Eccentrics
The Attack-Trained Iguanas of Irenee du Pont
Irénée du Pont was president of the Du Pont Company from 1919 to 1925, and remained on its board of directors until 1958.He built a mansion named Xanadu down in Cuba, where he trained iguanas to attack and kill on his command. Details from Du Pont Dynasty: Behind the Nylon Curtain by Gerard Colby:
"Irénée du Pont, 80, bends to pat an iguana on his Cuban estate where many of these lizards wander. He feeds them papaya from jar he holds"
Life - Aug 19, 1957
Posted By: Alex - Wed Sep 08, 2021 -
Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Eccentrics
The Odd Downfall of Mary Carolyn Davies
From pulp writer and poet to Skid Row: writing has never been an easy career.
Read the whole arc of her life here.
Read some of her fiction at the Internet Archive.
Newspaper clip from The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware) 08 Feb 1940, Thu Page 20
Posted By: Paul - Sun Aug 29, 2021 -
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Category: Eccentrics, Literature, Money, Twentieth Century
Carl Casper’s Phone Booth Car
Visit this page to see a modern version.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Aug 27, 2021 -
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Category: Eccentrics, Toys, 1960s, Cars
Dannie Druehyld, Only Official Witch of Denmark, Has Passed
Some interesting videos, not in English, at the obituary.
Dannie Druehyld knew every single plant and stone in Rold Skov, after calling the forest [her] home for more than 30 years. Now Denmark has lost its only officially registered witch. Dannie Druehyld died on Monday, aged 74. She leaves behind a daughter and a granddaughter.
According to Dannie Druehyld, she was a witch before she was born, and in Rold Skov she has over the years taught children and adults about the forest's magic, folk beliefs and ancient wisdom through her workshop in the Rebild Center. She has also published several books, including "The Witch's Handbook", which tells about witch life all year round.
Posted By: Paul - Wed May 05, 2021 -
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Category: Eccentrics, New Age, Religion, Rituals and Superstitions, Supernatural, Occult, Paranormal, Europe
Goliath Messiah, the backward-running mystic
1938: Bronx-resident Goliath Messiah celebrated his 72nd birthday by running backwards for three miles. This was an annual birthday tradition for him. He attributed his good health to a diet of "tree bark, fruit, green vegetables and a pint of wine daily." Also, he claimed to be a descendant of Xerxes.Later he moved to Death Valley where, he predicted, his daily five-mile hikes would allow him to live to be 150. I haven't been able to find out what age he actually was when he died. I suspect Goliath Messiah wasn't the name the government knew him by, which makes it difficult to get info about him.
Los Angeles Times - Apr 25, 1938
San Bernardino County Sun - July 22, 1941
Posted By: Alex - Wed Mar 17, 2021 -
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Category: Eccentrics, 1930s
The Umbrellaship
The creator's website.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jan 15, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Eccentrics, Outsider Art, Transportation
Catweazle
The Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 05, 2021 -
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Category: Eccentrics, History, Historical Figure, Magic and Illusions and Sleight of Hand, Television, 1970s
Dynamite Pete, Nebraska Hermit
A fascinating story in detail here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 29, 2020 -
Comments (3)
Category: Eccentrics, Hermits, Regionalism, North America, Twentieth Century
The Lives and Portraits of Curious and Odd Characters
Read the whole book here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 24, 2020 -
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Category: Eccentrics, United Kingdom, Nineteenth Century
W. C. Rice’s Cross Garden
More pics here.An account of the place here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Dec 20, 2020 -
Comments (0)
Category: Eccentrics, Regionalism, Religion, North America
| Who We Are |
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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 |