1950s
A-Bomb Detergent
Wash away radioactive particles with Flobar!
This ad later made its way into a 1982 piece by artist Winston Smith.
Posted By: Alex - Thu Apr 29, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Advertising, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, 1950s
Jiminy Cricket’s Safety Songs
The first song from the album is in the video, but the entire album is here for your listening pleasure.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Apr 27, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Death, Insects and Spiders, Movies, Music, PSA’s, Children, 1950s
Follies of the Madmen #505
All scholars of oddball advertising are familiar with the Maidenform Bra campaign that used the tagline "I dreamed I...in my Maidenform Bra." But I don't believe I've ever seen the campaign translated from print to 3-D.
"This is an original vintage photograph from the 1950s. It shows a surreal Maidenform Bra window display at Parsons Souders store in downtown Clarksburg, West Virginia."
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Apr 12, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Business, Advertising, Underwear, 1950s
Marilyke Fashion
In 1953, Reverend Bernard Kunkel of Bartelso, Illinois launched the Marilyke fashion movement. Dresses that were sufficiently modest, like the Virgin Mary would have worn (i.e. 'Marilyke'), were given a seal of approval in the form of a Marilyke tag they could display. The tags were "there to guide the Catholic girls."It seems that only wedding dresses and formal gowns were tagged. As Kunkel noted, "There's not much to be done about bathing suits... We strongly disapprove of the trend in modern bathing suits."
More info: Aliens in this world
source: University of Dayton
Detroit Free Press - June 13, 1955
Posted By: Alex - Fri Apr 09, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Fashion, Religion, 1950s
The Kiddie-Koop
Children in cages!
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Apr 05, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Babies, Domestic, Inventions, Chindogu, Advertising, 1950s
Dodge La Femme
1955: Chrysler introduced the Dodge La Femme, a two-door, pink-and-white sedan "for the discriminating modern woman".
source: DodgeLaFemme.com
In an attempt to make the car irresistible to women, Dodge also threw in a pink leather handbag that contained "cigarette lighter and case, compact, lipstick and other feminine items covered in matching pink leather." Plus, "a vinyl raincoat and stylish sou'wester hat, printed in the same pink shade and pattern as the Jacquard upholstery." And a matching pink umbrella!
But even with all this, the car failed to appeal to consumers. However, because fewer than 2500 of them were ever made, the car is now sought after by collectors.
More info: wikipedia
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Apr 10, 1955
Posted By: Alex - Sat Apr 03, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Gender, Women, 1950s, Cars
Follies of the Madmen #504
I have never seen laxatives touted as a daily dose, rather than just as needed.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Mar 31, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Advertising, Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil, Excrement, 1950s
Miss Space
April 1959: Suzanne Adams was awarded the title of 'Miss Space' at the World Congress of Flight in Las Vegas, Nevada.
source: reddit
source: facebook
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Apr 12, 1959
Posted By: Alex - Sat Mar 27, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy, 1950s
Early Jim Henson Commercials
Full story here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Mar 23, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Death, Puppets and Automatons, Television, Advertising, Coffee and other Legal Stimulants, 1950s, 1960s
Rafael Trujillo, Partying Dictator
Not that Rafael Trujillo's murderous reign is redeemed by his party animal ways, but it's always nice to see someone who doesn't let his work stand in the way of having fun.First he arrives at LA and smashes another boat, then avoids fees by declaring himself a ship of war.
Source: The Los Angeles Times 21 Jun 1958, Sat Page 2
Then he insults our national holiday and causes an uproar on Catalina Island.
Source: The Los Angeles Times 05 Jul 1958, Sat Page 1
Of course, none of this jovial playboy behavior prevented him from getting assassinated three years later.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Mar 22, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Dictators, Tyrants and Other Harsh Rulers, Dinners, Banquets, Parties, Tributes, Roasts and Other Celebrations, Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, 1950s, Outrageous Excess, North America
| 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 |