Adopt A Rat

1982: The short-lived Los Angeles "Adopt-a-Rat" program. It lasted about a week. Ended when one of the rats bit a reporter's finger.

(left) Pittsburgh Press - Sep 30, 1982; (right) Paris Texas News - Oct 6, 1982

Posted By: Alex - Tue May 03, 2016 - Comments (6)
Category: Animals, 1980s

STAR WARS Recipes

It never really dawned on me that fans would come up with recipes to accompany these movies, but in retrospect, it only makes sense, and the fad appears to go way back, as seen in this 1983 instance below. Will they issue a new recipe for the newest trailer?




Original article here.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 08, 2016 - Comments (16)
Category: Aliens, Food, Movies, 1980s

Follies of the Madmen #279

[Click to enlarge]

No chipmunks, crickets, rabbits, or fat, slack-jawed, beanie-wearing yokels were actually diced and cooked for these recipes.

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Apr 06, 2016 - Comments (10)
Category: Cannibalism, Food, Cartoons, 1980s

Sisters ate newspaper to survive

February 1980: The Schreiner sisters, Naomi (76) and Ruth (74), were found dead in their Columbus, Ohio home, apparently starved to death. In the house were found "little rolls of newspaper on plates as if the women had been eating them."

Neighbors had sensed something was going wrong with the sisters for a while, and some had offered to help but had been told by the sisters to mind their own business.

The Bryan Times - Feb 13, 1980

Posted By: Alex - Fri Apr 01, 2016 - Comments (11)
Category: Death, 1980s

Strip-o-Scam

December 1989: In Des Plaines, Illinois, a man was reported to be showing up at the door of single women and telling them he was a male stripper hired as a gift by one of their friends. It's not known how often this ploy was successful, but if asked to go, he would leave.

The guy came to the attention of the police after one woman, who had invited him in to do his act, suspected he wasn't on the level because he was wearing "dingy" underwear. She noted, "They were supposed to be white, and in the back the band was torn."

Oddly, he only ever showed up at women's homes on Tuesdays.

Doesn't sound like the guy was caught, but I wonder if they could have charged him with anything. Is it illegal to impersonate a stripper?

More info: Chicago Tribune, 12/12/1989

Newsweek - Jan 1, 1990

Posted By: Alex - Mon Mar 07, 2016 - Comments (4)
Category: Crime, 1980s

The Last Dragon

I only wish I could find the complete movie of THE LAST DRAGON for you. But barring that, you might be satisfied with the theme song and a clip.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Feb 21, 2016 - Comments (5)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Movies, Music, Martial Arts, 1980s

Flying Fish a Hazard

[Click to enlarge]

Original article here.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Feb 07, 2016 - Comments (4)
Category: Fish, Air Travel and Airlines, 1980s, North America

Objected to taking out trash

One for the weird death file. The tragic case of Jamella Jackson, age 12.

Cincinnati Enquirer - Feb 15, 1985

Posted By: Alex - Sun Jan 31, 2016 - Comments (6)
Category: Death, 1980s

Greatest Shoplifter Ever?

Original article here.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Nov 29, 2015 - Comments (7)
Category: Crime, Retailing, 1980s

Style Wars

Return with us now to those thrilling days from 35 years ago, when every urban space was covered in illegible vandalism, and break-dancing ruled the pavements.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Nov 15, 2015 - Comments (1)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Urban Life, Subways, Outsider Art, 1980s