1950s
Li’l Castros
Of course, we all recall personally or at least have heard of the Davy Crockett Craze of the mid-1950's, when Disney's promotional genius had kids everywhere running around in coonskin caps. But who among us lately has dared to summon up memories of the Castro dressup craze from a few years later?
Yes, once upon a time, at the start of his revolution, Castro was received in the USA as a hero of the oppressed peoples of Cuba, and seen as a fit role model for tykes to imitate.
Please click on the image for the full glory of this era, and excuse any flash glare from my poor photo skills. I had to photograph rather than scan, to capture the full impact of the double page spread.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 05, 2008 -
Comments (8)
Category: Body Modifications, Facial Hair, Business, Products, Fads, Family, Children, Parents, Government, Military, Pop Culture, War, Weapons, 1950s
Follies of the Mad Men #22
Pure jittery brainbuzz in a handy grenade-shaped shaker.
Beware of putting anything in your mouth that comes from a company named "International Minerals & Chemical Corporation."
Posted By: Paul - Wed Sep 03, 2008 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Food, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Science, Technology, 1950s
Follies of the Mad Men #21
The weirdest thing about this ad is the notion that an airline would give a customer something for free!
Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 02, 2008 -
Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Drugs, Smoking and Tobacco, Flight, Travel, 1950s
Follies of the Mad Men #20
Judging by the reaction of the people in the background, these are either a) real transgenic tiger men walking down the street; or b) very convincing masks. In either case, the viewer is forced to ask, "Are tigers particularly famous for their sartorial choices?"
BONUS: this ad may serve as Furry porn, if you're so inclined.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 01, 2008 -
Comments (2)
Category: Animals, Business, Advertising, Fashion, Sexuality, 1950s
Wild Women of Wongo
You'll have to decide for yourself. First, take a look at the unfortunately bleached-out trailer. Then view the whole film--in glorious "Pathecolor"--on YouTube, in several parts, with the first one featured after the trailer.
Also on YouTube is the MST3K version.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 26, 2008 -
Comments (6)
Category: Animals, Domestic, Marriage, Family, Hollywood, Movies, Gender, Men, Women, Foreign Customs, 1950s, Dance
Bowanga Bowanga
BOWANGA BOWANGA, or "The White Sirens of Africa," is a lot less fun over sixty minutes of viewing than this select snippet pretends. So be content with what you see here, and save yourself a rental.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Aug 24, 2008 -
Comments (6)
Category: Fashion, Hollywood, Movies, Nature, Sex Symbols, Foreign Customs, Marriage, 1950s, Dance
Six Faces of FATE
Please enjoy this imagery from one of the spiritual ancestors of WEIRD UNIVERSE, FATE MAGAZINE.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Thu Aug 21, 2008 -
Comments (11)
Category: Art, Eccentrics, Forteana, Magazines, Paranormal, Pop Culture, Unsolved Mysteries, 1950s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Bonomo’s Turkish Taffy
If this candy were still being manufactured today, would its allusively Muslim name doom it?
Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 19, 2008 -
Comments (5)
Category: Food, Pop Culture, Advertising, 1950s, 1960s
Follies of the Mad Men #11
[From Good Housekeeping for December 1958.]
Just one comment on this ad: why is this woman trying to scorch her own eyeball? Is this a hairdryer aimed at masochists?
Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 13, 2008 -
Comments (10)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Domestic, Fashion, Hair Styling, Torture, 1950s, Women
Follies of the Mad Men #10
Here's part of the reason why we're a nation of fatties today. "Lose weight the hard way? No thanks! I'll just compress my flab and strap it in with manmade materials!"
And why is it that the only women ever shown in girdle ads are already so trim and underweight that they aren't the real customers?
Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 11, 2008 -
Comments (10)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Fashion, Food, Torture, Fetishes, 1950s, Women
| 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 |