Fanta Pomelo Ad and Sequel

Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 21, 2021 - Comments ()
Category: Aliens, Humor, Science, Advertising, Twenty-first Century

Advertising Club Beauty Contest

Miss Margaret Gorman presenting the wooden loving-cup to "Miss" Alexandria, winner of the Advertising Club's "beauty" contest, held at the Raleigh yesterday. In business life pretty "Miss" Alexandria is Sylvan Oppenheimer. "Miss Congress Heights," the young "lady" with the rolling pin, is Allan De Ford. The debonair "Miss" Georgetown is Sidney Selinger and the charming young lady with the raven locks, "Miss Four-and-a-Half Street," is none other than Paul Heller] [1921 September 21]

Source.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Sep 09, 2021 - Comments (2)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Humor, Parody, Advertising, 1920s

Out of Sight

The Wikipedia page.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 03, 2021 - Comments (1)
Category: Fey, Twee, Whimsical, Naive and Sadsack, Humor, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Movies, Spies and Intelligence Services, Bohemians, Beatniks, Hippies and Slackers

Myrtle Young, the Potato Chip Lady

Myrtle Young worked as a potato chip inspector at the Seyfert Potato Chip plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana. During the course of her job, she would occasionally notice potato chips that resembled something, such as an animal or a celebrity. She began to take these chips home to show her granddaughter, and soon she had amassed quite a collection.

When the media became aware of her collection it led to numerous appearances on talk shows, including a 1987 appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. TV Guide named this as the funniest moment ever on television.

I don't know if it's the funniest ever, but it's definitely amusing. The noteworthy part occurs about a minute in.



The scene was later parodied in a 1993 episode of the Simpson's, 'Selma's Choice,' in which Great Aunt Gladys bequeathes to Marge, via video will, her collection of potato chips that look like celebrities. As the video will is playing, Homer is seen eating the chips. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a clip of this scene.

Update: Paul managed to get some screenshots of Homer and the potato chips!

Posted By: Alex - Thu Sep 02, 2021 - Comments ()
Category: Humor, Television, Junk Food, Collectors, 1980s

California Soap Mine

Was the 1855 Soap Mine tale just a prank or hoax? What about the 1901 article, in third place, which sounds a little more scientific?




Source.





Source.



Source.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 16, 2021 - Comments (3)
Category: Freaks, Oddities, Quirks of Nature, Hoaxes and Imposters and Imitators, Humor, Hygiene, Regionalism, Natural Wonders, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century

International Stop Continental Drift Society

The International Stop Continental Drift Society (ISCDS) was founded in 1976 by geologist John Holden with these demands: "the continents to stop moving, the sea floor to stop spreading, and such inconveniences as major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions to cease immediately." Its motto was "Eschew Sea-Floor Spreading." It also issued a newsletter that "like natural disasters will appear without warning".

By 1981 it had grown to 300 members. Mostly fellow geologists. However, Holden admitted, "So far, our demands have not been satisfactorily met."

By the mid-1980s it seems to have faded away. Although it does have a Facebook page (set to private) with 154 members.

More info: Science Year 1982, lgvweb.nl

"Dutch geologists drive a giant screw into the ground at Leiden, The Netherlands, in an attempt to stop the Eurasian tectonic plate from moving. The scientists are members of the International Stop Continental Drift Society whose purpose is to put some stability in the earth's crust."

Jack Holden - founder of the ISCDS
Longview Daily News - Sep 15, 1981

Posted By: Alex - Sat Jul 03, 2021 - Comments ()
Category: Clubs, Fraternities and Other Self-selecting Organizations, Humor, Science

My Honey Chile

"She's got a wooden leg, all stiff at the knee...just a limb from the old apple tree."

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 06, 2021 - Comments ()
Category: Humor, Music, 1940s, Differently Abled, Handicapped, Challenged, and Otherwise Atypical, Love & Romance

Rusty Warren, RIP

Obituary here.

Wikipedia page here.

Posted By: Paul - Fri May 28, 2021 - Comments (4)
Category: Humor, Sexuality, Twentieth Century

The Inventions of Russell Oakes

An article here.

Posted By: Paul - Mon May 17, 2021 - Comments ()
Category: Humor, Inventions, Rube Goldberg Devices, 1940s

Max Patkin, Baseball Clown

His Wikipedia page.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Mar 26, 2021 - Comments ()
Category: Humor, Sports, Twentieth Century