1940s
Follies of the Madmen #411
Surreal pajama ad from armaments manufacturer.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Feb 07, 2019 -
Comments (5)
Category: Business, Advertising, Fashion, Surrealism, 1940s
Artwork Khrushchev Probably Would Not Have Liked 19
Not sure how I'd feel about this sculpture if I were a British woman.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 05, 2019 -
Comments (6)
Category: Art, 1940s, 1950s, Europe, Russia
Official White House Squirrel Feeder
Odd trivia: Rick Feeney is arguably the longest-serving White House appointee ever, having served as the Official White House Squirrel Feeder since 1949, when Truman appointed him to the post. Having never been replaced, he presumably still holds the role. Feeney was 5 years old when appointed, which would make him about 75 now. I wonder what would happen if he wandered up to the White House and insisted on being able to perform his squirrel feeding duty.The story goes that his father (who was Truman’s administrative assistant) took him to the White House in 1949 to meet the president, whereupon Feeney informed Truman that the White House squirrels were skinnier than the ones in Lafayette Park. So Truman promptly appointed him to be the White House squirrel feeder, noting that the Senate was in recess so their confirmation wasn’t needed. Feeney was to serve “at the pleasure of the President.”
In 1974, when Feeney was 29, he noted that it was really time for someone to replace him, but no other Squirrel Feeder has ever been appointed.
More details at Southern Maryland This Is Living.
Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin - Sep 6, 1974
A children's book published in 2016 tells the story of the White House squirrel feeder. Available on Amazon.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Feb 03, 2019 -
Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Politics, 1940s
Paper Moon “Musickette” by Wah Chang
Paper Moon "Musickette" by Wah Chang, 1948 from the films of Wah Ming Chang on Vimeo.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Feb 02, 2019 -
Comments (0)
Category: Music, Puppets and Automatons, Surrealism, 1940s
Laura the Nazi-Saluting Parrot
At the end of World War II, the Allied forces wanted to make sure that Nazism didn't rise again in Germany. So they implemented a program of denazification, making it a criminal act, punishable by up to three years in prison, to display Nazi symbols such as the swastika or to give the Nazi salute. However, they encountered resistance from an unusual quarter: a 15-year-old white, female, South-American parrot named Laura who lived in a cage at Munich's Hellabrunn Zoo. This bird had the disturbing habit of greeting visitors by loudly squawking the phrase 'Heil Hitler' as she bobbed her head up and down.
Children at the Munich Zoo hoping to hear Laura say her signature phrase. Image via icp.org.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 24, 2019 -
Comments (7)
Category: Animals, 1940s
Follies of the Madmen #404
Not entirely sure why any company would emphasize the sufferings of its "antagonist" so dramatically. It would be like saying, "Poor germs! Doctors are killing them all!"
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 02, 2019 -
Comments (0)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Advertising, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, 1940s, Pain, Self-inflicted and Otherwise, Fictional Monsters
Ralph Slater, Hypnotist Against Hitler
I suspect that Slater would pitch anything just to get publicity.Here he claims he can deprogram Nazis.
He did not fare so well in 1948.
Here's the man himself.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Dec 23, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: Delusions, Fantasies and Other Tricks of the Imagination, Crackpots, 1940s
Follies of the Madmen #401
Not quite sure why a kangaroo would be deemed an apt symbol for a conservation-minded USA citizen. Weren't there any miserly Scotsmen available?
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 17, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Money, Stereotypes and Cliches, 1940s, Alcohol
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
Shoe-Swapping Fad
The hot high-school fad of 1947, according to Life magazine: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
| Get WU Posts by Email | |
|---|---|
| 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. Our banner was drawn by the legendary underground cartoonist Rick Altergott. Contact Us |