Twentieth Century
Miss Tall International
Instead of "Miss Tall International," I prefered the old name for this contest, per this 1952 entry."Miss California Tip Topper of '52": Sonia Smevik, 18, 6'1 3/4" crowned by Actor John Hubbard. L to R background: Peggy Mcconnell; Pat Hostetter; Marlize Schrad; Toby Guthrie; Joan Wark; Pat Hart; Phyllis Foresberg".
Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 04, 2023 -
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Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Human Marvels, Twentieth Century, Twenty-first Century
USC’s Helen of Troy Contest
The University of Southern California used to elect a woman as "Helen of Troy."
Finalist for Helen of Troy (University of Southern California), 10 November 1960. Mary Elinor Memory; Lynne Helene Hunsucker; Marcia Anne Northrop; Barbara Louise Stephens; Linda Eleanor Scott.; Caption slip reads: "Photographer: Miller. Date: 1960-11-10. Assignment: Finalist for Helen of Troy. L to r: Mary Elinor Memory; Lynne Helene Hunsucker; Marcia Anne Northrop; Barbara Louise Stephens; Linda Eleanor Scott".
Posted By: Paul - Mon Nov 20, 2023 -
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Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Regionalism, Historical Figure, Twentieth Century
Steel Drums Version of THIS LAND IS MY LAND
A truly unique interpretation.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 17, 2023 -
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Category: Music, Patriotism, Caribbean, Twentieth Century
John Pecinovsky, the Half-and-Half Man
Posted By: Paul - Thu Nov 09, 2023 -
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Category: Eccentrics, Human Marvels, Twentieth Century
Marco Dog and Cat Food—With Kelp!
And we all know how much cats and dogs love to chew kelp!
Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 04, 2023 -
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Category: Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, Cats, Dogs, Twentieth Century
Recc Queens: 1957-1991
What does RECC stand for? "Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation." Bringing electricity to the sticks.Read a short history here.
And what would any self-respecting organization be without crowning a queen? The photos here start in 1957 and go to 1991.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Oct 27, 2023 -
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Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Hillbillies, Country Bumpkins, Ruralism and Flyover Country, Technology, Twentieth Century
Mystery Gadget 107
What's this device for?The answer is here.
Or after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 08, 2023 -
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Category: Technology, Twentieth Century
Tenjō Sajiki
A small sampling of the avant-garde theater of the troupe named Tenjō Sajiki. Their Wikipedia entry.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 11, 2023 -
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Category: Theater and Stage, Avant Garde, Asia, Twentieth Century
Red Hill Jr.‘s Niagara Falls Plunge
Once a common trope, the voluntary plunge over Niagara Falls seems to be extinct. This list at Wikipedia records the last such try as occurring in 2017. Would authorities even allow such an attempt these days?Wikipedia entry for Hill Senior and Junior.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 29, 2023 -
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Category: Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Death, Lakes, Ponds, Rivers, Streams, Swamps and Other Bodies of Fresh Water, North America, Twentieth Century
Harrison Dyar, Amateur Tunneler
Earlier this year, I posted about THE MOLE MAN OF LONDON, an eccentric British fellow who liked to dig tunnels. Well, the USA can hold its own in this category, thanks to Harrison Dyar of Washington, DC. Wikipedia gives a short account of his habit. This long account is much richer.Dyar told the Washington Star that the urge started when he dug a flowerbed for his wife around 1906. "When I was down perhaps 6 or 7 feet, surrounded only by the damp brown walls of old Mother Earth, I was seized by an undeniable fancy to keep on going."
Posted By: Paul - Sun Aug 27, 2023 -
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Category: Eccentrics, Caves, Caverns, Tunnels and Other Subterranean Venues, North America, Twentieth Century
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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 |