Weird Universe Archive

May 2021

May 26, 2021

The Boy Fancier

Published in 1912, the title of this book really hasn't aged well. Although even in 1912 I imagine the title could easily have been misconstrued.

Looking up the word 'fancier' in the dictionary, I found that it means: "a connoisseur or enthusiast of something, especially someone who has a special interest in or breeds a particular animal." I hadn't known that the word had this association with animal breeding.

Nature offered this review of the book:

FROM his professional training as a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the author of this well-illustrated volume is thoroughly qualified to give sound and trustworthy information with regard to the general care, feeding, and treatment in illness of animals kept as pets, or, like poultry and goats, reared for profit. And although the work before us is primarily intended for the benefit of young persons, it will be found equally valuable for those of more mature age, who, for purposes of pleasure or profit—or both combined—devote their attention to the keeping and rearing of dogs, cats, goats, guinea-pigs, rabbits, squirrels, poultry, pigeons, cage-birds, &c.

Posted By: Alex - Wed May 26, 2021 - Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Books, 1910s

May 25, 2021

Captain Sticky

By the age of 28, Richard Pesta had become independently wealthy thanks to a lucrative fiberglass and foam business. So he decided to fulfill his dream of being a superhero, and in 1973 he turned himself into Captain Sticky, "Supreme Commander in Chief of the World Organization Against Evil". The name referred to his fondness for peanut butter.

He drove around Orange County in his Stickymobile looking for crime, outfitted with a peanut butter gun and "peanut butter grenades" made of peanut butter, vinegar and alka seltzer.

He also became a fixture at San Diego Comic Con, and was constantly trying to get Marvel to make a comic book about him, but this never happened.

Apparently his superhero act wasn't entirely just a way to get attention. He used his influence to advocate for various causes such as improving nursing homes and preventing rental-car ripoffs.

He died in 2003 at the age of 57.

More info: Heroes in the Night, News From Me, Real Life Superheroes Archive

Captain Sticky with Stan Lee at San Diego Comic Con, 1975



The video below is in German, but it has some good footage of Captain Sticky in action.

Posted By: Alex - Tue May 25, 2021 - Comments (2)
Category: Comics, 1970s, Courage, Bravery, Heroism and Valor

Stripper Unsexy?

Source: Nanaimo Daily News (Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada)14 Sep 1957, Sat Page 2



Posted By: Paul - Tue May 25, 2021 - Comments (2)
Category: Theater and Stage, Lawsuits, Sex Symbols, 1950s

May 24, 2021

Mozart’s Handbook of Mesmerism

Mozart practiced the stick-your-thumb-in-their-eye method of mesmerism.

Date unknown (looks like 19th century). Source: Goldberg's Diet Catalog.

Posted By: Alex - Mon May 24, 2021 - Comments (1)
Category: Hypnotism, Mesmerism and Mind Control, Nineteenth Century

Banana Ganesh

Read all about it here.

Posted By: Paul - Mon May 24, 2021 - Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Art, Statues and Monuments, Food, Religion, Bananas

May 23, 2021

Airplane Modules

Back in the 1980s, FAA scientist Albert Lupinetti imagined a future in which airplanes would be divided up into modules, or small pods. Instead of passengers changing planes to get to their destination, their module would be transferred onto a new plane. And the modules could even be placed onto trains, allowing transport from the airport straight to a downtown train station — without passengers ever leaving their seats.

I can imagine this might work for cargo. But as a passenger, sitting in a pod for hours on end... I'd pass.



Calgary Herald - Dec 30, 1988

Posted By: Alex - Sun May 23, 2021 - Comments (5)
Category: Air Travel and Airlines, 1980s

May 22, 2021

Candy as a drug deterrent

1979: James Mack, a candy manufacturer representative, told government officials that banning candy sales from schools could lead to "injury, drug abuse and drinking." His reasoning was that candy provided children with an "island of pleasure," and if denied this they might seek out worse things such as drugs. They might even "leave the school premises [to seek out candy] and encounter traffic hazards".

Wisconsin State Journal - Jan 31, 1979


Posted By: Alex - Sat May 22, 2021 - Comments (4)
Category: Candy, 1970s

Help…It’s the Hair Bear Bunch!

The Wikipedia page.

According to author Christopher P. Lehman, Hanna-Barbera "dress[ed] the bears in counterculture apparel" in order to stay on track with the "mainstream" fashion in the United States.






Posted By: Paul - Sat May 22, 2021 - Comments (1)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Television, Cartoons, 1970s

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Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction books such as Elephants on Acid.

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