Laboratory Land

At a 1932 meeting of the British Association, scientist Miles Walker proposed the creation of a colony, initially to consist of 100,000 people, that would be entirely "under the auspices of engineers, scientists and economists." He suggested that it might be located somewhere in North America, or perhaps France. And he figured that the colony would be so successful that it could eventually be expanded to include the entire world.

Walker didn't offer a name for his new colony, but the media dubbed it "Laboratory Land." More details from New Scientist (Aug 25, 1983):

Santa Cruz Evening News - Apr 1, 1933 (click to enlarge)

The key to the success of the colony, he believed, would be its efficiency and elimination of waste. Interestingly, one of the things he had in mind that would allow this efficiency was electric cars:


Almost 100 years later, and we're slowly working our way toward Walker's vision. At least, we are here in California where, by 2035, all new cars will have to be emission-free.

Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 20, 2020 - Comments (6)
Category: Utopias and Dystopias, 1930s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows

The 1932 Helicron

Propellor-driven car.

Read about it here.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 05, 2020 - Comments (3)
Category: Inventions, Air Travel and Airlines, 1930s, Cars

Jewell Bell, Three-time Widow at Twenty

I am reminded of the famous Oscar Wilde quote:

To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 01, 2020 - Comments (0)
Category: Death, Suicide, Husbands, 1930s

The Sleepwalking Bandsman

The nighttime walk of a sleepwalking trombone player on the roof of his house in Hettstadt, Germany.

Posted By: Alex - Sat Sep 26, 2020 - Comments (3)
Category: Sleep and Dreams, 1930s

Revolt of the Beavers

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Revolt of the Beavers was a children's play put on by the Federal Theater Project by Oscar Saul and Louis Lantz. One critic described the play as "Marxism a la Mother Goose".[1] The show ran at the Adelphi Theatre in New York City from May 20, 1937, to June 19 of that year.[2] Jules Dassin [3] and John Randolph [4] were among the play's cast. The play involved a worker beaver named Oakleaf, who leads a revolt against "The Chief" Beaver who was exploiting the workers. Though the play was a fantasy fable intended for children, it was attacked by the HUAC for promoting Communist ideals.

Wikipedia page (source of quote).

More photos here.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 22, 2020 - Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Politics, Theater and Stage, 1930s

The Great Beauty Contest of Life

"Whatever you do—wherever you go—you are in a Beauty Contest."

Kansas City Times - Mar 12, 1932

Posted By: Alex - Wed Sep 16, 2020 - Comments (2)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Advertising, 1930s

Mystery Illustration 97

What super-famous Hollywood icon is this, beneath her disguise?

The answer is after the jump.





More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 15, 2020 - Comments (3)
Category: Celebrities, Disguises, Impersonations, Mimics and Forgeries, Movies, 1930s

Steam-Powered Motorcycle

What happens in a crash that splits the boiler open?



Source.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 31, 2020 - Comments (4)
Category: Death, Inventions, 1930s, Motorcycles

Hand Taser, 1935

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Aug 21, 2020 - Comments (1)
Category: Crime, Inventions, Police and Other Law Enforcement, Technology, 1930s

Cockroach trained to carry cigarettes

1938: Prisoners in solitary confinement in Amarillo, Texas figured out how to get cigarettes by training a cockroach to carry them under the cell door.

Salt Lake Tribune - Mar 2, 1938

Klamath News - Apr 9, 1938

Posted By: Alex - Mon Aug 17, 2020 - Comments (1)
Category: Prisons, Smoking and Tobacco, 1930s