Weird Universe Blog — January 18, 2021
Mary Mild
Disney released Mary Poppins in 1964. The next year Ivory Liquid Soap debuted a new mascot: Mary Mild, a flying maid. Seems like an obvious Mary Poppins rip-off to me, though I can't find the similarity mentioned anywhere.Mary Mild didn't last long. Within two years, Ivory had canned her.
The ads below ran in 1966 in magazines such as Ladies Home Journal and Good Housekeeping.
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 18, 2021 -
Comments (4)
Category: Advertising | Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings | 1960s
Follies of the Madmen #497
You'll be able to administer all the spankings you desire, if you buy our shirts!Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jan 18, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Antisocial Activities | Fashion | Public Humiliation | Fetishes | 1940s | Men | Women
January 17, 2021
The Balance Watch
In 2005, John Paul Castro of Santa Monica, CA was granted a patent (No. 6,840,665) for what he called the "Balance Watch". From his patent:
Based on the quality of the artwork in his patent, it's apparent he chose not to splurge and hire a professional illustrator.
As far as I know, the balance watch never made it to market. But it would seem easy enough to make your own. Get two identical watches. Remove the minute hand from one, and the hour hand from the other. Then wear them simultaneously on opposite wrists.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jan 17, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Fashion | Inventions | Technology
The Trash Creations of Dinaa Amin
More at her YouTube channel.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jan 17, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Garbage, Trash, Waste and Other Detritus | Inventions | Outsider Art
January 16, 2021
Perfect Posture Girl
The Wikipedia page for Alexis Smith
San Francisco Examiner - Dec 20, 1942
Birmingham News - May 11, 1942
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jan 16, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests | Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues | 1940s
Kiss Me
The urge to prank is eternal.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 16, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: 1900s | Pranks
January 15, 2021
How to eat your Christmas tree
Artisan baker Julia Georgallis recently came out with a book that promises to tell you How To Eat Your Christmas Tree.
Amazon Link
That sounds like an interesting challenge. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, the book doesn't tell you how to eat the entire tree. Instead, it's mostly about using the needles and bark in recipes.
But some searching on YouTube produced a video that delves into how to eat the entire tree. The catch is that to do so you'll need to pulp the wood and transform it into cellulose powder. Which is probably beyond the means of most people. But the video notes that cellulose powder derived from spruce trees is in many products, including parmesan cheese, pasta sauce, and ice cream. So almost everyone has eaten (highly processed) Christmas trees already.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jan 15, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Food | Christmas
The Umbrellaship
The creator's website.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jan 15, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Eccentrics | Outsider Art | Transportation
January 14, 2021
Anti-Barbecue Preacher
1929: Evangelist G.W. James, who preached against "barbecue sandwiches, cigarets, high-heeled shoes, short skirts, bobbed hair and other modern ideas," announced he was discontinuing his services due to low attendance. If the folks of Normalville wanted to hear him preach, he said, they would need to "indicate a desire for him to resume".
Connellsville Daily Courier - Oct 30, 1929
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 14, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Food | Religion | 1920s
Stunt Rock
The trailer first, then the backstory.The Wikipedia entry.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 14, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Death | Destruction | Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art | Movies | Music | 1980s
