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

The Oshkosh Snozzle

I am trying to picture being a passenger on a flaming airplane when the Snozzle thrusts its tip thru the wall and starts spraying.

Homepage here.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 30, 2017 - Comments (1)
Category: Disasters, Technology, Air Travel and Airlines

Cycle Logic

Posted By: Paul - Wed Mar 01, 2017 - Comments (5)
Category: Disasters, PSA’s, 1970s, Motorcycles

The Great Texas Monorail Disaster of 1968

Somehow this seems like a particularly ignoble way to go, as if you had a fatal bumper-car accident.

Full story here.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 07, 2017 - Comments (0)
Category: Death, Disasters, Fairs, Amusement Parks, and Resorts, Motor Vehicles, 1960s