Twentieth Century
Regrettable Superheroes
I have not seen a copy yet, but I am betting this book will be a winner, based on the description.
For every superhero hitting the big time with a blockbuster movie, there are countless failures, also-rans, and D-listers. The League of Regrettable Superheroes affectionately presents one hundred of the strangest superheroes ever to see print—from Atoman to Zippo—complete with backstories, vintage art, and colorful commentary.
Drawing on the entire history of the medium, the book celebrates characters that haven’t seen the light of day in decades, like Natureboy, Dr. Hormone, Thunder Bunny, and more. It’s a must-read for comics fans of all ages!
Until it appears in June, why not read an issue of DOLLMAN now.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Apr 23, 2015 -
Comments (6)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Comics, Superheroes, Twentieth Century
Mystery Illustration 5
Why is this fellow masked at his writing desk? Kidnapper? Bank Robber? Sex games?
Find the answer here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Feb 18, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Art, Disguises, Impersonations, Mimics and Forgeries, Twentieth Century
Nervine
What exactly were the ingredients of Nervine that made it sell effectively for many decades?
Read all about it here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Nov 16, 2014 -
Comments (7)
Category: Medicine, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century
Stuffed Gators
Original article here.
Apparently, back in the early part of the 20th century, it was common to have a stuffed alligator as an umbrella stand. I searched the web for an image of such a thing, but could not find one. Maybe one of our clever WU-vies can.
But I did find the great feat of taxidermy seen below. I'm so sad the piece got auctioned before I could bid. As a fan of Pogo, I would have loved it.
Original auction here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 07, 2014 -
Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Comics, Twentieth Century
American Cornball
Christopher Miller's new book is a must-have for any WU-vie, detailing with comprehensive wit all the old humor tropes that once delighted millions, but are now just plain weird, but with a residual underlying universality.
Read a sample here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 05, 2014 -
Comments (2)
Category: Humor, Stereotypes and Cliches, Books, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century
Dr. Sanden’s Electric Stimulator
[Click to enlarge]
[Click to enlarge]
"Seminal weakness" indeed!
Posted By: Paul - Tue Apr 15, 2014 -
Comments (12)
Category: Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny, Sexuality, Advertising, Twentieth Century, Genitals
The Bald-Headed Men of America
Apparently there have been several instances of the formation of clubs to serve as fraternal organizations for bald men.The New York Times has this 1896 report.
Then comes this account in 1920, also from The New York Times.
Then comes this report from 1954.
But sometime after that, the original group must have gone under, because in 1972, John T. Capps, III founded the Bald Headed Men of America. They were profiled in a PBS documentary from 1989, as partially shown below.
Apparently, they are still going strong.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 01, 2014 -
Comments (5)
Category: Clubs, Fraternities and Other Self-selecting Organizations, 1920s, 1950s, 1970s, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century, Hair and Hairstyling
Peg-Leg Bates
Unfair career advantage: he had to buy only half the number of tap shoes of other dancers.
Wikipedia entry.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Feb 16, 2014 -
Comments (3)
Category: Disabilities, Dance, Twentieth Century
Walter Potter
The Wikipedia page.
Alas, the museum was dissolved in 2003.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 23, 2014 -
Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Eccentrics, Hobbies and DIY, Museums, Outsider Art, Europe, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century
Paul von Boeckmann, Champion Breather
Original ad here.
Hard to argue with the assertion that one has to breathe to stay alive.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 17, 2013 -
Comments (5)
Category: Eccentrics, Twentieth Century, Bodybuilding
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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 |