Category:
1950s

Name Change

July 1959: Upon becoming a U.S. citizen, Turkish-born Haroutioun A. Aprahamian changed his name to Haroutioun A. Abrahamian.

I know this got reported as weird news in the 1950s because it seemed like an odd twist on the phenomenon of immigrants Americanizing their names, but this guy probably just wanted to correct the spelling of his name which perhaps had been misspelled by an immigration official.

When my dad moved to the States from Germany in the 40s, our last name Böse got written as Boese, making it unpronounceable. My sister was smart enough to start spelling it as "Bose" from an early age (actually, whenever possible she insists it be spelled "Böse"), but I never did, so now I'm stuck with the unpronounceable spelling.

The Wilmington News Journal - July 11, 1959

Posted By: Alex - Wed Apr 27, 2016 - Comments (10)
Category: Odd Names, 1950s

Smart Watches of the 1950s

Modern "smart watches" can tell you how far you've walked and monitor your heart rate. But watches in the 1950s could also do that. Just in a different way.

The Sedalia Democrat - Aug 13, 1959

Posted By: Alex - Mon Apr 25, 2016 - Comments (7)
Category: Technology, 1950s

Three-Winged Chickens

1950: Scientists at UCLA breed three-winged chickens. More buffalo wings on one bird!

Herald and News (Klamath Falls, Oregon) - Nov 9, 1950



The Eugene Guard - Nov 15, 1950

Posted By: Alex - Thu Apr 21, 2016 - Comments (9)
Category: Animals, Science, Experiments, 1950s

Clock Ladies of Frankfurt

November 1950: To advertise a Watch and Clock Makers fair, young women were hired to wander around the streets of Frankfurt carrying giant clocks on their backs.

The Eagle (Bryan, Texas) - Nov 8, 1950

Posted By: Alex - Sun Apr 17, 2016 - Comments (2)
Category: 1950s

Raining Money

December 1953: A few days before Christmas it rained money in Maple Park, Illinois, after a money sack fell off a train, burst open, and the wind scattered the bills everywhere. $26,000 in all. The honest townsfolk picked up and returned all but $890 of the money.

Chicago Tribune - Dec 24, 1953

Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 12, 2016 - Comments (6)
Category: 1950s

Follies of the Madmen #280



Long ago, "There's something about an Aqua Velva man" was a universally known motto.

But what the hell is "humectin?"

From Wikipedia: "A humectant is a hygroscopic substance used to keep things moist; it is the opposite of a desiccant."

So "humectin" is just some common moisturizing element.

Whatever it is, it's certainly gone upscale in the 21st century. $70.00 per bottle!!!



image

[Click to enlarge]

Posted By: Paul - Mon Apr 11, 2016 - Comments (12)
Category: Hygiene, Perfume and Other Scents, 1950s, Facial Hair

Know Your Missiles!

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[Click to enlarge]

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Apr 10, 2016 - Comments (17)
Category: Hobbies and DIY, Children, 1950s, Weapons

Hat Styles From the Kitchen

Posted By: Paul - Sat Apr 09, 2016 - Comments (3)
Category: Domestic, Surrealism, Headgear, 1950s

Lap Driving Banned

A 1950's effort to stop distracted driving.

But what was going on in Cheboygan that they felt a need for an ordinance against this form of distracted driving specifically?

The Pittsburgh Press - Dec 28, 1952


CHEBOYGAN, Mich., Dec 27 (UP) — Traffic violation penalties going into effect here Jan. 1 include a $5 fine for any motorist caught driving with a woman on his lap.

Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 05, 2016 - Comments (10)
Category: Regulations, 1950s, Cars

Chicago’s Acro-Theater



Plays that also featured acrobatic & gymnastic stunts. I'm thinking Shakespeare should be performed this way. Hamlet's soliloquy delivered on a trampoline.



More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Tue Apr 05, 2016 - Comments (9)
Category: Entertainment, Exercise and Fitness, Regionalism, Sports, Performance Art, 1940s, 1950s

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Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes.

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