Advertising
Mystery Illustration 63
I have erased the thing being sold in this ad. But what possible solution is being touted for this man's incredible distress and misfortune?
Answer is here.
Or after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Fri Dec 01, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Advertising, 1960s
Follies of the Madmen #337
This seems to elide the whole issue of whether a stepchild SHOULD be treated badly! It's just a given!
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Nov 27, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Children, 1930s, Face and Facial Expressions
Shampoo as suicide prevention
The idea of people who try to kill themselves three ways at once is something that occasionally pops up in weird news. Though I'm not sure if it really belongs to weird news or is more of an urban legend.Back in 2014, I posted about an attempted 4-way suicide that was reported in 1922. A man tried to torch, hang, poison, and shoot himself simultaneously. But I was also suspicious of that reporting.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Nov 25, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Advertising, Suicide, 1950s
Follies of the Madmen #336
Original ad here.
Wow. This sets the bar pretty high, or pretty far out in the hi-falutin' and pretentious end of the spectrum, in order for a person to purchase or own a ring from Zale's.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 24, 2017 -
Comments (7)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Eccentrics, Family, 1960s
Follies of the Madmen #335
Of course! Playing Monopoly drunk! It's the only way!
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Nov 20, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Games, 1970s, Alcohol
Worst Appliance Innovation Ever
"Sit right down and rest your elbows on these convenient patented elbow warmers."
No idea why this great idea did not catch on.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 18, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Appliances, 1950s, Pain, Self-inflicted and Otherwise
Lotte Fit’s Gum Commercial
Japanese chewing gum promotes uncontrollable muscle spasms.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 17, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Dance, Asia
Follies of the Madmen #334
Suits for brawlers or bullies only?
UPDATE: now unfortunately hidden behind THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE paywall.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 11, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Fashion, 1930s
Follies of the Madmen #333
To me, this ad at first seems to imply that people used whisk brooms on their scalps when they had dandruff. Then I got the meaning that they were always whisking the shoulders of their clothes. But in any case, a liberal application of Listerine--to the scalp, not the shoulders of the clothes--solves everything!
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Nov 06, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Hygiene, 1940s, Head
Follies of the Madmen #332
Wait a minute--this is my own tire on my own car that is being represented as a hideous criminal killer! And since I, the driver, am responsible for my own tires, I must be a hideous criminal killer too!
Way to make your customers feel good about themselves!
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 29, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, Products, 1930s, Cars
| Who We Are |
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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 |