Movies
The Baron of Arizona
He stole a few score billion dollars.
But how much is a whole state worth? All the land, natural resources, and structures?
That's what James Addison Reavis stole--almost getting away with the theft too.
Last night I watched THE BARON OF ARIZONA, a 1950 film by Samuel Fuller and starring Vincent Price. It tells the true story of Reavis, who cooked up an incredible con job to lay claim to the entire territory of Arizona in the year 1883.
You can read a fascinating essay about it here.
This is one film definitely worth renting for those with a taste for weird history.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Apr 29, 2009 -
Comments (1)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, History, Historical Figure, Wild West and US Frontier, Hoaxes and Imposters and Imitators, Movies, Nineteenth Century
Zig Me Baby With A Gentle Zag
Posted By: Paul - Mon Apr 27, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Jabberwocky, Scat Singing, Nonsense Verse and Glossolalia, Movies, Music, 1940s, Dance
Follies of the Mad Men #64
A prosperous banker-type, an American Indian, a sailor (or is he a Turkish immigrant?), and what looks to be Uncle Sam, are all sitting around in front of a billboard, having a gay old chat, when out of a handy box pops the sexy cigarette fairy, who dispenses butts to all, even scattering them around in bountiful waste. Then a sign is unfurled, claiming WE ALL SMOKE.Massive WTF attack, all thanks to Thomas Alva Edison!
Posted By: Paul - Mon Apr 20, 2009 -
Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Movies, Tobacco and Smoking, Nineteenth Century
One-Shoe Movies
"Droppedit" is a man who knows exactly what he likes, and that is "movie and TV scenes in which women happen to lose their shoes." I think it's fair to say that his catalog of such scenes (with accompanying pics) will never be equaled.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Apr 19, 2009 -
Comments (3)
Category: Movies, Obsessions, Fetishes, Shoes
Two-Way Stretch
As we all know, Chuck has a recurring theme about how the Brits coddle their prisoners. Apparently, this motif goes back at least as far as 1960, the year that the Peter Sellers film TWO-WAY STRETCH premiered. In this film, Sellers and gang receive deliveries from the milkman and newsboy, keep a cat, steal the warden's ciggies, and generally make their stay quite enjoyable. Until the tough-guy guard known as "Sourkraut" shows up. See some moments below.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Apr 09, 2009 -
Comments (0)
Category: Movies, Prisons, Stupid Criminals, 1960s, Europe
Silence of the Lambs, the Lego Musical
I know there are some fans of Silence of the Lambs among our readers, so this is for them. A musical version of the famous Lotion Scene, done in Lego stop-motion animation. (via GeekTout)
Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 07, 2009 -
Comments (4)
Category: Movies, Video
New York City Driving—1928
I have no idea of the provenance of this material. Is that Buster Keaton or Harold Lloyd driving? Is that really Babe Ruth in the back seat? But I do know it's amazing.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Mar 31, 2009 -
Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Motor Vehicles, Movies, 1920s
The Handless Pianist
Posted By: Paul - Thu Mar 26, 2009 -
Comments (3)
Category: Movies, Music
Maya Deren’s AT LAND
Learn more about Maya Deren here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Mar 16, 2009 -
Comments (3)
Category: Art, Performance Art, Surrealism, Movies, Sexuality, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers, 1940s
The Show-Off
I suspect that most WU readers will identify with the bad boy, rather than with the prissy narrator here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Mar 11, 2009 -
Comments (11)
Category: Clowns, Education, Movies, Documentaries, Teenagers, 1950s
| 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 |