1940s
Armed and Clumsy: The Ancestors: 1
How far back do the roots of Chuck's "Armed and Clumsy" category extend? The Wikipedia entry on handguns says: "The first handheld firearms that might better be called "pistols" were made as early as the 15th century..." Could we find a report of some soldier of the era accidentally wounding himself? It's a challenge!In any case, here is an incident from 1949.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Mar 10, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Accidents, Guns, 1940s
Follies of the Madmen #306
Tiny, tiny Cigarette Elf delivers tobacco goodness!
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Mar 08, 2017 -
Comments (5)
Category: Business, Advertising, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, Products, Tobacco and Smoking, 1940s
DDT Wallpaper
Trimz debuted their children's room DDT-impregnated wallpaper in 1946. It was available in two patterns: "Jack and Jill" or "Disney Favorites."It was certified to be absolutely safe "because the DDT is fixed to the paper. It can't rub off!" But since you're not going to find any similar product sold nowadays, I'm guessing that it actually did rub off.
via Envisioning the American Dream
Posted By: Alex - Sat Mar 04, 2017 -
Comments (5)
Category: Insects and Spiders, 1940s
Mystery Gadget 43
What machine requires such weird protective gear?
The answer is here.
And after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Thu Feb 23, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Technology, 1940s
Miss Photoflash
The first foto below is of the 1945 contest. Given that it was the "First Revue" of the sponsoring group, we can tentatively date it as the first such contest.
Original foto here.
The next foto is from 1968, and definitively labels the contest as being in its 24th year. Did it end then, amidst the tumult of the era?
Original foto here.
Here are the 1945 contestants again.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Feb 16, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Photography and Photographers, Regionalism, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s
Mystery Illustration 39
"We are from France!"
Or not.
Explanation here.
And after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Fri Feb 10, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: 1940s
Follies of the Madmen #303
Yes, Dumont TV is as destructive and unstoppable as an atomic explosion.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Feb 08, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Business, Advertising, Destruction, Television, 1940s, Weapons
Cry of ecstasy or yell of pain?
November 1949: Mrs. Valerie Humphries accused artist Rodney Roth of biting her bare midriff during a Halloween party — so hard that she yelled out in pain. Roth didn't dispute the bite but insisted that the sound she made was actually a "cry of ecstasy." The judge ruled in favor of Mrs. Humphries.
Arizona Republic - Nov 26, 1949
Posted By: Alex - Sat Feb 04, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Noises and Other Public Disturbances of the Peace, Lawsuits, 1940s
Mystery Illustration 38
These three performers had a stage act. They even appeared on Milton Berle's TV show. What was their shtick?
Answer after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Sat Feb 04, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Entertainment, 1940s
From the Indies to the Andes in His Undies
Full story here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Feb 01, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Humor, Music, Regionalism, 1940s
| Who We Are |
|---|
| 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 |