Nineteenth Century
Florence Foster Jenkins
Worst opera singer ever? Read about Florence Foster Jenkins here.
Then, if you want more, buy this CD!
Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 21, 2009 -
Comments (5)
Category: Eccentrics, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Music, Nineteenth Century
Early Bodybuilding
And now, some Victorian Beefcake.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 06, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Nineteenth Century, Bodybuilding
Early Slapstick and Boxing Cats
The more of these early Edison clips I see, the more convinced I become that the great inventor was a prankster nerd.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 03, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Humor, Comedians, Pranks, Martial Arts, Cats, Nineteenth Century
American Artifacts
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 03, 2009 -
Comments (2)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, Medicine, Nineteenth Century
Seminary Girls
Did you know that Thomas Edison pioneered the "Girls Gone Wild" theme?
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 01, 2009 -
Comments (4)
Category: Education, Exercise and Fitness, Nineteenth Century
Sunflower Carnival
What is weirder? The fact that our ancestors dedicated a festival to the humble sunflower, or the fact that we don't?In any case, here are some shots from the 1899 Sunflower Carnival Parade, Colorado Springs, Colorado, courtesy of the Library of Congress.
As always, click to enlarge.
Posted By: Paul - Tue May 12, 2009 -
Comments (3)
Category: Agriculture, Parades and Festivals, Political Correctness, Regionalism, Nineteenth Century
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
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
Every Foto of Lincoln—Save One
Now that a new photo of Abe Lincoln has been found, I'm sure the maker of the video below is cursing those discoverers.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Mar 12, 2009 -
Comments (6)
Category: Photography and Photographers, Politics, Historical Figure, Nineteenth Century
Dr. Seth Arnold’s Great Infantile Regulator
(Looking online, I discover that the entire book has been digitized here, so that you can have your own virtual copy.)
The front and back sections of the volume are full of ads. Here are two for some nostrums that I am sure contained plenty of dope.
No wonder the citizens in the drawings all look so relaxed and peaceful!
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 20, 2009 -
Comments (11)
Category: Medicine, Regionalism, Advertising, Products, Babies and Toddlers, Nineteenth Century
| 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 |