Weird Universe Archive

November 2017

November 15, 2017

Bikini Experiment

So why was Simone Harris standing on a Sydney street in a bikini? Was this a publicity stunt? Was she a psychologist conducting research? A performance artist being weird? I haven't been able to find answers anywhere.

Racine Journal Times - June 17, 1970

Posted By: Alex - Wed Nov 15, 2017 - Comments (2)
Category: Experiments, Psychology, 1970s

Mystery Illustration 62



Who, where, why?

The answer is here.


And after the jump.

More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 15, 2017 - Comments (4)
Category:

November 14, 2017

Craigslist Art

In an article on artsy.net, Scott Indrisek explores the strange subculture of craigslist art, which involves artists posting offbeat requests on craigslist and seeing what happens. Some examples:

Kenneth Tam offered cash to any couple who would let him observe, and film, an ordinary dinner in their home while he sat, silent, in the background.



For her 2009 “Lucky Tiger” series, Laurel Nakadate "took playfully suggestive self-portraits, and then found men via Craigslist who were willing to 'cover their hands with fingerprinting ink and touch the photographs while discussing them and passing them around.'"



For the audio installation Goodnight Call, Sophie Barbasch "provided her phone number and asked strangers to 'leave me a goodnight voicemail before you go to sleep at night as though we have been together for years.'"

Posted By: Alex - Tue Nov 14, 2017 - Comments (0)
Category: Art

Dali’s CHAOS AND CREATION

I would like to find the whole 17-minute video of Dali's CHAOS AND CREATION, especially after reading the description in the newspaper article. But I can only find bits and pieces. The second clip shows a brief image of the motorcycle in the pigpen.







Original article here.



Foto source.



Foto source, more at site.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Nov 14, 2017 - Comments (2)
Category: Animals, Art, Avant Garde, Pop Art, Surrealism, 1960s, Motorcycles

November 13, 2017

Miss Vacant Lot of the World

The Miss Vacant Lot of the World contest was started in 1972. It was part of the Annual Armadillo Exposition and Confab held in Victoria, Texas. The contest rules were as follows:

The contest will be open to women between the ages of 18 and 65. Mandatory requirements of the contest will be certified proof of one of the following happening to the contestant while a child: broken arm or leg, dog bite, one or more of the various childhood diseases, such as measles, chickenpox, mumps, etc. If medical evidence cannot be provided, a note from the mother will be accepted. Contestants will have three minutes in the final judging to exhibit their talents, which can be anything. Judging will be on the basis of dress and talent. Beauty will not be a factor.

Valley Morning Star - May 26, 1975



Here's what I was able to find out about the first six winners of the Miss Vacant Lot title:

1972: Cindy Hudler won for her "dance of the Dasypodidae" which involved waltzing around a vacant lot in an armadillo suit.
1973: Modine Gunch won for standing on her head while spinning a hula-hoop on one leg.
1974: Algeria Sadberry won for playing a song through her nose.
1975: Elvira Rose Hunt (aka Karen Janecka) won for stuffing 264 pennies in her mouth.
1976: Linda Strelczyk won by stuffing 200 poptop tabs into her size 36EEE bikini bra while singing a song titled "Keep Your Finger Out Of It; It Don't Belong To You."
1977: A 200-pound woman (unnamed) won for dressing like an armadillo and singing an armadillo song.



Some of the prizes that the winners received included a trophy, a $25 check, a gift certificate, a bouquet of weeds, and a picture of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. They also got to wear the Armadillo Crown.

The contest was discontinued in 1979. The organizers noted, "you can only tell the same joke so many times." However, it seems that it was revived at various times, such as in the late 1980s and again in 2011.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Nov 13, 2017 - Comments (4)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, 1970s

November 12, 2017

Keg of Ranch

Hidden Valley has made it possible to buy a mini keg of ranch dressing for $50. This gets you five liters of ranch, or 169 fl oz. The keg is conveniently stackable, in case you need more than one.

Fortune.com worked out that you can buy 160 oz of ranch in bottles for $30. So you're paying a $20 premium for the keg.

You can order one here.

Posted By: Alex - Sun Nov 12, 2017 - Comments (4)
Category: Food, Overpriced Merchandise

The Door From Which There Is No Escape



Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Nov 12, 2017 - Comments (6)
Category: Drugs, PSA’s, 1970s

November 11, 2017

Picnic Table Pyramid

Was it a prank, or was it art?

Des Moines Tribune - Aug 1, 1963

Posted By: Alex - Sat Nov 11, 2017 - Comments (1)
Category: 1960s, Pranks

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

Page 4 of 6 pages ‹ First  < 2 3 4 5 6 > 




Get WU Posts by Email

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner


weird universe thumbnail
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 books such as Elephants on Acid.

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.

Chuck Shepherd
Chuck is the purveyor of News of the Weird, the syndicated column which for decades has set the gold-standard for reporting on oddities and the bizarre.

Our banner was drawn by the legendary underground cartoonist Rick Altergott.

Contact Us
Monthly Archives
March 2024 •  February 2024 •  January 2024

December 2023 •  November 2023 •  October 2023 •  September 2023 •  August 2023 •  July 2023 •  June 2023 •  May 2023 •  April 2023 •  March 2023 •  February 2023 •  January 2023

December 2022 •  November 2022 •  October 2022 •  September 2022 •  August 2022 •  July 2022 •  June 2022 •  May 2022 •  April 2022 •  March 2022 •  February 2022 •  January 2022

December 2021 •  November 2021 •  October 2021 •  September 2021 •  August 2021 •  July 2021 •  June 2021 •  May 2021 •  April 2021 •  March 2021 •  February 2021 •  January 2021

December 2020 •  November 2020 •  October 2020 •  September 2020 •  August 2020 •  July 2020 •  June 2020 •  May 2020 •  April 2020 •  March 2020 •  February 2020 •  January 2020

December 2019 •  November 2019 •  October 2019 •  September 2019 •  August 2019 •  July 2019 •  June 2019 •  May 2019 •  April 2019 •  March 2019 •  February 2019 •  January 2019

December 2018 •  November 2018 •  October 2018 •  September 2018 •  August 2018 •  July 2018 •  June 2018 •  May 2018 •  April 2018 •  March 2018 •  February 2018 •  January 2018

December 2017 •  November 2017 •  October 2017 •  September 2017 •  August 2017 •  July 2017 •  June 2017 •  May 2017 •  April 2017 •  March 2017 •  February 2017 •  January 2017

December 2016 •  November 2016 •  October 2016 •  September 2016 •  August 2016 •  July 2016 •  June 2016 •  May 2016 •  April 2016 •  March 2016 •  February 2016 •  January 2016

December 2015 •  November 2015 •  October 2015 •  September 2015 •  August 2015 •  July 2015 •  June 2015 •  May 2015 •  April 2015 •  March 2015 •  February 2015 •  January 2015

December 2014 •  November 2014 •  October 2014 •  September 2014 •  August 2014 •  July 2014 •  June 2014 •  May 2014 •  April 2014 •  March 2014 •  February 2014 •  January 2014

December 2013 •  November 2013 •  October 2013 •  September 2013 •  August 2013 •  July 2013 •  June 2013 •  May 2013 •  April 2013 •  March 2013 •  February 2013 •  January 2013

December 2012 •  November 2012 •  October 2012 •  September 2012 •  August 2012 •  July 2012 •  June 2012 •  May 2012 •  April 2012 •  March 2012 •  February 2012 •  January 2012

December 2011 •  November 2011 •  October 2011 •  September 2011 •  August 2011 •  July 2011 •  June 2011 •  May 2011 •  April 2011 •  March 2011 •  February 2011 •  January 2011

December 2010 •  November 2010 •  October 2010 •  September 2010 •  August 2010 •  July 2010 •  June 2010 •  May 2010 •  April 2010 •  March 2010 •  February 2010 •  January 2010

December 2009 •  November 2009 •  October 2009 •  September 2009 •  August 2009 •  July 2009 •  June 2009 •  May 2009 •  April 2009 •  March 2009 •  February 2009 •  January 2009

December 2008 •  November 2008 •  October 2008 •  September 2008 •  August 2008 •  July 2008 •