Follies of the Madmen #603

Don't bees have intimate relations with (swimsuit women) flowers?

Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 20, 2024 - Comments (3)
Category: Fashion | Insects and Spiders | Swimming, Snorkeling, and Diving | Advertising | 1950s

Carbon-Negative Perfume

The Air Company is developing technology to make aviation fuel directly from CO₂. As a side gimmick, they also used their technology to make ethanol from CO₂, which they then used as a base for a perfume. They claimed it was "the world’s first carbon-negative fragrance."

I wonder what makes it carbon negative, as opposed to carbon neutral?

From what I understand, ethanol made from plants would be carbon neutral if it weren't for the energy used to process the plants into fuel. Because plants take in carbon as they grow, and this carbon is then released again when the fuel is burned.

The Air Company specifies that they used only wind and solar energy to make the ethanol. But even so, once someone uses the fragrance, the carbon will be released into the atmosphere again. Doesn't that make it carbon neutral, rather than negative?

More info: aircompany.com

Posted By: Alex - Mon Aug 19, 2024 - Comments (4)
Category: Environmentalism and Ecology | Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents

“Dude” on Broadway

One of the most spectacular theatrical bombs. Read the full story here.

And also here, with more pix.

The Wikipedia page.

I am going to include some quotes from the 1972 NYT article on this massive failure, but the whole piece is behind their paywall.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 19, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art | Success & Failure | Theater and Stage | 1970s

The model is not wearing a t-shirt and pants

Or is she?



A creation of University Arts London student Mimi Yoo. She explains:




via gastt Fashion

Posted By: Alex - Sun Aug 18, 2024 - Comments (4)
Category: Fashion

Electric Dumb Bell

Couldn't you achieve the same thing by just sticking your finger in a wall socket while exercising?

Full patent here.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Aug 18, 2024 - Comments (1)
Category: Exercise and Fitness | Patents | 1920s | Bodybuilding | Pain, Self-inflicted and Otherwise

The Roll-a-Ray Fat Remover

Introduced in 1948, by 1950 the Roll-a-Ray had been banned by the FDA. It was simply two rubber rollers with an electric light bulb mounted behind them.

Detroit Free Press - Nov 21, 1948

FDA Consumer - Feb 1977

Posted By: Alex - Sat Aug 17, 2024 - Comments (3)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams | 1940s | Dieting and Weight Loss

The Goofus Club

There seem to have been innumerable organizations with this name. One, from the 1920s, focused on sports. One from the 1960s featured amateur magicians. So I am not sure how the first song represents "The Goofus Clubs of America." But you can enjoy the various versions anyhow.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Aug 17, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Geeks, Nerds and Pointdexters | Music | Twentieth Century

The Shrink

Poetry of the insane?

Posted By: Alex - Fri Aug 16, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Music | Television | Psychology | 1980s | Mental Health and Insanity

Novelty Wig

FINALLY, I can achieve the effect so often seen in cartoons and gag panels!

Full patent here.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Aug 16, 2024 - Comments (4)
Category: Wigs, Hairpieces, Fake Eyelashes, Implants, and other Prosthetics | Patents | 1920s | Pranks

Nylon panties in a bottle

Feb 1956: An unnamed English man found a pair of nylon panties inside a bottle that had washed up on a beach near Bognor Regis. An accompanying note explained that a Finnish sailor had put the panties in the bottle. The man presented the panties to his wife who was reportedly "delighted with them."

The London Sunday People - Feb 26, 1956

Posted By: Alex - Thu Aug 15, 2024 - Comments (2)
Category: 1950s