1930s
Manicure with gas masks
Even in the middle of a gas attack, nails still need to be manicured.
Honolulu Advertiser - Nov 13, 1938
Compare this to the gas mask for typists we posted about a few months ago. Also the gas-proof pram. And the London chorus girl with gas mask. It was all part of the effort to reassure the public, during the 1930s, that poison gas attacks wouldn't interrupt everyday life.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jul 07, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, War, 1930s
The 10,000 (Really 7200) Egg Omelet
Get the full story, with more pics, here.
BONUS: Same stunt done almost 90 years later!
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 05, 2021 -
Comments (6)
Category: Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Food, Eggs, World Records, 1930s, Europe, North America, Twenty-first Century
Death by playing cards
Oct 20, 1930: Convict William Kogut, who was waiting execution on San Quentin's death row, somehow knew that it was possible to make a bomb out of playing cards. This was because, at the time, the red ink of cards contained nitrocellulose. So by scraping off enough of the red ink, Kogut was able to make a pipe bomb out of a hollow bedpost. He used this to kill himself, rather than letting himself be executed.Modern playing cards no longer contain this explosive ingredient.
Somewhat confusingly, Snopes classifies his death as a "legend," even though their brief write-up seems to confirm that it happened exactly as described.
More info: theatrefx.com
Oroville Mercury Register - Oct 20, 1930
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jun 23, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Death, Suicide, Prisons, 1930s
Maid of Cotton
Unique in mandating the composition of all contest garments: 100% cotton, what else!Full story here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 22, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Agriculture, Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Regionalism, 1930s
Follies of the Madmen #509
Was this ever such a drastic problem, or one of those made-up Madison Avenue problems?
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 15, 2021 -
Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Hygiene, 1930s, Teeth
The 1964 Amphicar
We've featured various amphibious vehicles on WU before. But my research seems to indicate we have not highlighted the most famous, seen in this video. Please note that inventor Hans Trippel was working on this concept thirty years previously, as seen in the clipping.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 13, 2021 -
Comments (4)
Category: Inventions, Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, 1930s, 1960s, Cars
The Safety Smoker
The "safety smoker," invented by Glen R. Foote of Cincinnati, promised to allow people to safely smoke "in places where the danger from flying or falling sparks is likely to start a conflagration or cause an explosion."Perfect for anyone hankering for a smoke in an oil refinery.
San Francisco Examiner - Jan 1, 1933
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jun 07, 2021 -
Comments (6)
Category: Inventions, Smoking and Tobacco, 1930s
Alternate Accelerator
Is one's knee action as forceful, subtle and easy to control as foot action?
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 03, 2021 -
Comments (5)
Category: Death, Inventions, 1930s, Cars
On the Trail of Marihuana
Read the whole thing here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 01, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Drugs, Propaganda, Thought Control and Brainwashing, Juvenile Delinquency, 1930s
Vapo Path
Creosote and naphthalene! My favorite medicines!
Posted By: Paul - Fri May 21, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil, 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 |