1960s
Anti-Puberty Pill
In 1969, British health officer Dr. J.V. Walker proposed the development of a pill "to give young people to delay the onset of sexual maturity until they leave college and could earn their own living." Walker felt certain "it should not be difficult to develop a hormone preparation for the job."Such a pill would certainly change the college experience for most people.
Akron Beacon Journal - June 1, 1969
A bit of research revealed that this J.V. Walker was Joseph V. Walker, health officer of Darlington. I couldn't find a fuller description of his anti-puberty pill, but I did come across a letter he sent to the Health Education Journal (March 1, 1970) in which he worried that young women would develop into "promiscuous addicts" if they didn't preserve their virginity until marriage. I suppose his pill would help with that goal as well.
Posted By: Alex - Tue Mar 13, 2018 -
Comments (10)
Category: Health, 1960s, Universities, Colleges, Private Schools and Academia
Chastity belt maker fights taxation
What I find most interesting is not the tax issue, but the claimed alternative uses of the chastity belts—as holders for flower pots and ice buckets. Also, "A spokesman for the firm said that Prince Charles bought two belts last year to use as toilet roll holders."
Pittsburgh Post Gazette - June 19, 1969
Melbourne Age - June 29, 1974
image source: afr.com
Posted By: Alex - Thu Mar 08, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Fashion, Sex Toys, 1960s
Animal of the Month Club
Creative Playthings, Inc. of Princeton, New Jersey launched its "Animal of the Month Club" in 1968. For $19.95, subscribers received small animals in the mail— not actually every month as the name of the club implied, but every few months. The animals included Argentine toads, a "mystery snail," newts, musk turtles, African underwater frogs, and Siamese fish.The club reflected Creative Playthings philosophy of "helping children to learn while they play." There was, unfortunately, one big problem with the execution of the concept. The animals kept dying in the mail. So, by 1970, the club was no more.
Tyrone Daily Herald - Apr 1, 1969
Akron Beacon Journal - Apr 20, 1969
Posted By: Alex - Tue Mar 06, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Animals, Clubs, Fraternities and Other Self-selecting Organizations, 1960s, Postal Services
Nuts & Bolts Toiletries
More info here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Mar 06, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: Advertising, 1960s, Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents
Follies of the Madmen #354
"That should give you time to mow the lawn!"
Posted By: Paul - Sun Mar 04, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Business, Advertising, Family, Food, 1960s
Edible Bonsai
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 03, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Business, Advertising, Food, Surrealism, 1960s
Ted Serios and his Thoughtographs
Theodore Judd Serios (1918-2006), a bellhop from Chicago who appeared to possess a genuinely uncanny ability. By holding a Polaroid camera and focusing on the lens very intently, he was able to produce dreamlike pictures of his thoughts on the film; he referred to these images as "thoughtographs..."
Full article here.
Collection of thoughtographs here.
Wikipedia page here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Feb 28, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Eccentrics, Freaks, Oddities, Quirks of Nature, Photography and Photographers, Unsolved Mysteries, 1960s
“Captured” Vietcong Slipper Sandals
Back in 1967, the Haband mail-order company of New Jersey wasn’t selling many of its sandals, until it came up with the idea of advertising them as “captured” Vietcong slipper sandals, claiming they were the “First big style find of the war!”You had to read the fine print to realize that it was simply the design of the sandals that had been captured. And even so, not really, because they had been selling the same sandals for years.
The company later reported that it was the most successful ad they had ever run, and that the 'captured' sandals sold "like mad."
As far as I can tell, they ran this ad for at least a year.
Palm Beach Post - Feb 11, 1968
Sydney Morning Herald - Mar 19, 1967
Posted By: Alex - Mon Feb 26, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Advertising, Shoes, 1960s
Pullman Fragrance
For the man that wanted to smell like a train.Pullman puts you on the right track to an enlightening new experience in good grooming. Use it without reservation... Pullman's subtle scent underscores, never overpowers your masculine assurance. Board the Pullman train decisively with After Shave... Eau de Cologne... Talc... Deluxe bath soap... Shower soap on rope.
Someone has a bottle of this stuff for sale on eBay, if you wanna try some 50-year-old fragrance. Only $180!
Philadelphia Inquirer - Oct 29, 1967
Posted By: Alex - Sun Feb 25, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: 1960s, Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents
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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 |