1970s
Trim-Jeans
This product was so bizarre that it inspired a Monty Python skit. See the video below. (I have a vague memory of something about trim-jeans appearing on WU before, but couldn't find anything, so I decided I was wrong.)
Posted By: Alex - Wed Mar 14, 2012 -
Comments (10)
Category: Exercise and Fitness, Advertising, Products, 1970s
Call Any Vegetable
I just relistened to Frank Zappa's 1971 album, Live at the Fillmore East, or, Freaks & Motherfu*#@%! for the first time in about 40 years, and marveled again at the visionary talents of this supreme musical weirdo. Of course, Zappa died too young at age 52, and we were deprived of many potential years of his music.
I thought this vegetable song might somewhat counterbalance all the bacon and meat talk on WU.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Feb 17, 2012 -
Comments (8)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Food, Vegetables, Humor, Surrealism, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers, 1970s
Follies of the Mad Men #175
For one fraction of a second after he sniffs it, I was sure the human was going to chow down on this bowl of dog food. After all, if the dog can talk, why not?
Posted By: Paul - Wed Feb 15, 2012 -
Comments (13)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Food, Dogs, 1970s
Disco Volare
As if "Volare" were not enough of an irritating chestnut, here's the disco version. Inexplicably, the video is set not in sunny Italy, birthplace of the song, but in the frigid north.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Feb 12, 2012 -
Comments (8)
Category: Annoying Things, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Music, 1970s
Get-rich-quick Scheme
I'm thinking of resurrecting this product and offering it to evangelical cellphone users. Any venture capital folks out there who want a quick return on their investment?
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Feb 11, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Telephones, 1970s
Horrible Norman Lear Show
This little clip proves that even geniuses can fail. The show lasted two whole episodes.
Did anyone catch this when it first aired?
Info here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Feb 03, 2012 -
Comments (8)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Television, 1970s
Beat Nixon Board Game
Where is the 2012 version?
Original ad here.
Color scans here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Feb 01, 2012 -
Comments (6)
Category: Games, Politics, Strange Candidates, 1970s
WU-style Personality Test
When it comes to choosing African-American ventriloquists, are you the kind who likes the clean soul stylings of Willie Tyler and Lester?
Or the dirty funk of Richard and Willie?
The latter clip is verbally NSFW.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 04, 2012 -
Comments (8)
Category: Entertainment, Puppets and Automatons, Racism, Stereotypes and Cliches, Subcultures, 1970s
Sugar Hill
Learn more here--if you dare!
Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 27, 2011 -
Comments (2)
Category: Horror, Movies, Religion, Stereotypes and Cliches, Subcultures, 1970s
Follies of the Mad Men #171
Yeah, sure--it's 1973 and all your hippie pals are going to give up dope for whiskey just because the maker decorated the boxes like outtakes from Yellow Submarine.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 24, 2011 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Cartoons, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers, 1970s, Alcohol
| 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 |