Weird Universe Archive

December 2018

December 7, 2018

Follies of the Madmen #399



Of course the sole of one's foot resembles a snooty toff with monocle--after your LSD trip!

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Dec 07, 2018 - Comments (0)
Category: Business, Advertising, Drugs, Shoes, 1940s, Feet

December 6, 2018

When Yogi Rao walked on water

Lakshmanasandra Srikanta Rao was an Indian yogi who claimed to have such total control over his body that he could eat glass, swallow poison, eat live vipers, walk on fire, and even survive an atomic bomb. But basically he was just a stage magician who knew a few tricks and put on a good act.

He made headlines in the 1950s when he moved to America and gained heiress Doris Duke as a follower, but he returned to India after only a few months, apparently recognizing that he had gotten in over his head and promised his followers more than he could deliver.

He laid low until 1966 when he returned to headlines with his claim that he was going to publicly walk on water. Over 600 paid to see him do this, including some of the most famous people in India. But Rao took one step and plunged right to the bottom of the pool he was supposed to walk across.

What had he been thinking? Had he somehow convinced himself that he really could walk on water? Maybe. He was later quoted as expressing regret at his failure, saying, “I am so angry that I feel like drowning myself even if I have to tie a stone round my neck to do so.”

Two years later he offered to try again, to prove he was for real, but the performance never happened.

You can read more about Rao's colorful career in this interesting article by Philip Deslippe.



Tampa Tribune - June 13, 1966



La Crosse Tribune - Mar 14, 1965

Posted By: Alex - Thu Dec 06, 2018 - Comments (4)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, 1960s

December 5, 2018

Meats for Babies

Back in the late 1940s and early 50s, Swift's urged mothers to start feeding their babies canned, processed meat at 6 weeks because "Results of actual test feedings with six-weeks-old infants show meat gives baby a better start in life!”

I'm no expert, but six weeks seems awful early to start feeding your kid meat, even if it has been pureed into meat mush. Aren't most kids still on breast milk or formula at six weeks?



Boston Globe - Apr 4, 1948

Posted By: Alex - Wed Dec 05, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Babies, Food, 1950s

Arthur Godfrey Sings MARIAN THE LIBRARIAN

An absolutely horrible version of a great song.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Dec 05, 2018 - Comments (0)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Music, Libraries, 1950s

December 4, 2018

Shoe-Swapping Fad

The hot high-school fad of 1947, according to Life magazine:

Every morning before school, girls meet on school steps and swap one shoe and sock with a friend. Then they walk around with shoes that do not match.

Couldn't have been comfortable walking around all day with mismatched shoes. Fashion over comfort, I guess.

Life - Nov 17, 1947


Posted By: Alex - Tue Dec 04, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Fads, Shoes, 1940s

Ostrich Carts



Why these never caught on, I couldn't imagine.

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 04, 2018 - Comments (0)
Category: Animals, Travel, 1910s

December 3, 2018

The Tractor Fender Will of Cecil George Harris

June 8, 1948: Cecil George Harris got pinned under his tractor. Fearing he wouldn't survive, he scratched the following message onto the fender of the tractor: "In case I die in this mess I leave all to the wife. Cecil Geo Harris."

He did end up dying, but his scratched message was accepted as a valid will by the courts, and has served as a precedent ever since for cases of holographic or handwritten wills. The fender is preserved to this day at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law.

More info: Global News



Posted By: Alex - Mon Dec 03, 2018 - Comments (0)
Category: Death, Law

Mystery Gadget 69



What's it for? There's a clue in its surroundings.

The answer is here.

Or after the jump.

More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 03, 2018 - Comments (5)
Category: Technology, 1950s

December 2, 2018

Name That List, #51

What is this a list of? The answer is below in extended.

  • Bamboo Harvester
  • Bart
  • Buddy
  • Crystal
  • Jimmy
  • Moose
  • Orangey
  • Pal
  • Skippy
  • Tai
  • Terry


More in extended >>

Posted By: Alex - Sun Dec 02, 2018 - Comments (6)
Category: Name That List

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