1920s
Dr. Bouchaud’s Flesh-Reducing Soap
"Will absorb all fatty tissues from any part of the body." I wonder if Dr. Bouchaud was related in any way to Dr. Anton Phibes?
From The Australian Home Journal, June 1926 [via Vintage Ads]
Posted By: Alex - Wed Oct 29, 2014 -
Comments (7)
Category: Advertising, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, 1920s
4-way Suicide
"Wearied of a life of egg frying," the unfortunate Jim Smith decided to end it all. But despite trying to torch, hang, poison, and shoot himself simultaneously, his plan didn't succeed.I'm skeptical that this ever happened. It sounds like the kind of thing reporters used to make up to pad newspaper columns. From The Seattle Star - March 24, 1922. (via Weird Shit in Historic Newspapers)
Posted By: Alex - Sat Sep 27, 2014 -
Comments (8)
Category: Death, Suicide, 1920s
Mystery Gadget 23
Take your best guess!
The answer is here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 14, 2014 -
Comments (7)
Category: Technology, 1920s
John and Mary Newlywed
In 1925 and 1926, Popular Science featured the antics of "John and Mary Newlywed," a young married couple so stupid they did everything wrong around the house. In the instance above from March 1926, John and Mary--despite having perfected anti-gravity as attested to by the unsupported car--are about to blow themselves up and smother themselves with gas fumes.
I regret the Newlyweds did not have a longer run. They would have been the Gallant-less Goofuses of the hobbyist set.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Sep 11, 2014 -
Comments (20)
Category: Husbands, Wives, 1920s, Goofs and Screw-ups
Andrew “Bossy” Gillis, Two-Fisted Mayor of Newburyport
As intermittent mayor, he ran Newburyport, MA, from his gas station, and when out of office was not averse to punching the current mayor in the face.There's a good summary of his antics here.
The kind of authentic politician so lacking today. The article from 1937 below gives some of his flavor.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 04, 2014 -
Comments (6)
Category: Politics, Curmudgeons and Contrarianism, 1920s, 1930s
Wolrd’s First Mobile Phone from 1922
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 07, 2014 -
Comments (7)
Category: Telephones, 1920s
Mystery Gadget 21
Early fecal transplants? Your best guess, before clicking through to the answer. (Scroll down half a page.)
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 19, 2014 -
Comments (9)
Category: Technology, 1920s
1920s Anti-Forgery Pen
To read the text better, visit original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed May 21, 2014 -
Comments (4)
Category: Crime, Technology, 1920s
Obsolete Vocations
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 29, 2014 -
Comments (15)
Category: Self-help Schemes, Work and Vocational Training, 1920s
Gay’s Lion Farm
For almost 20 years, the only commercial lion breeding facility (and tourist attraction) "in the world."
The Wikipedia entry.
Article from 1926.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Mar 26, 2014 -
Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Farming, Sightseeing, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s
| 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 |