Weird Universe Blog — July 19, 2017
L.A. Knockers
The L.A. Knockers was an all-female dance troupe that formed in 1974 and stayed together (with members coming and going) for 12 years.There's a fan page here. And one of the original members has posted a collection of L.A. Knockers videos on YouTube.
It was their name and ultra 70s look that first caught my attention. But when I googled about them, I discovered they also had a run-in with tragedy. One of the original members, Lissa Kastin (middle, above), became a victim of the Hillside Stranglers in 1977.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jul 19, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: 1970s, Dance
Murder by Flypaper
Original story here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 19, 2017 -
Comments (6)
Category: Death, Scary Criminals, Children, 1930s
July 18, 2017
Hot Tub Boat
It's a floating hot tub. The invention of Adam Karpenske of Seattle. Top speed: three-and-a-half knots. Available for rental or purchase.
From the company's FAQ:
A: The sleek design of a Hot Tub Boat allows for a high load capacity. The Hot Tub Boat has been carefully engineered, and the hot tub is positioned on the boat’s center of buoyancy, allowing for remarkable stability, even with 2100 pounds of water.
Also from the FAQ:
More info: King5.com
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jul 18, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Boats
La Bostella
Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 18, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Fads, 1960s, Dance
July 17, 2017
Man-Pleasing Recipes
The title of this 1971 recipe book was somewhat misleading. It claimed to feature "Man-Pleasing Recipes," but really it was a collection of recipes featuring rice as the main ingredient. The booklet was put out by the Rice Council for P.R. purposes. Part of an effort to promote rice as a manly food.Can't say it succeeded. When I think of foods traditionally perceived as "manly," rice isn't one of the things that comes to mind.
source: Amazon.com
The Liberty Vindicator - Sep 7, 1972
One of the "man-pleasing recipes"
Shreveport Times - Oct 14, 1971
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jul 17, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Food, Books, 1970s
Growdina, the Marvelous Bust Developer
I just love the name "Growdina."
Source.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 17, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Body, Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil, Twentieth Century
July 16, 2017
Celery Bikini
Another plant-themed bikini. This time it's Evelyn Hayes who, as "Celery Queen" of National City, CA in 1939, got to wear a celery bikini.Though, again, it wouldn't yet have been called a bikini. More like a celery hula skirt and top.
Pittsburgh Press - Apr 2, 1939
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jul 16, 2017 -
Comments (9)
Category: Fashion, 1930s
Artwork Khrushchev Probably Would Not Have Liked 5
"Lazy, nihilist capitalist tulip cannot stand up straight and proud like honest, hardworking Soviet tulip!"
André Kertész,"Melancholic Tulip," 1939
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 16, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Art, Nature, 1930s, Russia
July 15, 2017
Cactus Bikini
It's become a bit of an iconic image — a young woman wearing a cactus bikini. The photo dates back to 1940 when the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club dressed some University of Arizona coeds up in cactus apparel as a publicity stunt. Of course, it wouldn't have been called a 'bikini' back then, since that term wasn't yet coined. It was called a "cactus sun suit." The suits were made out of Saguaro and prickly pear cacti.The photos then spread far and wide, including into Nazi newspapers, where they were offered as examples of American decadence, "a peak of utter lack of taste."
The model in the top photo is Merri Ciochetti.
Arizona Daily Star - Feb 27, 1945
Update: One more photo from the photoshoot.
San Bernardino Sun - Mar 27, 1940
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jul 15, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Fashion, 1940s
Rolls Royce Gift Card
Source of story.
Apparently still a thing these days, but in digital format.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jul 15, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Motor Vehicles, Gifts, Presents, Tributes, and Other Honoraria
