1960s
Follies of the Madmen #220
What product can this staged photo from 1969 possibly be advertising?
For the answer visit the original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 04, 2014 -
Comments (5)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Police and Other Law Enforcement, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers, 1960s
Communists Stage Fake Birthday Parties, 1962
I never realized that the communists in America resorted to such underhanded tactics to promote their cause. Good thing the FBI was on top of this scheme!From the Chicago Daily Tribune - June 6, 1962.
Posted By: Alex - Sat May 31, 2014 -
Comments (8)
Category: 1960s
The Strangeloves
Here's the story of a fake band that had to become real.Their big hit:
Curiously enough, when the Strangeloves were marketed in France, they somehow became connected to another contrivance: a new manufactured dance "craze" called "the Monkiss." I can't see that they ever recorded the song heard in the following video, which was really by Rocky Roberts and the Airdales (last video).
Posted By: Paul - Sat May 31, 2014 -
Comments (5)
Category: Imitations, Forgeries, Rip-offs and Faux, Music, 1960s, Europe
Space Trainer
Original article here.
Original ad here.
Undoubtedly nicknamed "the vomit comet," like the famous edge-of-space jet flight trainer.
Used by "schools for the blind"...?!?
Posted By: Paul - Wed May 28, 2014 -
Comments (7)
Category: Toys, 1960s, Brain Damage, Nausea, Revulsion and Disgust
The Snogometer
Posted By: Paul - Tue May 13, 2014 -
Comments (5)
Category: Sexuality, Chindogu, 1960s
“Women are soft and gentle, but they hit things”
Makes it sound like they need anger management training.
Posted By: Alex - Fri May 09, 2014 -
Comments (16)
Category: Advertising, 1960s
Cyrus Eaton III, Runaway Scion
We often hear of folks such as "Clark Rockefeller" who are born poor and masquerade as rich people. But what about a fellow born rich who wants to be poor?
Original article here.
A picture of Cyrus Eaton III circa the runaway period.
No doubt it was hard being the grandson of Cyrus Eaton the First, creator of the family fortune.
Here's Grandpa leading the pack in 1958, with Cyrus the Third appearing as the third child behind Grandpa.
Cyrus Eaton the Second followed pretty much in his father's mode, as we learn from the obituary of Cyrus Eaton II.
And guess what else we learn from that obit? Cyrus Eaton the Third has become "Cyrus Wind Dancer." A little googling finds out he now runs a clock repair business in Santa Rosa, CA.
Free from the burdens of wealth at last!
Posted By: Paul - Wed May 07, 2014 -
Comments (8)
Category: Family, Misbehavior, Rebellion, Acting-out and General Naughtiness, Money, 1950s, 1960s
Hypnotised Driver
‘Hypnotist Henry Blythe, gives his daughter Sally, 17, advice before she starts a driving lesson at Torquay, England, Jan 15, 1960. Blythe says he hypnotizes her as he has some 40 other new drivers, all of whom have passed their test. Sally has not yet taken her test.’ [via Retronaut]
Sydney Morning Herald - May 5, 1960
Posted By: Alex - Sat May 03, 2014 -
Comments (8)
Category: Hypnotism, Mesmerism and Mind Control, 1960s, Cars
Motorized Skates
Posted By: Paul - Sat Apr 19, 2014 -
Comments (11)
Category: Eccentrics, Motor Vehicles, Chindogu, 1960s
No More Rice Krispies!
Back in the late 1960s, Rice Krispies ran three opera-themed commercials, which are remembered as some of the most popular commercials of all time. I found two of them on YouTube (Pagliacci - Vesti La Giubba, and Madame Butterfly). The third one, which featured the Toreador song from Carmen, doesn't appear to be online. At least, I can't find it.The Vesti La Giubba commercial is, by far, the most famous of the three, to the extent that whenever some people hear the song, they immediately think of the commercial. As reported by LA Times writer Diane Haithman in 2005:
Posted By: Alex - Thu Apr 10, 2014 -
Comments (8)
Category: Advertising, 1960s
| 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 |