1950s
The Cyclops Eye Speedometer
Watching this great old Studebaker commercial, I was intrigued by the mention of a "Cyclops Eye Speedometer." It turns out that it was a barrel painted with the MPH numbers that revolved behind a lens to measure the speed. Highly imprecise, I would think, perhaps explaining its demise. Apparently, some Citroens used it too (last foto).
Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 09, 2022 -
Comments (4)
Category: Engineering and Construction, Kludges, Hacks and Duct-tape Repairs, 1950s, Cars
Nervous Norvus
Nervous Norvus (aka Jimmy Drake) was in his 40s when his first record was released in 1956. The record,'Transfusion,' reached #13 on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart.According to Life magazine, he got his ideas for songs by "sitting in his California backyard, wearing dark glasses, going 'Ump, ump.'"
More info: wikipedia, songpoemmusic.com
Posted By: Alex - Mon Aug 08, 2022 -
Comments (4)
Category: Music, 1950s
Army’s Copper Man
The Copper Man was created in the 1950s by Army scientists to test clothing for soldiers. I think the tubes going into his eyes makes him horror-movie material.
Santa Cruz Sentinel - May 17, 1962
In 1956 Havoline Motor Oil featured him in an ad. As far as I can tell, Havoline wasn't used in the Copper Man. The only connection between the two was that, according to Havoline, the Copper Man "thinks for itself" and so does its motor oil.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Aug 07, 2022 -
Comments (2)
Category: AI, Robots and Other Automatons, 1950s
Artwork Khrushchev Probably Would Not Have Liked 45
Karl Hubbuch 1881-1979 "Dialog (Myriam with cat)" c 1953
The artist's Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 03, 2022 -
Comments (0)
Category: Art, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Cats, 1950s
Ambrose (Part 5)
Linda Laurie was a 17-year-old high school student in 1958 when her first recording, "Ambrose (Part 5)", was released by Glory Records. It reached number 52 on the billboard charts.It's a very odd record. For a start, why is it titled "part 5"? There were no parts 1,2,3, or 4.
Then there's the 'song' itself. Why is Ambrose walking her into a subway tunnel? Does he intend to kill her? We never find out. The song ends in mid-sentence. Incidentally, the voice of Ambrose ("Just keep walking") was done by Laurie herself.
Two years later, Laurie released a sequel, "Forever Ambrose," which showed a nicer side of Ambrose. Evidently he hadn't killed her in the tunnel. But this follow-up never made it onto the charts.
In 1962, Laurie released a final Ambrose song, "Return of Ambrose," which had Ambrose back in more menacing form ("keep digging"). Again, it didn't chart.
Laurie went on to have a fairly successful career as a songwriter. Her biggest hit was "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)," which reached #3 on the charts when it was covered by Helen Reddy.
More info: Wikipedia.
Posted By: Alex - Mon Aug 01, 2022 -
Comments (1)
Category: Music, 1950s
Follies of the Madmen #538
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 28, 2022 -
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Category: Hygiene, Advertising, Surrealism, 1950s
Miss Truth Bomb
I could see 'Miss Truth Bomb' being the premise for a movie. A young up-and-coming actress is awarded that title, but then she can't stop herself from dropping truth bombs on everyone around her. Kind of like Jim Carrey's Liar Liar, but with a female lead.Of course, no such thing happened to the real Miss Truth Bomb, Kathleen Hughes, who enjoyed a long career in Hollywood.
North Hollywood Valley Times - June 9, 1952
Los Angeles Daily News - June 7, 1952
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jul 26, 2022 -
Comments (0)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, 1950s
Marimba Trios
Although I was unable to find any recordings of the Wheeler Marimba Trio, it appears that contemporary marimba trios are a definite thing.And then, there's always six marimbas!
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 26, 2022 -
Comments (2)
Category: Music, 1950s, Twenty-first Century
The Rotor Corres-File
This reminds me of the days when I used to have a filing cabinet. That now marks me as an old-timer.
Richmond Times Dispatch - Mar 15, 1953
Pittsburgh Press - Jul 20, 1952
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jul 25, 2022 -
Comments (7)
Category: Inventions, Offices, Business Supplies, Institutional Regulations, 1950s
Mystery Illustration 108
What's extra-special about this submarine?The answer is here.
Or after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 18, 2022 -
Comments (2)
Category: Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, Technology, 1950s, Weapons
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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 |