1950s
Oriental Rock
One plus for Haley: does not rhyme "fella" with "yella."
Posted By: Paul - Thu Aug 25, 2016 -
Comments (5)
Category: Music, Stereotypes and Cliches, 1950s, Asia
Jill Day’s Gym
I call total sexual harassment on Jill Day. Luckily she could fall back on her singing.
Note how these poor oppressed men in the second video have retreated to a female-free gym.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 15, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Music, 1950s, 1960s, Europe, Bodybuilding
Follies of the Madmen #291
Rockabilly, R&B Sharpie the Parrot is an authority on shaving. Or maybe you would pay more attention to Sharpie's barbershop-quartet incarnation.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Aug 14, 2016 -
Comments (0)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Products, Cartoons, 1950s, Facial Hair
The Bears of Clark’s Trading Post
I would not have necessarily said that a trained bear act would still flourish in today's world, but apparently the one at Clark's Trading Post is still going strong.
I wonder if they had a hand in training Lulubelle back in 1957?
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Aug 13, 2016 -
Comments (1)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Authorities and Experts, Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, 1950s
Don’t Cry For Me, Roentgen-tina!
Once upon a time Juan Peron's Argentina, tricked by a quasi-scientific hoaxer, claimed they had perfected fusion power. You can see the legacy of their project in the picture above.
Read the full story here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Aug 12, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Hoaxes and Imposters and Imitators, Technology, 1940s, 1950s, South America
Jerry Lewis, Sensitive Crooner
Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 10, 2016 -
Comments (0)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Music, 1950s, Comedians
Fell asleep at wedding
The earliest I've found this story reported was in Time magazine (Feb 8, 1954). But then it started popping up in other papers, some as late as 1956 (below). I haven't found any report that went into greater detail. Which makes me wonder if this ever really happened, or if it was one of those amusing fillers reporters sometimes invented to pad column space.The story, as stated, seems a bit implausible. Everyone at the wedding just left without bothering to wake the bride? Really? Even assuming that "dozed off" is a euphemism for "passed out drunk."
The Sikeston Daily Standard - Jan 18, 1956
Posted By: Alex - Tue Aug 02, 2016 -
Comments (3)
Category: 1950s, Weddings
Darryl Starbird & His Bubbletop Cars
Homepage here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 27, 2016 -
Comments (0)
Category: Pop Art, 1950s, Cars
Wife vs. Cats
The Crazy Cat Lady is the cultural stereotype (Archie McPhee even sells a Crazy Cat Lady action figure). But this story demonstrates that there are definitely Crazy Cat Men as well.
The Daily Courier (Connellsville, Pa) — Jan 8, 1954
HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 8 — Mrs. Joseph Gazik got a divorce in Superior Court after she said her husband liked cats so much that every time she asked him to get rid of them, he suggested that she leave instead.
Gazik didn't appear in court. He stayed home with his cats — all 20 of them.
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jul 26, 2016 -
Comments (3)
Category: Divorce, Cats, 1950s
The Case of Officer Hallibrand
"Driving while dictating." The automobile texting problem of its era.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 19, 2016 -
Comments (3)
Category: Death, Motor Vehicles, Police and Other Law Enforcement, PSA’s, 1950s
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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 |