Advertising
Electric Bitters
I can't find the ingredients for this patent medicine, but I'll bet it packed a kick.
Here's the story of its creation, as given also below.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 23, 2012 -
Comments (11)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Medicine, 1900s, 1910s, Alcohol
Good For What Ails You
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 12, 2012 -
Comments (8)
Category: Medicine, Self-help Schemes, Advertising, 1920s, Alcohol
Whiz Soap
Perhaps you recall the commercials with Madge the Manicurist, where she recommended Palmolive soap for its skin-softening qualities.
Well, Madge had nothing on a campaign from early in the century, for Whiz Soap, which informed customers that they could use Whiz to clean, oh, filthy farm equipment, and then use the same stuff for their personal bathing.
[Click to enlarge for readability]
There seem to be lots of antique Whiz containers around for sale, if you want to commemorate this product in your home.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 01, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Body, Business, Advertising, Products, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, 1910s
Follies of the Mad Men #185
The way to a dwarf's heart is through his stomach.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 27, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Food, Myths and Fairytales, 1970s
Permadontics
I don't normally pay much attention to banner ads, but my eye was drawn to this one. Why, I wonder, is the person's face a bright shade of purplish-red like a boiled lobster? Is that a side-effect of whatever treatment this company is offering, or just a poor choice of model?
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jun 20, 2012 -
Comments (6)
Category: Advertising, Skin and Skin Conditions
Happy To See Food
These people sure are happy at the sight of food. Or are they happy because of the amazingly low prices? 49 cents for a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper! That's less than a nickel per can. (These are 1950's prices.)
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jun 16, 2012 -
Comments (6)
Category: Food, Advertising
Unfortunate Contextual Slang Usage
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 14, 2012 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Underwear, 1940s, LGBT, Men
Early Example of Godwin’s Law
When stumped for a putdown regarding body odor, you can always invoke Hitler.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 07, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Dictators, Tyrants and Other Harsh Rulers, Hygiene, 1940s
Follies of the Mad Men #184
Are those two frosty ones in your pouch, or are you just "hoppy" to see me?
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jun 02, 2012 -
Comments (2)
Category: Animals, Business, Advertising, Products, 1950s, Alcohol
The Attack of the 20-Foot Baby
Posted By: Alex - Wed May 30, 2012 -
Comments (7)
Category: Babies, Advertising, Giant People in Ads
| 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 |