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
Ol’ Man Mose
Duchin's 1938 release of the Louis Armstrong song "Ol' Man Mose" (Brunswick Records 8155) with vocal by Patricia Norman caused a minor scandal at the time with the lyric "bucket" being heard as "fuck it." Some listeners conclude that there is no vulgarism uttered, while others are convinced that Norman does say "fuck."
The "scandalous" lyrics caused the record to zoom to #2 on the Billboard charts, resulting in sales of 170,000 copies when sales of 20,000 were considered a blockbuster. The song was banned after its release in Great Britain. The notorious number can be heard on a British novelty CD, Beat the Band to the Bar.
Listen for yourself, and register your vote in the comments!
Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 03, 2020 -
Comments (11)
Category: Music, Obscenity, 1930s
Mystery Gadget 86
What's going on here?
Answer at the link, or beyond the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Sat Aug 01, 2020 -
Comments (5)
Category: Technology, 1930s
The Fashion Predictions of B.H. Myerson
If he had said the 1980s instead of the 50s, he wouldn't have been that far off.
Akron Beacon Journal - Jan 27, 1931
Saint Joseph Herald-Press - Feb 2, 1931
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jul 15, 2020 -
Comments (6)
Category: Fashion, 1930s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
The Wreck of the City of San Francisco
One weird thing about this once-famous train crash: no perp was ever found.
Even with this lead, from a contemporary account.
Rather reminiscent of the One-Armed Man from the 1960s TV show THE FUGITIVE.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 15, 2020 -
Comments (2)
Category: Death, Destruction, Unsolved Mysteries, 1930s, 1960s, Trains
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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 |