July 2019
July 26, 2019
The Leaping Lawyer of Toronto
Lawyer Garry Hoy worked on the 24th floor of the Toronto-Dominion Bank Tower. Hi’s favorite trick, during office parties, was to demonstrate how the building's glass windows were unbreakable. He did this by hurling himself at them. But when he performed his trick in July 1993, the window unexpectedly broke, sending him plummeting to his death.Based on notoriety alone, I’d say this has to qualify as one of the top 25 weird news stories of all time. Wikipedia notes that it’s been featured on a number of television shows (such as Mythbusters), and was also re-enacted in the 2006 movie The Darwin Awards.
More info: wikipedia, snopes
The Ottawa Citizen - July 12, 1993
National Post - July 13, 1993
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jul 26, 2019 -
Comments (5)
Category: Death, 1990s
Mystery Illustration 84
You saw Julie Newmar as Elvis. Now which world-famous actress of the 1950s and 1960s is here impersonating Theda Bara?
The answer is at the link.
Or after the jump.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 26, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Movies, Twentieth Century
July 25, 2019
Coal Mining as a hobby
Are these coal miners? Not exactly. They're coal-mining hobbyists, who spend their leisure time down in mines shoveling coal.
In her book Hedonizing Technologies: Paths to Pleasure in Hobbies and Leisure, historian Rachel Maines notes:
Translation: what is work for some, is a pleasure activity for others.
You can check out the website of the coal-mining hobbyists at undergroundminers.com.
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jul 25, 2019 -
Comments (6)
Category: Hobbies and DIY
Phyl and Mikhy
Background info here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 25, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Games, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Sports, Television, Foreign Customs, 1980s, Russia
July 24, 2019
The Atomic Golf Ball
A demonstration that what is possible may not be what is practical.Developed by nuclear physicist William Davidson in 1950, a small amount of radioactive material at the core of the atomic golf ball allowed it to be found using a Geiger counter, should it be hit into the rough. But there were a few problems with the concept:
1: The Geiger counter needed to be pretty close to the ball (within 5 feet) to actually detect it.
2: Not many people own Geiger counters.
3: Even though a single ball didn't pose much of a radiation risk, a bunch of the balls stored together would be a problem. So, it wasn't possible for stores to stock and sell these.
Mechanix Illustrated - Mar 1951
Akron Beacon Journal - Aug 20, 2000
click to enlarge
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jul 24, 2019 -
Comments (4)
Category: Sports, Golf, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1950s
Lonesome and Disgusted
A song written to be deliberately awful.Amazingly, not to be found on YouTube. Listen using the embedded audio below, starting roughly at the 53:20 mark. Actually, the whole show is worth hearing.
Leo De Lyon's Wikipedia page.
Source of quote.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 24, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Humor, Music, 1950s, Nausea, Revulsion and Disgust
July 23, 2019
George Price and Altruism
During the 1960s, scientist George Price came up with a mathematical formula to explain the evolution of altruism. This equation has been described as "the closest thing biology has to E=mc2."Legend has it that Price subsequently became obsessed by proving that altruism was a genuine phenomenon, extending beyond family relations. He did this by giving away all his possessions to random, needy people — to the point that he himself became penniless, was evicted from his apartment, and after living in various squats throughout London, eventually committed suicide.
That's the legend, but Laura Farnworth discovered that, while the story is basically true, there's slightly more to it than that. Such as that Price was also suffering from psychotic delusions. Read more at nautil.us.
George Price
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jul 23, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Eccentrics, Mad Scientists, Evil Geniuses, Insane Villains, 1960s
Thirteen Daughters, Then a Boy
I wonder if this 1953 record has ever been broken?Story here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 23, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Family, Children, World Records, 1950s
July 22, 2019
L’Orange Variee Perfume
From 1925. It came in small bottles designed to look like segments of an orange. Not many bottles of this stuff survive. When intact sets do come up at auction, they can easily fetch over $1000.More info: Box Vox
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jul 22, 2019 -
Comments (0)
Category: 1920s, Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents
Follies of the Madmen #436
Those are plainly loony bin attendants in the background, denoting that this clothing line is worn by crazy people. Gratuitous tape recorder also puzzling.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 22, 2019 -
Comments (5)
Category: Business, Advertising, Fashion, 1960s, Brain Damage
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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 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 |
