Disasters
The Reid Flying Submarine
More pix and article here.
It wasn't a high-tech machine, despite its abilities. In the air it was powered by a 65 horsepower four-cylinder Lycoming engine. While underwater a 1-horsepower electric motor provided propulsion. Conversion from aircraft to submarine was a clumsy affair. The pilot first had to remove the propeller, and then cover the engine pylon with a rubber diving bell to keep the engine dry. The pilot used an aqualung to breathe. Maximum depth was roughly 10 to 12 ft (3.5 metres).
From THE SATURDAY EVENING POST for January 1, 1966.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Aug 21, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Death, Disasters, Inventions, Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, Air Travel and Airlines, 1960s
Balloonfest ‘86
From Wikipedia:Balloonfest '86 was a 1986 event in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, in which the local chapter of United Way set a world record by releasing almost one-and-a-half million balloons.[2] The event was intended to be a harmless fundraising publicity stunt, but the balloons drifted back over the city, Lake Erie, and landed in the surrounding area, causing problems for traffic and a nearby airport. The event also interfered with a United States Coast Guard search for two boaters who were later found drowned.[1] In consequence, the organizers and the city faced lawsuits seeking millions of dollars in damages,[1] and cost overruns put the event at a net loss.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 18, 2021 -
Comments (4)
Category: Charities and Philanthropy, Disasters, Noises and Other Public Disturbances of the Peace, Urban Life, Air Travel and Airlines, 1980s
The Crash at Crush
Sep 15, 1896: Over 30,000 spectators watched as two locomotives were deliberately collided head-on. The event was a publicity stunt staged in Texas, about midway between Waco and Hillsboro. It was named the "Crash at Crush" after the railroad agent William George Crush, who had dreamed up the spectacle.The event didn't exactly go as planned. The boilers of the locomotives exploded upon impact, despite the earlier assurances of engineers that this wouldn't happen, sending shrapnel into the crowd. Several were killed. Many more were injured. According to TexasEscapes.com:
There's now a historical marker at the site of the collision.
More info: Farm Collector
source: Baylor University
Posted By: Alex - Wed Apr 28, 2021 -
Comments (4)
Category: Disasters, Nineteenth Century, Trains
An Artificial Sun
Read the whole piece here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Apr 30, 2020 -
Comments (2)
Category: Armageddon and Apocalypses, Death, Destruction, Disasters, Technology, Crackpots, 1920s
The Frank Landslide
The Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 20, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Death, Destruction, Disasters, Nature, 1900s, North America
Follies of the Madmen #430
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jun 24, 2019 -
Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Disasters, Public Indecency, Sex Symbols, 1950s
The Garbage Pail Kids Movie
The Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Feb 08, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Antisocial Activities, Bums, Hobos, Tramps, Beggars, Panhandlers and Other Streetpeople, Disasters, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Movies, 1980s, Fictional Monsters
Follies of the Madmen #393
Our soft drink is equivalent to a life-endangering catastrophic event.
Source of B&W ad here (scroll right).
Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 03, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: Business, Advertising, Disasters, Soda, Pop, Soft Drinks and other Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 1960s, Weather
The Encyclopedia of World Problems
Do you not have enough problems in your life? Do the internet and other media fail to bring world problems to your attention? If this is your dilemma, rest easy! A solution is at hand! Simply visit THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WORLD PROBLEMS. There, you can choose from thousands of problems to worry about. Maybe you want something concrete, such as VIOLENT CRIME. Or maybe you'd like to focus on something more numinous, like UNMEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS TO PLACE. Whatever your worrying needs, you can rely on THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WORLD PROBLEMS to provide grist for your anxieties.Here is a picture and review of the first (print) edition from 1976.
Source of article.
Posted By: Paul - Thu May 31, 2018 -
Comments (2)
Category: Addictions, Annoying Things, Armageddon and Apocalypses, Destruction, Disasters, Emotions, Moral Panics and Public Hysteria, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, 1970s
The Land of Oz Playground
Alas, for human failure:The Land of Oz playground was located within the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks War Memorial Park located at 14201 Huston Street in Sherman Oaks. Planning for the playground, which broke ground on November 27, 1964, began as a joint venture between the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department, the Van Nuys Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Children's Play Park Association. However, lack of funding for the 'Wizard of Oz' themed playground caused construction to drag on for more than a decade. In the end, the city withdrew further support for the failed project which was left incomplete and with only a few structures standing, the 'Over the Rainbow' bridge and 'Munchkinland' castle. Over the years, with no funding for maintenance or security, the play area and its structures fell victim to gang and drug activity, vandalism, and decay and were demolished in the late 1980's.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 25, 2017 -
Comments (0)
Category: Disasters, Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, Government, Fantasy, 1960s
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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 |