1950s
Miss Kangaroo
Loretta North of Australia probably thought it was quite an honor when she was picked to serve as "Miss Kangaroo" and tour the United States with two kangaroos. It was part of a publicity stunt to promote the 1952 movie Kangaroo. But it doesn't sound like the tour went very well. One of the kangaroos promptly died. Loretta herself had to be hospitalized for strep throat. And while the other kangaroo survived, it was impossible to toilet train him.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Apr 26, 2015 -
Comments (5)
Category: Publicity Stunts, 1950s
The Coleopter
Original article here.
Why are the skies of 2015 not filled with coleopters?
Posted By: Paul - Sun Apr 26, 2015 -
Comments (4)
Category: Flight, Technology, 1950s
A-Bomb Detergent
Wash that radiation away!
Source: Life - Nov 20, 1950
Posted By: Alex - Sat Apr 25, 2015 -
Comments (6)
Category: Advertising, 1950s, Weapons
The Rotor at Kennywood
While Kennywood Amusement Park is still operating, they no longer feature the Rotor. Given its 3Gs of force, in this day and age of tender litigious patrons, I'm surprised any park still does.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Apr 25, 2015 -
Comments (10)
Category: Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, Science, 1950s
Diving for Buttons
"Today, little remains of the industry but the occasional telltale sign spotted on the ground—shells laced with perfectly round holes—and millions of mother-of-pearl buttons saved in button jars across the country, cut from blouses and shirts from a time when nothing was wasted."
The whole story, in depth. (No pun intended.)
Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 24, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Fashion, Nature, Regionalism, 1950s, North America
The Popular Pickle
There is so much to love about this video, from the whimsical music which makes it seem as if the cucumbers are just going on holiday, instead of being wrenched from their happy fields and families, then sliced and seasoned for consumption by monstrous hairless apes, to the very phrase "pickle packer." The one omission, understandable in light of 1950s' reticence, is no mention of the cucumber as sex toy.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 10, 2015 -
Comments (4)
Category: Regionalism, Advertising, Industry, Factories and Manufacturing, Farming, Vegetables, Pickles, 1950s
Japan Blames It on the Heat
Summer's coming!
Posted By: Paul - Wed Apr 08, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Foreign Customs, 1950s, Asia
Underwater Fashion Show
Held in Florida, in 1954. Designed to show how water resistant the new orlon coats were. Though, of course, the models came up soaking wet despite wearing the coats.
SILVER SPRINGS, FLA.: Literally driven to the drink to model a new line of orlon coats and toppers, underwater mannequins come up smiling from the bed of Florida's Silver Springs. The novel, underwater fashion show was staged by Donnybrook, Ltd. to show the water-resistance of the orlon clothing.
Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 07, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Fashion, 1950s
Victoria the Bowling Kangaroo
Who knew that kangaroos could bowl!
MATCHING FIGURES — Shapely actress Monique Van Vooren is all set to match strikes and spares with Victoria, the bowling kangaroo, at the opening of a huge new bowling alley in New York. The bowling palace is the newest and largest of its kind in the East.
Source: Pampa Daily News - Oct. 1, 1958
Posted By: Alex - Mon Apr 06, 2015 -
Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Sports, 1950s
Concussion Test
1958: Dr. Henry Montoye of Michigan State University studied the shock resistance of football helmets by having players wear the helmets and then dropping weights on their head. Try getting approval to do that experiment today! Source: Life - May 19, 1958
Posted By: Alex - Sat Apr 04, 2015 -
Comments (4)
Category: Experiments, 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 |