1970s
Library Chair
"Library Chair" by Richard Mauro, 1978. Cargo netting and five hundred paperback books.
image source: are.na
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jul 06, 2024 -
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Category: Furniture, 1970s
Beforehand Postcards
The concept of Beforehand Postcards was that, if you were going on vacation to Europe, you could buy your postcards from them beforehand. Then you could address the cards, and maybe even write them, before you left. Once you arrived in Europe, all you would have to do was mail them.The business lasted a little over ten years, from the early 1970s to the mid 1980s.
Philadelphia Inquirer - June 17, 1973
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jun 29, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Tourists and Tourism, 1970s, Postal Services
Jim’s Guide to San Francisco
In 1977, artist James Patrick Finnegan published an oddball guide to San Francisco, titled Jim's Guide to San Francisco. It consisted of pictures of him posing in front of San Francisco businesses that were named Jim: Jim's Barber Shop, Jim's Donut Shop, Jim's Transportation, Jim's Smoke Shop, etc.The book was printed in black-and-white, but he handcolored parts of it with a crayon. I assume he individually handcolored each copy sold.
I haven't been able to find any scanned copies of the book online, and only one copy of it for sale. The seller is asking $300, justifying that price by the book's rarity.
It's been almost 50 years since the book came out, so Finnegan should do an updated guide. I'm sure there's now a whole new batch of businesses in the city named Jim.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jun 28, 2024 -
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Category: Art, Books, Tourists and Tourism, 1970s
Minister Cancels Walk on Water
May 1972: Rev W.L. Jenkins of Mississippi advertised that he was going to walk across the surface of the Ross Barnett Reservoir. But he had to cancel the event when he was shot in the leg while driving to the reservoir. He said he still planned to walk across the reservoir sometime in the future, but wouldn't publicize the event beforehand.It doesn't seem that Rev Jenkins's failure to walk on water put a dent in his popularity. He continued to have an active ministry, as documented on his website JenkinsMinistry.com.
Related post: When Yogi Rao walked on water
Quad-City Times - May 22, 1972
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jun 26, 2024 -
Comments (3)
Category: Religion, 1970s
Painting mistaken for dropcloth
The classic weird-news theme of art mistaken for trash.
Raleigh News and Observer - Sep 27, 1979
Triple Variants by Sam Gilliam (source: GSA Fina Arts Collection)
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jun 25, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Art, 1970s
Library Robbery
The most important rule for being a successful robber is to rob places that have money.
Los Angeles Times - Feb 23, 1973
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jun 24, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Stupid Criminals, 1970s
A case of food poisoning in Peru
Louisville Courier-Journal - Dec 4, 1972
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jun 21, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Food, Poisons and Other Injurious Substances, 1970s, South America
Pop-Topping
Back in the old days, cans were opened by pulling on an aluminum ring, or "pop top," that would come completely off the can. Now these have been replaced by stay-tabs.Most people threw away the pop-tops, but a few turned them into wearable art. The leader of this movement was Gonzalo Chavez, aka Pop-Top Terp. From Time magazine (Sep 21, 1970):
The first pop-top garments were almost as stiff as their medieval counterparts. But Chavez has made them much more supple. "They fit like a second skin," he claims. "As you wear them, they change shape a little and mold themselves to the contours of the body." Rings differ too. Budweiser's rings are light and flexible, Miller High Life's are "soft," and Pepsi's provide a heavier, stiffer garment.
In 1975, Pop-Top Terp published a book, Pop-Topping, that gave detailed instructions on how to make your own pop-top clothes. But since pop tops have now vanished, it's become a guide to a lost form of art. You can read it online at archive.org.
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jun 18, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Fashion, Soda, Pop, Soft Drinks and other Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 1970s
The Odd Couple Sings
The rest of the playlist is on YouTube.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jun 18, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Music, Television, Vinyl Albums and Other Media Recordings, 1970s
Woman dropped down manhole
Welcome to America!
Modesto Bee - July 2, 1972
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jun 17, 2024 -
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Category: Crime, 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. 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 |