Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues
Mystery Girl of 1947
Pulp International reveals:The Mystery Writers of America, which was founded in 1945 in New York City and soon expanded to other locations, in its early years used to throw what they called a Clues Party. In November 1947 the party was in Chicago, and the MWA awarded the title of Mystery Girl to the woman who performed best in a scream test—as opposed to screen test. Four contestants—Marybeth Prebis, Betty Rosboro, Bobby Jo Rodgers, and Portia Kubin—let fly with their most bloodcurdling screams, and the winner was Kubin, above.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Sep 23, 2023 -
Comments (4)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Literature, Books, 1940s, Screams, Grunts and Other Exclamations
Rare Bird Beauty Contest
Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 15, 2023 -
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Category: Animals, Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, 1940s
Miss Union Label
I thought this was fitting for Labor Day Weekend!
Posted By: Paul - Sat Sep 02, 2023 -
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Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Tradesmen, Manual Laborers, and Skilled Workers, 1950s
Miss Juke Box, Revisited
A few months ago, I made a post titled "Miss Juke Box" that involved a song of that name. But now, with more diligent research, I actually find some beauty contest queens under that rubric. Alas, I cannot identify the woman in the first photo.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 15, 2023 -
Comments (3)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Music, Technology, Twentieth Century
Breathing Balloon
"will develop your form, if that's what you want".
Mechanix Illustrated - Sep 1949
Posted By: Alex - Sat Aug 05, 2023 -
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Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Inventions, Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil, 1940s
The Perfect Back Contest
Several different organizations conducted contests for "The Perfect Back." (Why no males were ever invited escapes me.) But the National Chiropractic Association version seems the longest-running and most-publicized. The fellow enjoying himself is one Dr. Charles Wood.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 21, 2023 -
Comments (2)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Body, Medicine, Twentieth Century
Miss Marine Recruiter
The earliest instance I find is 1952; the latest, 1974.Here's one gal from each decade--with a bonus dog!
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 06, 2023 -
Comments (4)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Propaganda, Thought Control and Brainwashing, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, Armed Forces
Rodeo Sweetheart
The earliest reference I find to a "Rodeo Sweetheart" is 1929. And the tradition is still flourishing today.To get in the mood for appreciating this longtime contest, you can listen to the classic Byrds album.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 03, 2023 -
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Category: Animals, Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Regionalism, Twentieth Century, Twenty-first Century, Circuses, Carnivals, and Other Traveling Shows
An orthopedic appliance to produce permanent smiles
Patented by Josephine Rountree in 1926.I wouldn't call having this thing strapped to your face as "without inconvenience to the user."
Another object of the invention is to provide an appliance which will gradually train the muscles at the corners of the mouth into the position assumed by the act of smiling, without inconvenience to the user.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jul 02, 2023 -
Comments (5)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Patents, 1920s
Miss America 1886 (Contest of 1936)
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 30, 2023 -
Comments (1)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Elderly and Seniors, 1930s, Nineteenth Century
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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, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. 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. Contact Us |