1950s
Follies of the Mad Men #184
Are those two frosty ones in your pouch, or are you just "hoppy" to see me?
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jun 02, 2012 -
Comments (2)
Category: Animals, Business, Advertising, Products, 1950s, Alcohol
It’s Everybody’s Business
Wouldn't it be swell if things actually still worked this way?
Posted By: Paul - Fri May 25, 2012 -
Comments (6)
Category: Business, History, PSA’s, 1950s
Designs on Jerry
The drug intake among the writers on this one was particularly copious.
Posted By: Paul - Mon May 21, 2012 -
Comments (7)
Category: Animals, Rube Goldberg Devices, Cartoons, 1950s
The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Deaths
Once upon a time, there was a kindly old lady who specialized in creating gruesome murder dioramas. Her name was Frances Glessner Lee, and her little scenes went on to educate criminologists for decades.
Follow the link for a whole book about her.
Posted By: Paul - Tue May 08, 2012 -
Comments (8)
Category: Crime, Death, Eccentrics, Education, Toys, 1940s, 1950s
The Astounding She Monster
If you like the trailer above, watch the whole film below!
Watch The Astounding She Monster [1958] in Entertainment | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
Posted By: Paul - Sat Apr 28, 2012 -
Comments (3)
Category: Aliens, Movies, Sexuality, Gender, Women, 1950s, Fictional Monsters
Most Televised Girl in America
Was the rightful bearer of this distinction Rita Morley?
Or was it Sue Read?
Morley's claim is better documented. I can't really learn much about Read other than this:
Anyhow, who could rightfully claim the title today?
Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 13, 2012 -
Comments (10)
Category: Celebrities, Television, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s
Teenage Zombies
Why watch newfangled zombies like The Walking Dead when you can have the classics?
If you like the trailer above, watch the whole film, below.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Apr 08, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Horror, Movies, Teenagers, 1950s, Fictional Monsters
Pay Phones
What was once normal and not-weird becomes weird with the simple addition of that magical ingredient, "time."
Imagine an era when NYC had "tens of thousands" of payphones!
The other two segments of this video are less strange, but still worth watching.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 06, 2012 -
Comments (12)
Category: Communications, Money, Technology, 1940s, 1950s
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
The Collector
Nowadays, stories about men, women and children being kept prisoner in strange circumstances--sometimes for years or decades--are so common that I'm certain Chuck will soon declare them "no longer weird."
But fifty years ago, such stories seemed more rare. One such inspired the classic novel by John Fowles, The Collector, which appeared in 1963.
The trailer of the film version can be seen above.
Fowles was inspired in part by a true story. I believe I've found that account, as seen below.
Enjoy the debut of what was to become a whole category of weird news.
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Apr 02, 2012 -
Comments (7)
Category: Eccentrics, Collectors, Scary Criminals, Stupid Criminals, 1950s, 1960s
| 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 |