1940s
John Graham
[Click either to enlarge]
Apparently, the painter John Graham was highly eccentric, both in his personal life and in his art. One fascination he had was with crossed eyes, as seen above.
His self-portrait below shows a certain, ah, uniqueness.
Read more about him in this LIFE magazine article and at this site.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Apr 05, 2012 -
Comments (2)
Category: Art, Surrealism, Eccentrics, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, Russia
Germans Agog At Negro GIs
Descriptions of white explorers meeting dark-skinned tribes who have never seen a white person before are pretty common in travel/exploration literature. So common they're almost a cliche. Leave it to the Germans to switch things around a bit: Teutonic tribespeople bewildered by the sight of dark-skinned travelers from across the ocean. From the Chicago Tribune, Apr 14, 1947:
Posted By: Alex - Wed Mar 21, 2012 -
Comments (12)
Category: Ethnic Groupings, Racism, 1940s, Europe
Lucy Lettuce
Years ago I made a series of collages illustrating what I called "Lesser-Known Advertising Icons." The D List of product representatives. Here's another one I just found, pictured above.
For every Tony the Tiger, there are scores of Lucy Lettuces.
Original ad here.
Click on the link below the book cover image for a volume on the topic.
What a Character!: 20th Century American Advertising Icons
Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 07, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Advertising, Books, Vegetables, 1940s
Volcano Warfare
Would unleashing volcanoes on 1944 Japan have been more merciful than using atomic bombs? I guess we'll never know.
And would today's "bunker-buster" bombs be even more capable of this mad scientist mission, in the country of some current enemy?
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Feb 05, 2012 -
Comments (9)
Category: Mad Scientists, Evil Geniuses, Insane Villains, War, Weapons, 1940s, Asia
American Legion Parades of Yore
Today, the average upstanding citizen is a pale shadow of his or her riotous ancestors. We don't drink as much or smoke as much or act goofy in public as much (despite the roll call of weird behaviors as collected by our Fearless Leader, Chuck.)
Look at this boring clip of a contemporary American Legion parade from last year.
Then view this account from 1947, when randy old codger Legionnaires rode bucking ATVs through the streets, poured water from hotel windows, and shocked innocent women with cattle prods (probably the very ones sold through Johnson Smith catalogs, as shown earlier on WU).
Now, answer truly: which era would you rather live in?
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jan 27, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Clubs, Fraternities and Other Self-selecting Organizations, Hobbies and DIY, Parades and Festivals, 1940s, Pranks
Hollywood Wolf Whistle
Original ad here. (Scroll down.)
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 26, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Motor Vehicles, Public Indecency, 1940s
The Bear Who Went to War
I've had this post queued up for weeks--then darn old Chuck goes and scoops me yesterday! But he didn't give you the visuals!
Full story here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 10, 2012 -
Comments (1)
Category: Animals, War, Documentaries, 1940s
Best Hollywood Fake Nickname Ever
1) Sexy innuendo.
2) Bad pun.
3) Topical.
4) Privileges career of minor starlet over thousands of dead civilians in Japan.
A triumph of the press agent's art!
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 22, 2011 -
Comments (7)
Category: Movies, War, Weapons, 1940s, Double Entendres and Nudge-Nudge, Wink-Wink
Follies of the Mad Men #170
Now that PBR is a hipster beer, I wonder if they will revive this old ad campaign which is like some Twilight Zone episode where humans have been turned into hideous 2-D ribbons.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 15, 2011 -
Comments (3)
Category: Aliens, Body Modifications, Business, Advertising, Products, 1940s, Alcohol
Fiesta Soundie
Continuing our series of musical stereotypes.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 08, 2011 -
Comments (3)
Category: Music, Stereotypes and Cliches, 1940s, Central America
| 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 |