Category:
1970s

Pleasure Levers

Our pleasure levers are 19 years overdue!

From Selected Readings in Genetic Engineering and Bioethics (1974):

Unlikely as it may seem, there are researchers who claim to have discovered something better than sex. At McGill University in Canada, Psychologist James Olds used electrodes to locate specific “pleasure centers” in the brains of rats, and then allowed the animals, electrodes still in place, to stimulate themselves by pressing a lever. Given a choice, the rats preferred this new pleasure to food, water and sex. Some pressed the lever as many as 8,000 times an hour for more than a day, stopping only when they fainted from fatigue.

Such experiments lead Herman Kahn of the Hudson Institute to predict that by the year 2000, people will be able to wear chest consoles with ten levers wired to the brain’s pleasure centers. Fantasies Kahn: “Any two consenting adults might play their consoles together. Just imagine all the possible combinations: ‘Have you ever tried ten and five together?” couples would ask. Or, ‘How about one and one”’ But I don’t think you should play your own console; that would be depraved.”

Los Angeles Times - Jan 29, 1970



The Hackensack Record - Jan 30, 1970



San Francisco Examiner - Feb 8, 1970

Posted By: Alex - Tue Mar 12, 2019 - Comments (3)
Category: 1970s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows

Murphy the Molar

A talking tooth from Canada.

More info: Lorne Park Dental



Posted By: Alex - Fri Mar 08, 2019 - Comments (3)
Category: Video, 1970s, Teeth

Fox Style





Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 02, 2019 - Comments (0)
Category: Ethnic Groupings, Movies, Exploitation and Grindhouse, 1970s

Hardee’s Road Runner and Ernie



Two lame-o's seeking to capitalize on SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT popularity are employed to endorse burgers.

Many, many more Hardee's commercials here.





Posted By: Paul - Sun Feb 24, 2019 - Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Fads, Stereotypes and Cliches, Junk Food, 1970s, Cars

Toast as a unit of power

Odd units of measurement: Back in 1975, Allan Clemow of Tufts University figured out how to translate power consumption into pieces of toast. By his estimate, one kilowatt hour was equivalent to toasting 60 slices of bread. Therefore:

  • Ironing for an hour = 68 slices of toast
  • Watching TV for 4 hours = 100 slices of toast
  • Blow-drying your hair for 10 minutes = 4 slices of toast
  • Drying a large load of clothes = 270 slices of toast

These estimates may all now have changed thanks to more energy-efficient appliances.

Casper Star Tribune - Nov 20, 1975

Posted By: Alex - Fri Feb 22, 2019 - Comments (1)
Category: Food, 1970s, Power Generation

New Vietnam

Back in 1975, Rev. Carl McIntire had the idea of bringing the Vietnam experience back to America by building a Vietnam theme park (to be called 'New Vietnam') in Florida, near Cape Canaveral. Needless to say, the idea didn't go over well. Some details:

The village hootches will be built on stilts, surrounded by rice paddies worked by refugees dressed in native garb.
Adjacent to the village will be a rectangular special forces camp encircled by a moat and guarded by machine gun nests, punji stakes and fatigue-clad "soldiers" hired from the county. Inside will be a war museum of Viet Cong and American memorabilia.


Orlando Sentinel - Sep 11, 1975 (click to enlarge)



Philadelphia Daily News - Jun 12, 1975

Posted By: Alex - Thu Feb 21, 2019 - Comments (0)
Category: Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, War, 1970s

Knee Reading

Toni Lockhart, aka Gypsy Rose Knee, pioneered the art of knee reading. She detailed her technique in her 1975 book Gypsy's Basic Knee Reader. A few pointers:

If one’s knee has peaks or craters on certain parts of it, they indicate traits like patience, compassion, selfishness, fear, luck, humor, humility and curiosity...
A new mole may indicate that the person’s life and profession are on the upswing.


Manhattan Mercury - Aug 8, 1975



The Pottstown Mercury - Aug 19, 1975 (click to enlarge)



Posted By: Alex - Thu Feb 14, 2019 - Comments (2)
Category: Predictions, 1970s

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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.

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