1940s
Dollar Dance
If money could talk.....
Posted By: Paul - Sat Sep 22, 2012 -
Comments (6)
Category: Money, PSA’s, Cartoons, 1940s
Nutritional Advice from BOYS’ LIFE
Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 09, 2012 -
Comments (17)
Category: Magazines, Candy, Chocolate, Junk Food, Nutrition, 1930s, 1940s
Spokesbeings Gone Wild
Once upon a time, the Schenley Whiskey Rooster was mild and refined.
Then he turned into some kind of manic, drunken, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride hype machine.
Can readers name any other product mascot that went through a similar transformation over the years?
I'll start with the White Rock Girl, who, by the time the ad below appeared, had gone from Walden-Pond-style meditation to picking up strange men in trains.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Aug 09, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Products, Public Indecency, 1940s
Bad Futurism
If a car this light could ever be built, how would it cope with even a windy day?
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 03, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Technology, Dogs, 1940s, Cars, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
The Thrifty Pig
The Big Bad Wolf was a Nazi?!? Who knew?
Learn more here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 02, 2012 -
Comments (2)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Dictators, Tyrants and Other Harsh Rulers, Government, Money, Propaganda, Thought Control and Brainwashing, PSA’s, Cartoons, 1940s
The Wellingborough Carnival
The town of Wellingborough, UK, has been holding a carnival for over 100 years. The old affairs certainly featured things that look weird to us today. Here's a photo album to peruse.
And the Wellingborough Carnival home page reveals this year's affair is on July 7th! Plenty of time to make your plans to attend!
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 22, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Holidays, Parades and Festivals, Weird Theory, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, Europe
Unfortunate Contextual Slang Usage
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 14, 2012 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Underwear, 1940s, LGBT, Men
Early Example of Godwin’s Law
When stumped for a putdown regarding body odor, you can always invoke Hitler.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 07, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Dictators, Tyrants and Other Harsh Rulers, Hygiene, 1940s
Judd Harris, Gravedigger
Shown is Judd Harris, the gravedigger in Cordova, Alaska circa 1940. He became a gravedigger because it was more certain work than prospecting for gold, though not easier because of the rock and frozen ground. He made $15 to $18 a grave, but averaged only eighteen graves a year... "and some bad years there are hardly a dozen."
You can read about Judd Harris and other Alaskan characters of the mid-twentieth century in Harry Franck's The Lure of Alaska
.
Posted By: Alex - Fri May 25, 2012 -
Comments (2)
Category: Jobs and Occupations, 1940s
Follies of the Mad Men #182
"World War II was won by superior American staples. We're not saying that just because we make and sell them."
The personal bonus: Bostitch is a company from my home state of Rhode Island.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon May 14, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Engineering and Construction, Technology, War, 1940s
| 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 |