henceforth to be addressed as Jacques I, Najin-al-Den, Emperor of the Sahara, Commander of the Faithful, King of Tarfaia, Duke of Arleuf and Prince of Chal-Huin.
Full account here, including his inglorious death.
Wikipedia entry here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri May 12, 2017 -
Comments (5)
Category: Bombast, Bloviation and Pretentiousness, Dictators, Tyrants and Other Harsh Rulers, Eccentrics, 1900s, Africa, Europe
Follies of the Madmen #313
That is one friendly and powerful cereal.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun May 07, 2017 -
Comments (7)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Products, Food, 1900s
Mystery Gadget 45
Why is this man inside a steel cylinder?
The answer is here.
And after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Tue Mar 21, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Technology, 1900s
Husband Wields Occult Powers
September 1909: Mrs. Christina Brown of Elgin, Illinois filed for divorce from her husband on the grounds that he was a wizard who wielded occult powers, compelling her to do things against her will, such as:- Sitting for hours in one chair while he controlled her thoughts as well as actions without touch or word.
- Revealing the choicest bits of neighborhood gossip, no matter how solemnly she had sworn to keep them a secret.
- Telling him what she really thought of him, despite her effort to pretend that he was the only man in the world.
- Admitting that she didn't believe his fish stories.
- Confessing that she had cooked up the oldest and poorest food in the house when he brought a friend home to dinner unexpectedly.
- Purchasing a hat and gown at the cheapest store in town when she had fully intended to buy them at a more expensive establishment.
The Alexandria Times-Tribune - Sep 6, 1909
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 05, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Divorce, 1900s
The Littlest Maniac
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 03, 2016 -
Comments (4)
Category: Children, 1900s, Brain Damage
Wiggle Stick
Wiggle Stick, used for bluing fabrics, was marketed heavily in the early 20th century. The name made some kind of sense, since it was a stick that you wiggled around in the water. But the ads with the women riding on top of a giant wiggle stick made it pretty clear that the name could be interpreted in more than one way.
Chicago Daily Tribune - Jan 6, 1904
Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 25, 2016 -
Comments (7)
Category: Advertising, 1900s
Mystery Gadget 41
What is the output of this machine?
The answer is here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 10, 2016 -
Comments (11)
Category: Technology, 1900s
| Who We Are |
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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, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. 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. Contact Us |